How to Create a Dashboard in ServiceNow? Know-All Steps

Dashboards in ServiceNow are one of the most amazing tools that can help the IT teams, admins, and managers to overview everything from a high-level perspective. Whether it’s about tracing open incidents, managing the KPIs, or viewing trends, dashboards in ServiceNow are very useful. 

So, instead of jumping and scrolling around multiple reports, the ServiceNow Dashboard allows and manages everything in one place for efficient use of time and making better decisions.

In this blog, we will provide you with information about the step-by-step process of creating a ServiceNow Dashboard. We will also share with you knowledge of widgets, permissions, and use cases, such as incident reports, and cover best practices for managing dashboards in ServiceNow.

What is a ServiceNow Dashboard?

A ServiceNow dashboard is a customizable workspace where you can assemble charts, KPIs, lists, and reports to create a personalized view. A dashboard takes unrefined ServiceNow data and converts it into a collection of insights that are digestible.

For example, if you are a ServiceNow administrator and managing IT operations, you can build a dashboard to pull together the active incidents, SLA breaches, pending change requests, and customer satisfaction scoring all in one screen. Instead of having to dive into tables or run reports separately, you will have that relevant data right in front of you and highly organized.

This is why dashboards are an essential component of incident management in ServiceNow – they effectively facilitate IT teams from early identification of bottlenecks to issue prioritization to maintaining service quality.

How to Build a Dashboard in ServiceNow?

Let’s walk through the ServiceNow dashboard creation process step by step.

Step 1: Navigate to the Dashboards Module

From the application navigator, type “Dashboard” and navigate to Self-Service > Dashboards. This is where you start building dashboards.

Step 2: Build a New Dashboard

Click “Add New Element Button” at the top of the list of dashboards. A form will open where you:

Enter a Name and Description.

Optionally, assign a Group and Order for dashboard organization.

Restrict access by roles if you want only certain users to see it.

Click ”Create New Dashboard”, and your empty dashboard is ready.

Step 3: Add Widgets

Widgets are the building blocks of dashboards. These can be charts, KPIs, reports, or even text blocks.

Click the Add New Element Button.
Click on “Data Visualization” and select the “New Visualization”

Choose the type of widget you need (bar chart, pie chart, list, etc.).

Connect it to a data source, for example, the Incident table, to display the number of high-priority tickets.

This is where widgets in ServiceNow truly excel, as they transform raw records into visual insights.

Step 4: Customize Layout

After adding widgets, you can:

Drag and resize them to arrange the view.

Add multiple tabs for different categories (e.g., Incidents, Requests, SLAs).

Use the settings (gear icon) to customize filters, labels, and styles.

A well-crafted layout ensures your dashboard is not only informative but also easy to use.

Step 5: Set Permissions and Save

Lastly, set who can see or edit the dashboard. Navigate to Dashboard Properties and set permissions based on roles. Once you save, your dashboard is live and ready for daily use.

Why ServiceNow Dashboards Matter? (Benefits & Use Cases)

Dashboards in ServiceNow are more than just informative visuals, they are powerful tools that enable smarter, faster decision-making. By combining centralized data with actionable insights, they help teams manage operations more efficiently while giving leaders a clear view of organizational performance. Let’s explore both the benefits and common use cases of ServiceNow dashboards.

Benefits of ServiceNow Dashboards

• Centralized Monitoring: All the data you need is available in one place, eliminating the need to jump between multiple reports.
• Proactive Management: Incident reports displayed on dashboards highlight critical issues before they escalate.
• Transparency: Managers and executives can quickly review KPIs without running individual reports, ensuring clarity at all levels.
• Collaboration: Teams stay aligned because everyone has access to the same live, up-to-date data.

When used effectively, dashboards transform ServiceNow from being just a system of record into a true system of insight.

Common Use Cases of ServiceNow Dashboards

1. Incident Management: Visualize open incidents, average resolution times, and SLA compliance in real time. An incident report in the ServiceNow dashboard assists managers in prioritizing urgent cases.

2. Service Requests: Monitor pending service requests, approvals, and fulfillment times. Excellent for ensuring service delivery remains on track.

3. Executive Dashboards: Provide leadership with a bird’s-eye view of IT performance, displaying the KPIs, customer satisfaction, and operational health in one screen.

If a Dashboard is used correctly, it shifts ServiceNow from being just a system of record to being a proper system of insight.

Best Practices for Dashboard Management

Creating dashboards is simple; managing them well is what really makes a difference. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Simplicity: Don’t overload users with too many metrics. A dashboard with too many widgets just creates confusion.
• Role-based Views: Users won’t always want to see that much data. Remember to use permissions wisely.
• Regular Updates: Do remember to schedule regular updates of reports and their data sources.
• Design for Clarity: Place the most important widgets higher or centrally.
• See before you Share: Always preview and check your dashboard before you share widely.

Summing Up

In conclusion, a ServiceNow dashboard is not just another reporting tool, but it is also a great companion that helps in decision-making. If you follow the steps mentioned above, then you will be able to create dashboards easily, configure them with the right widgets, and apply them to key functions like incident management.

The objective of creating a ServiceNow dashboard is not only to display all the data, but also to provide accurate data in ServiceNow. If you know how to use dashboards correctly, you can provide better service delivery and improve the overall efficiency of the company.