The CU*BASE Dashboards are great analysis tools for seeing the “Big Picture” and for determining trends. Use them to ask questions about the effectiveness of policies and strategies at your credit union.
From time to time, our Client Services Representatives receive calls from clients asking what data is used to create a specific dashboard or to ask why one report’s results might not exactly match the results given on a dashboard. Keep in mind that most Dashboards were not really designed as back-office tools for day-to-day balancing or settlement. But if you find them useful in that way, first take some time to thoroughly understand what data is actually being analyzed, so you don’t end up trying to compare apples to oranges. This topic is designed as a starting point to answer the reason for the differences. First are listed some questions to ask, followed by specific examples of when this question was used to answer a client question.
· Documentation Hint: To view topics for all dashboards screens, use Index Keyword “Dashboard” in the CU*BASE Online Help.
Specific Examples of Questions for Dashboard Comparisons
Are all of the records fitting the filter requirements included in the totals on the screen? Is there a limit to the number of records that are shown?
Does the report/dashboard include data from a snapshot taken at as of the end of the month or is it from current data?
Is the report/dashboard generated at Beginning-of-Day or End-of-Day?
Is the dashboard/dashboard counting certificate issue date or reissue date?
Is the comparison report/dashboard reporting on a different date range?
Is the comparison report/dashboard using different files/sources?
Are the accounts included only accounts of memberships opened during a specific timeframe?
Are the delinquent loans included grouped by number of months delinquent or by credit union delinquency configuration?
Are only loans of a certain status, application type or review date included in the report/dashboard?
Are the balances of loans in currently in collections included in the results?
Are all of the records fitting the filter requirements used to calculate the totals on the screen? Is there a limit to the number of records that are shown?
CU*BASE shows a maximum of approximately 9,990 records in the listing; however, all records fitting the filter are used in the analysis and total figures on the screen. If 75,000 records fit the filter requirements, then all of these records are used to calculate the data, including the totals on the screen.
Does the report/dashboard include data from a snapshot taken at as of the end of the month or is it from current data?
Some dashboards pull data from current data (and therefore pull from current balance totals), others from End-of-Month data (a snapshot taken at the end of the month). Selecting to view data from a previous month affects the balance totals on the New/Closed Membership dashboard. Watch for this documented at the top of many CU*BASE Online Help topics.
Is the report/dashboard generated at Beginning-of-Day or End-of-Day?
When run for the same date range, the Collections Dashboard (generated at Beginning-of-Day) may not include exactly the same results as the Loan Delinquency Analysis (generated at End-of-Day).
Is the dashboard/dashboard counting certificate issue date or reissue date?
The New/Closed Accounts Dashboard counts certificate issue date, not certificate reissue date.
Is the comparison report/dashboard reporting on a different date range?
This can be an issue since many reports or dashboards include data from different files. The collections of the data for these files may have begun on different dates. By adjusting the date ranges on the dashboard, you may be able to identify the difference.
Is the comparison report/dashboard using different files/sources?
The Collections Dashboard pulls data from the Collections file (COLL), and will not always provide the same results as the Delinquency Analysis Report which uses MEMBER5 and MEMBER6 as its source files.
Are the accounts included only accounts of memberships opened during a specific timeframe?
The New/Closed Membership Dashboard looks only at new memberships opened during a specific time frame. When evaluating savings/checking accounts opened, you cannot compare this dashboard with a query of MEMBER1, since this file includes all memberships, regardless of when the membership was opened.
Are the delinquent loans included grouped by number of months delinquent or by credit union delinquency configuration?
The Collections Dashboard pulls information from the credit union delinquency information and will not always provide the same results as the Delinquency Analysis, where loans are grouped according to the months delinquent.
Are only loans of a certain status, application type or review date included in the report/dashboard?
The Contingent Liability Dashboard includes data on credit card loans that meet specific criteria. For this reason, there may not be a one-to-one correlation with the credit union G/L balance for credit cards.
Are the balances of loans in currently in collections included in the results?
The results of the Loan Share Trial Balance Report may not be the same as the balance of the PCNTRB report in CU*SPY since the first report does not include the balances of loans in collections.
Link to ID: http://www.cuanswers.com/doc/gold/gold.htm#Dashboard_Tips.htm