Immediate questions that pop up are how to ensure that this effort doesn’t get wasted, How do I bring alive this past data? And how do we ensure that this effort isn’t replicated across various publishing formats?
These are relevant questions that go to the heart of good data communication. Instead of thinking of a factsheet as a static document, envision it as a dynamic, living narrative. The key is to transform past data from a mere record into an active storytelling tool.
Presenting Infomatics InterActive- Where Factsheets never get old and ensure that past data comes alive rather than get buried.
Here's a breakdown of how to create factsheets that never get old and ensure past data comes alive:
These are relevant questions that go to the heart of good data communication. Instead of thinking of a factsheet as a static document, envision it as a dynamic, living narrative. The key is to transform past data from a mere record into an active storytelling tool.
Presenting Infomatics InterActive- Where Factsheets never get old and ensure that past data comes alive rather than get buried.
Here's a breakdown of how to create factsheets that never get old and ensure past data comes alive:
Frame the Past with the Present
Don't just present a number from last year; show how it relates to today. Thus focus on the trend and not the here and now. For example in a balanced advantage fund one would want to know how has the equity portion changed over time say 5 years.
Don't just present a number from last year; show how it relates to today. Thus focus on the trend and not the here and now. For example in a balanced advantage fund one would want to know how has the equity portion changed over time say 5 years.
Turn Numbers into Narratives
Raw data is just a collection of digits. It's the story behind the numbers that gives them life.
Raw data is just a collection of digits. It's the story behind the numbers that gives them life.
Visualizing Data
Static data represents a snapshot in time. It is not about change but about a single moment. Your factsheet should easily depict trending data versus static data by using visual representations that emphasize change over time. The best charts for static data are:
For example a month end portfolio is useful but what is more useful is the way it has changed over the years.
Static data represents a snapshot in time. It is not about change but about a single moment. Your factsheet should easily depict trending data versus static data by using visual representations that emphasize change over time. The best charts for static data are:
- Bar charts: Excellent for comparing different categories. For example, comparing the sales of different products in a single quarter.
- Pie charts: Useful for showing the parts of a whole, like the percentage breakdown of a company's budget.
For example a month end portfolio is useful but what is more useful is the way it has changed over the years.
Ease of updating data on an ongoing basis
Teams cant be updating the same data across different publishing formats. For example when you submit the same data to a printer for a hard copy or updating the data on a website CMS. When you do this you introduce multiple levels of checks and audits to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Teams cant be updating the same data across different publishing formats. For example when you submit the same data to a printer for a hard copy or updating the data on a website CMS. When you do this you introduce multiple levels of checks and audits to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
To ensure data is not duplicated across different publishing formats, the fundamental principle you must adopt is the "Single Source of Truth" (SSOT). This concept dictates that for any given piece of information, there is only one, authoritative, and primary location where it is stored and managed. All other formats, applications, and documents, regardless of how they are published (e.g., website, mobile app, printed brochure, factsheet, API), should reference this single source.
Inter Active ensures that Data Feeds are automated through APIs or integrations, or data exports and thus pull information directly from the SSOT into your various publishing formats.
This forward-looking perspective gives the historical data a purpose, making it feel less like a record and more like a foundation.
By adopting these strategies, a factsheet transforms from a static report into a compelling story of progress, making past data not only relevant but essential to understanding the product's journey and transaformation.