What is a best practice for placing KPI portlets on a dashboard?

Positioning KPI portlets at the top of the center column on a dashboard is considered a best practice because it aligns with user behavior and the principles of effective design. The central area of the dashboard is the most visually dominant, and users typically scan from top to bottom and left to right. By placing the most important KPIs at the top center, users can quickly access the most relevant information without excessive scrolling or searching.

This placement ensures optimal visibility and quick insights, allowing decision-makers to focus on key performance indicators that drive business performance. Furthermore, a tidy and well-structured layout fosters a better user experience and helps users make informed decisions based on the data presented.

In contrast, placing KPIs in the bottom right corner would likely lead to decreased visibility, as this area is often scanned last. Dynamically positioning them based on usage frequency, while flexible, may result in inconsistency and confusion over time. Random distribution creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to locate and focus on critical data. Therefore, the method of placing them at the top of the center column enhances usability and efficiency.