Data Dashboard Implementation

Plug-and-Play ERG Analytics Dashboard
Built in 3 Days, $0 Software Cost

Whether your company uses Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, this dashboard gives you real ERG analytics—fast. No more guessing what's working. No more exporting data from 10 different tools. Just clear insights to help you lead a better program.
Built specifically for ERG Program Managers, this dashboard pulls real-time data from tools you already use (Slack, Zoom, Outlook, Google, etc.) and turns it into simple, decision-ready visuals.

How We Build Your Dashboard in 3 Days or Less

Step 1: We Learn About Your Program + You Send What We Need

We start by learning about your ERG program’s structure, systems, and goals. Then, we send you a short, easy checklist of what to gather—most clients complete it in about an hour.

Step 2: We Build + Walk You Through It

Once we have your inputs, we’ll build your first draft dashboard and deliver it in 3 business days or less. When it’s ready, we’ll walk through it with you, show you how to maintain it (very low lift), and gather any final custom edits you’d like.

Step 3: Your ERG Leads Get Trained with a Live Data Debut

We host a quick 30-minute live session with your ERG leaders to debut the dashboard. We show them where the program stands today, align on key goals, and teach them how to use the data to make better decisions, boost engagement, and clearly articulate the impact of their work.

How to Build an ERG Dashboard That Actually Works

Most ERG teams are operating without a clear system for collecting, organizing, and using their data. In this video, Maceo Owens breaks down exactly what needs to happen behind the scenes—from what data to collect to how to structure it—so your ERG dashboard becomes a real decision-making tool, not just a pretty chart. This was originally recorded as part of a LinkedIn Live training for ERG Champs.

View Session Summary

Note on This Transcript

This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Instead, it’s a clean, structured summary of the key concepts, frameworks, and examples shared by Maceo Owens during the live session titled “Visualizing ERG Data (with $0 in software fees).”
We’ve edited for clarity and structure, adding section headings, timestamp markers, and explanatory context where helpful. This makes the content easier to skim, understand, and implement.

00:00 – What Is This Session About?

Topic: Making ERG data visible and usable with free tools.

The session is hosted by Maceo Owens, aka The ERG Homegirl.

01:11 – Who Is Maceo Owens?

Topic: Why Maceo teaches ERG leaders how to use data.

Founder of The ERG Movement - The #1 ERG Enablement Platform
Has helped multiple companies turn their ERG chaos into structure
Created frameworks like the ERG Movement Model and The 3Ps of ERGs to guide program maturity

03:22 – Why Does Data Matter in ERGs?

Topic: ERGs often struggle because they can’t prove their value.

Data helps you tell the story of your ERG’s impact
Without data, ERG leads often rely on feelings, not facts
You can’t scale what you can’t measure

04:54 – What Are the 3 Ps of ERGs?

Topic: ERG structure must start with Purpose, Process, Programming.

Purpose: What is your ERG trying to do?
Processes: How do you get it done (roles, systems, approvals)?
Programming: The events, content, and engagement tools

Data connects to all three, but especially the Process piece.

06:29 – How Does Data Fit Into That Framework?

You need data to answer: “Is this working?”
Examples: Who’s engaging? What’s working? What’s being ignored?

08:38 – What If I Don’t Know What to Track?

Start simple: count attendance, reactions, messages, opt-ins
Most orgs already have some of this data — you just have to pull it together

10:19 – What Are the 7 Steps to Achieving Your ERG Vision?

Topic: Building a system around the data.

Define what success looks like
Choose the right metrics
Build a lightweight dashboard
Connect it to your Purpose
Embed it into your monthly rhythm
Use it to make decisions
Communicate progress clearly

12:08 – What Tools Can I Use (for Free)?

Comparison of Tools:

Method

Notes & Recommendations

Manual (Pivot Tables)
Works but prone to human error
AI Tools (like ChatGPT)
Watch out for privacy concerns
Google Sheets Dashboard
Advanced, but risky if you’re not technical
Looker Studio / Power BI
Recommended — scalable, interactive
ERG Software Tools
Not worth the cost in most cases
Ask Your People Ops Team
Great option — bring your backend!

15:27 – How Can I Use Dashboards for Storytelling?

Don’t just track data — tell a story
Show impact in a way leadership and members understand
Make it visual and intuitive

18:16 – How Do Backend & Frontend Dashboards Work?

Backend = raw data tables and metrics
Frontend = visualized dashboards that make it digestible

22:05 – What If I Have to Do It All Manually?

Use pivot tables or free templates
It’s doable, but not always scalable

25:90 – Can I Use AI Tools to Help?

ChatGPT can help you write formulas, analyze trends, and suggest metrics
Just be cautious with sensitive company data

29:12 – Is Looker Studio or Power BI Better?

Looker Studio (Google) is free and integrates well
Power BI is great if you already use Microsoft Suite

33:02 – Should I Buy ERG Software?

Often overpriced and under-delivers
You likely already have the tools you need

34:39 – Can I Just Ask My People Team for Help?

Yes — your HRIS team or People Ops may already have data you can use
Bring them into the ERG structure early

36:19 – What Should I Do Next?

Use the free template
Start tracking small wins
Join the ERG Champs Community for support

40:00 – Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

You don’t need fancy tools — you need structure
Data isn’t extra; it’s how you prove your work matters
The time to start is now.

Book Your ERG Strategy Call

Schedule Your Intro Call

Frequently
Asked Questions

How is there no software fee?

We only use tools your company already has access to. If you’re on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 (which most orgs are), you already have access to the data visualization tools we use—either Looker Studio (free with Google) or Power BI (included in most Microsoft 365 plans). No need to buy or subscribe to anything new.

What if we’re not sure where our data lives?

No problem. During your intake call, we help you identify which tools your ERG currently uses (Slack, Teams, Zoom, Workday, etc.) and guide you through collecting what’s needed. It usually takes less than an hour to gather the inputs.

Do you store or have access to our ERG data?

For the initial build, we temporarily work with a copy of your data using our own instance of Looker Studio or Power BI. This helps us build your dashboard quickly—without needing full access to your internal systems. Once it’s ready, we transfer everything into your environment, walk you through how to use and maintain it, and permanently delete our copy.
We don’t store your data long-term, we don’t sell or share it, and we don’t access anything we don’t need. Our only goal is to build the dashboard, hand over the keys, and get out of your way.

Do you need access to private employee information (PII)?

We do use basic information like employee name, email, department, and ERG affiliation in order to build your dashboard. But we never require sensitive identity-based data like race, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability unless you choose to include it. If your organization doesn’t collect or allow access to those fields, no problem—they’re not required for this dashboard to deliver value.

What if our organization has strict data compliance protocols?

We get it. We’re happy to hop on a call with your internal data, legal, or security team to walk through exactly what data is used, how it’s handled, and where it lives. We also offer a short-term data processing agreement (DPA) if needed, and we’re committed to full transparency in the setup process.

We’re considering ERG software. How is this different—and is it better?

Most ERG software platforms come with high recurring costs and still miss the mark when it comes to real employee resource group analytics. We’ve found that many tools fail to deliver the engagement metrics that actually help ERG leaders make data-driven decisions.
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Our dashboard gives you what ERG software often can’t:
➡️ Actionable insights from tools you already use (Slack, Teams, Zoom, etc.)
➡️ Clear ERG engagement trends tailored to your company structure
➡️ No subscriptions or long onboarding timelines
➡️One-time setup that delivers fast results—without locking you into another platform

If you’re trying to choose between another license and just getting the answers you need, this dashboard may be the more affordable and effective option.

We have someone internally who can build dashboards. Can you just support us on strategy and setup?

Yes! If you have an internal BI or data analyst, we can support them with a full consultation and data strategy session. We’ll walk through the metrics to track, the collection systems to use, and even build a working prototype using sample data—then transfer the framework to your internal team. We’ll also hop on a joint working session with your builder to ensure everything gets translated correctly.