Understand your Analytics

Learn to navigate Analytics dashboards, understand different widget types, and interpret key metrics. Master the interface to efficiently explore your data and find insights that drive business growth

Understanding how to navigate your Analytics dashboards and interpret your metrics is essential for making data-driven decisions. This guide will walk you through the complete analytics experience, from basic navigation to understanding what each metric tells you about your business performance.

Accessing Analytics Dashboards

Opening the Analytics Section

1

Navigate to Analytics

In your main navigation, click on Discover → Analytics to access your analytics dashboards.

2

View Available Dashboards

You'll see a list of all available dashboards. Each dashboard serves different analytical purposes and contains relevant widgets for specific business areas.

3

Select a Dashboard

Click on any dashboard name to open it and start exploring your data.

If you don't see any dashboards, they may need to be created first. Refer to our "Create Your First Dashboard" guide.

Understanding the Dashboard Interface

Dashboard Layout Overview

Analytics dashboards are organized into a clean, intuitive interface designed for data exploration:

Header Section

• Dashboard title and description

• Time range selector for filtering data

• Export and sharing options

• Filter controls that apply to all widgets

Main Content Area

• Individual widgets arranged in a grid layout

• Each widget displays specific metrics or data views

• Widgets can be different sizes based on their content type

Navigation Elements

• Back navigation to return to dashboard overview

• Category-based dashboard organization with collapsible sections

• Direct dashboard access via dashboard table rows

Dashboard Controls

Time Range Selector

Purpose: Filter all dashboard data by date range

How to Use:

• Click the time range selector (usually shows "Last 30 days" or similar)

• Choose from preset ranges like "Last 7 days", "Last month", "Last quarter"

• Or select custom date ranges for specific analysis periods

Impact: Changes the time period for ALL widgets on the dashboard

Global Filters

Purpose: Apply filters that affect all widgets simultaneously

Common Filters:

• Product categories

• Geographic regions

• User segments

• Traffic sources

How to Use: Click on filter dropdowns and select values. Multiple filters can be applied at once.

Data Updates

Purpose: Dashboard data updates automatically when filters change

How It Works:

• Data refreshes automatically when date range changes

• Widget data resets when filters are applied

• No manual refresh button - updates are triggered by user actions

Metrics

Analytics dashboards track key metrics based on data collected through your Crobox implementation. The depth and accuracy of these metrics depend on which Crobox experiences you have installed and how they're configured on your site.

How Metrics Are Generated

Your analytics data comes from:

• JavaScript tracking installed on your site pages

• Experience interactions from Product Finder, Campaigns, and other Crobox tools

• E-commerce events captured through your implementation

• Cross-session tracking that follows customer journeys over time

Missing expected metrics? Check that your Crobox implementation covers all relevant pages and events. Contact your technical team or Crobox support if you need help expanding your tracking coverage.

Core Site Metrics

Metric	Definition	Use Case
Actions	Total interactions customers make on your site - clicks, adds to cart, custom actions, and more	Monitor overall site engagement and activity levels
Pageviews	How many pages visitors view during their time on your site	Track content consumption and popular pages
Sessions	Individual visits to your site, from arrival to departure	Understand traffic volume and visitor patterns
Users	Unique individuals visiting your site (removing duplicate visits)	Measure your actual audience size and reach

Performance Metrics

Metric	Definition	Use Case
Revenue	Total money earned from completed purchases	Track financial performance and business growth
Transactions	Number of completed purchases on your site	Monitor sales volume and conversion success
Conversion Rate	Percentage of visitors who make a purchase	Measure how effectively your site turns visitors into customers
Average Order Value	Average amount customers spend per purchase	Understand spending patterns and identify upselling opportunities

Cross-Session Performance Metrics

Metric	Definition	Use Case
Revenue (cross-session)	Total money earned from customers within 30 days of their initial interaction	Understand the full revenue impact of customer discovery journeys, including delayed purchases
Transactions (cross-session)	Number of purchases completed by customers within 30 days of their initial interaction	Measure true conversion impact beyond single-session purchases
Conversion Rate (cross-session)	Percentage of initial visitors who make a purchase within 30 days of first interaction	Evaluate the long-term effectiveness of customer acquisition and engagement

Cross-session metrics provide a more complete picture of customer behavior by tracking the full customer journey, not just immediate conversions. These metrics are especially valuable for understanding the impact of discovery experiences on customers who need time to research before purchasing.

Engagement Metrics

Metric	Definition	Use Case
Product Clicks	Number of product clicks by visitors	Identify which products generate the most interest
Product Carts	Number of products added to shopping carts	Track purchase intent and product appeal
Product Boughts	Products that customers actually purchased	See which products convert from interest to sales
Add-to-Cart Rate	Percentage of sessions where visitors add items to their cart	Measure how well products appeal to shoppers
Click-through Rate	How often products generates clicks from visitors	Measure content impressions and click event tracking
Buy-to-Detail Rate	Percentage of product page visits that result in purchases	Identify your most effective product pages

Product Finder Specific Metrics

Metric	Definition	Use Case
Finder Completion Rate	Percentage of customers who complete your Product Finder	Measure how engaging and useful your guided selling tools are
Product Finder Products Bought	Items purchased directly through Product Finder recommendations	Track the sales impact of your guided selling experiences
Product Finder Products Recommended	Products suggested by your Product Finder experience	Monitor recommendation volume and system performance

Product Finder specific metrics apply only to Product Finder experiences active on your site.

Widget Types

Understanding Different Widget Types

Analytics dashboards contain these verified widget types:

1

Big Number Widgets

• Show single metrics with comparison options

• Can compare against previous time periods or other filters

• Display-only functionality with no drill-down capability

• Perfect for monitoring key performance indicators at a glance

2

Line Chart Widgets

• Show time-based trends with configurable intervals (6 hours to monthly)

• Single metric visualization over time

• Horizontal time axis for trend analysis

• Ideal for identifying patterns and seasonal variations

3

Bar Chart Widgets

• Compare values across different categories

• Support group-by functionality for segmentation

• Stacked and unstacked display options

• Vertical axis shows metric values

4

Table Widgets

• Display up to 6 metric columns with group-by capabilities

• CSV export functionality available

• Data rendered as provided (no built-in sorting or search)

• Best for detailed data examination

5

Pie Chart Widgets

• Show proportional data with group-by support

• Single metric visualization

• Effective for understanding composition and distribution

6

Additional Widget Types

• Radar Chart: Single metric with group-by comparison

• Bubble Chart: Three-metric visualization for complex analysis

• Comment Box: Markdown text areas for context and notes

Widget Interaction

All widgets display data based on current dashboard filters and time ranges. Hover over data points to see detailed values and context.

Edit Mode Interactions

What Happens: Hover over widgets to reveal edit controls (if you have edit permissions)

Available Actions:

• Edit: Modify widget configuration via side panel

• Duplicate: Create a copy of the widget

• Copy: Copy widget to clipboard for pasting elsewhere

• Remove: Delete the widget from dashboard

• Drag Handle: Reposition widgets using the drag indicator

Visual Cues: Edit bar appears on hover with primary color outline

Widget Management

What Happens: Widgets can be repositioned and resized when in edit mode

Drag & Drop:

• Use drag handles to move widgets around the grid

• Resize widgets by dragging corner handles

• Layout changes are automatically saved

Grid System: Widgets snap to a responsive grid layout with defined sizes per widget type

Data Display Only

Important Note: Widgets are primarily for data display

No Interactive Filtering:

• Charts do not support click-to-filter functionality

• No legend interaction for showing/hiding data series

• No drill-down capabilities within widgets

Data Updates: Widgets update automatically when dashboard-level filters change

Reading Widget Data Effectively

Understanding Visual Cues

Color Coding

Performance Indicators:

• Green: Positive performance, growth, or favorable trends

• Red: Negative performance, decline, or areas needing attention

• Blue/Neutral: Baseline data or informational metrics

• Consistent Colors: Same metrics use consistent colors across widgets

Performance Indicators Look for trend arrows, percentage changes, and comparison indicators that help you quickly assess performance against benchmarks or previous periods.

Trends and Patterns

Line Charts:

• Upward slopes = growth or increase

• Downward slopes = decline or decrease

• Flat lines = stable performance

• Sharp changes = significant events or anomalies

Bar Charts:

• Height/length indicates relative values

• Grouping shows related categories

• Sorting reveals rankings and priorities

Context Indicators

Comparison Elements:

• Previous period comparisons (vs. last month)

• Year-over-year changes

• Benchmark or target lines

• Industry averages (if available)

Data Quality Indicators:

• Confidence intervals

• Sample sizes

• Data freshness timestamps

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Dashboard not loading or showing "No data"

• Check your time range settings - you may be looking at a period with no activity

• Verify that your implementation is active and tracking events

• Confirm you have the necessary permissions to view the dashboard

Widgets showing different date ranges

• Ensure all widgets are using the same time range and filters

• Check if widgets are pulling from different data sources or attribution models

• Look for widgets that might be using cross-session vs. single-session data

Edit controls not appearing on widget hover

Possible Causes:

• No edit permissions for the dashboard

Solutions:

• Check if you have update permissions

• Contact administrator for permission changes

Navigation is slow or unresponsive

Possible Causes:

• Large datasets being processed

• Network connectivity issues

• High system load

Solutions:

• Try smaller time ranges or more specific filters

• Check internet connection

• Wait for peak usage times to pass

Missing expected metrics

• Verify that relevant Crobox experiences are implemented and active

• Check that tracking is properly configured for the events you want to measure from your technical implementation

• Contact your technical team if implementation gaps are identified

Best Practices

Efficient Navigation Strategies

1

Start Broad, Then Focus

Begin with overview dashboards to understand the big picture, then navigate to specific areas that need attention.

2

Use Consistent Time Ranges

When comparing data across multiple dashboards, ensure you're using the same time ranges for accurate comparisons.

3

Leverage Filters Strategically

Apply filters to focus on specific segments, but remember to clear them when moving to different analysis areas.

4

Cross-Reference Data

Use multiple widgets and dashboards to verify findings and get a complete picture before making decisions.

Data Interpretation Tips

• Context is Key Always consider the business context when interpreting data. Seasonal patterns, marketing campaigns, or external events can influence metrics.

• Look for Patterns Regular navigation through dashboards helps you recognize normal patterns and quickly spot anomalies.

• Time Sensitivity Understand which metrics update frequently and which are calculated on longer cycles to set appropriate expectations.

• Attribution Understanding Remember that cross-session metrics provide a more complete view of customer impact than single-session data alone.

Next Steps

Now that you understand how to navigate Analytics dashboards and widgets, you're ready to:

• Create Your First Dashboard: Learn to build custom dashboards tailored to your needs

• Set Up Dashboards to Support Regular Reporting: Configure regular reporting for stakeholder updates

Effective navigation is the foundation of data-driven decision making. Practice exploring your dashboards regularly to become more comfortable with the interface and develop insights that drive business value.

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