Backstory allows you to capitalize on past data to shape future success with Trends within Engagement Dashboards.
If you are using Engagement Dashboards for the first time or need a refresher, check out our other Help Center articles on Engagement Dashboards for an introduction.
The Trends functionality is not activated for all customers. If you would like to take advantage of this feature, please reach out to your Backstory Customer Experience contact.
What Could Trends Look Like for Your Organization?
Excited by the opportunity of using Trends but unsure where to start?
Here are some general ideas to use for your own insights:
Concept | Use Case | Example |
Forecasting | Weekly Forecasting Calls | A table that shows how a deal’s Stage, Amount, and Close Date have changed. |
Pipeline Analytics | Pipeline trends | A time series line chart in boards showing opportunity creation over time. |
Prospecting and Coaching | Activity and engagement trends | A time series line chart showing engagement or activities of a specific type over time. |
How to Use Trends with Existing Tables?
Want to see how Trends will integrate with Tables? Let’s look at a quick mockup of how it could look.
Trends will use the flexibility of sub-columns, allowing you to view not only your field’s values but also its complementary information!
This is where trend information will be shown in the tables. You can see the arrow and trend value that demonstrate whether the value has gone up or down and by how much compared to the date configured in the column’s header. If the column value is a String, you will see an icon to represent a change that has occurred.
You can also see the Target data to determine whether you’re currently trending toward your desired target.
How to Add a Trend to Tables?
Now that you’ve figured out what Trends you want to add to your Tables, you’ll need to know how to add them. The steps are very straightforward and are shown below!
In the video, you’ll see that there are three different types of trend displays available:
Previous Value: This is the actual value of the field/metric in the selected comparison time range
Difference: This is the absolute difference between the previous and current values of the comparison
Percentage: This is the percent change from the previous to the current value
Choose the trend that works best for you!
Need help creating Tables? Check out our main Help Center article on Tables.
How to add Trends in Boards?
Trends work very seamlessly in Boards, allowing you to create time series line charts like the one below.
Trends work exclusively with line and area charts, as they’re the types of charts that can demonstrate time on an axis best. You can create Time Series Charts for any field, metric, or activity aggregation!
To create trend-based line charts, identify the following important steps for your Trend Board tile creation.
The first thing to note is to ensure you’ve selected the Trend tile option.
Next, choose the Object Type on which your trend will be built.
Adjust the Trend By option to specify the granularity of time you want to trend.
From there, ensure you’ve filled out the rest of the options to create and customize your chart. Need help creating new tiles for your Boards? Check out our Help Center article on Boards.
What Does It Mean if My Trends Column Is Showing Errors?
If you see an error like this, it typically means that your column does not have enough data to display the trend data properly. To get past this error, adjust the comparison’s timeframe to be smaller.
Unfortunately, there is no way to go back to capture any historical data for metrics, as every column already has the most data possible.
FAQ
How far back does history go for metrics?
Either May 1st, 2023, or the creation of the metric, whichever date is newer.
How far back does history go for engagement levels?
Either May 1st, 2023, or your onboarding completion date, whichever date is newer.
How far back does history go for CRM fields?
Around one year, and it will continue to add data moving forward.
Table comparison ranges are not dynamic based on a column’s selected time range.
You’re all set! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your CSM or to our Technical Support team at support@backstory.ai