Dolibarr ERP & CRM is one of the most flexible and accessible open-source platforms for managing business operations, particularly suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). One of the first things that users want after installing and configuring Dolibarr is to visualize their key metrics in one place — a dashboard. Whether you want to track invoices, monitor customer activity, see sales figures at a glance, or manage stock levels, a custom dashboard is essential.

The good news? You don’t need to be a developer to build one. While Dolibarr allows for deep customization through PHP modules and direct code modifications, this article focuses on how to create and customize dashboards without writing a single line of code — using built-in tools, modules, and available extensions from the Dolibarr ecosystem.

Let’s walk through the process step by step, from understanding what a dashboard is in Dolibarr, to using modules like Home, Widgets, and external tools that require zero programming knowledge. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to build a dashboard that reflects your business goals and helps your team stay on track.

What Is a Dashboard in Dolibarr?

A dashboard in Dolibarr is a central screen that aggregates and displays key information about your business. It typically includes visual elements like:

• Financial summaries (turnover, overdue invoices)

• Sales data

• Stock levels

• Recent activities

• Upcoming tasks or events

• Notifications or alerts

Dolibarr’s dashboards are based on widgets — small blocks of content that pull information from different modules and display it visually.

By default, each user’s homepage acts as a personalized dashboard. However, it’s quite basic out of the box. With a bit of configuration (and without any coding), you can make it powerful and tailored to your specific needs.

Step 1: Set Up the Right Modules

Before you can build a meaningful dashboard, you need to ensure that the data you want to display is being collected. This means activating and configuring relevant Dolibarr modules. Some of the key modules for dashboards include:

• Third Parties (Customers/Suppliers)

• Invoices and Payments

• Products and Services

• Commercial Proposals

• Projects and Tasks

• Stock

• Agenda (Calendar)

• Ticket or Helpdesk (if installed)

• Bank and Accounting

You can activate modules by navigating to:

Home > Setup > Modules/Applications

Enable the modules you plan to track on your dashboard. Configure each one to suit your workflow.

Step 2: Understand Dolibarr’s Built-in Dashboard System

Once modules are activated, Dolibarr begins to populate your home screen with basic widgets. Each user can see their own dashboard based on their permissions and module access.

There are two main types of dashboards in Dolibarr:

1. Homepage Widgets (User-specific)

These are the small boxes that appear on the homepage after login. They show:

• Recent events

• Open invoices

• Scheduled tasks

• Number of ongoing projects

• Product stocks

• Recent orders

Each user can customize this view based on preferences. For example, a sales manager may want to see pipeline status and quotes, while an accountant prefers cash flow and pending payments.

2. Module-specific Dashboards

Each module (like Invoices, Stock, Projects) has its own dashboard with relevant data summaries, charts, and tables.

Example:

• Billing > Customers Invoices > Dashboard shows overdue invoices, revenue summaries, and status filters.

These are not configurable in terms of layout, but they pull real-time data.

Step 3: Customize Your Homepage Dashboard

Now we get to the real fun: building a customized, user-friendly dashboard using only the tools provided within Dolibarr.

How to Customize the Homepage

Go to:

Home > Dashboard

Or just log in and look at your landing page. On the right side (or top, depending on layout), you’ll see buttons like:

• "Add Widget"

• "Configure this page"

Common Widgets You Can Add (No Code Required)

Dolibarr comes with built-in widgets tied to each activated module. You can usually find widgets for:

• Total open invoices

• Sales for the current month

• Number of leads created this week

• Upcoming calendar events

• New customer registrations

• Low stock alerts

• Last five tasks assigned

• Open tickets (if Helpdesk module is installed)

How to Add Widgets

1. Click "Add widget"

2. Select a widget from the list

3. Choose position (top, left column, right column)

4. Save

That’s it. The widget is now part of your personal dashboard.

Reorganize or Remove Widgets

• Drag-and-drop to move widgets around

• Click the settings (gear) icon to change display options

• Click the trash icon to remove a widget

Each user can manage their own dashboard layout.

Step 4: Use the "Boxes" Feature for Custom Data Blocks

Dolibarr includes a powerful feature called Boxes. These are blocks of information you can add to dashboards or module views.

What Are Boxes?

Boxes are essentially widgets that display statistics, charts, lists, or alerts. Some boxes are predefined (like "Top 5 customers by revenue") while others can be activated via configuration.

Boxes can be managed from:

Home > Setup > Display > Boxes

You’ll see a list of available boxes, such as:

• Sales statistics

• Customer status summaries

• Tasks pending approval

• Best-selling products

• Invoices awaiting validation

Activate Relevant Boxes

• Tick the ones you want active

• Set visibility (All users, only Admins, etc.)

• Save

Boxes will now appear on homepages or in relevant modules.

Step 5: Install a Dashboard Enhancement Module (Optional, No Coding)

To go beyond the built-in widgets and boxes, you can install modules from the Dolistore — Dolibarr’s official extension marketplace. Many modules offer advanced dashboards without requiring code.

Recommended No-Code Dashboard Modules

1. MyDashboard (Free/Paid versions)

   • Offers widget templates

   • Lets you create dashboards by user role

   • Supports custom KPIs and styling

2. DynamicDashboard

   • More graphical widgets (e.g., pie charts, gauges)

   • Drill-down filters by customer, date, product

3. KPI Manager

   • Focuses on business indicators (monthly revenue, margin, etc.)

   • Includes charts, threshold alerts

4. Charts Plugin

   • Adds more advanced chart types (bar, line, donut)

   • Easy drag-and-drop interface

To install a module:

• Download it from Dolistore  https://nextgestion.com/ 

• Upload it via Home > Setup > Modules > Deploy Module

• Activate and configure under Modules

Most modules come with documentation and don't require any technical skills.

Step 6: Use External Tools to Build Dashboards with Dolibarr Data (No Coding Option)

If you're looking to build visually rich dashboards using tools like Google Data Studio, Microsoft Power BI, or Tableau — but still without coding — you can export data or connect using CSV/API options.

Export Data

All Dolibarr modules support data export:

1. Go to any module (e.g., Invoices)

2. Use the "Export" button

3. Choose CSV, Excel, or OpenDocument format

4. Import this into your favorite BI tool

Google Sheets (Live Data)

Using connectors like Coupler.io, you can pull data into Google Sheets regularly, and create live dashboards with charts and filters.

Using the API Without Coding

Even without programming, some no-code platforms like:

• Zapier

• Make (Integromat)

• Pabbly Connect

allow you to pull data from Dolibarr (via REST API) and push it into dashboards or databases. You'll need to authenticate once and use visual workflows.

Best Practices for Dashboard Design in Dolibarr

1. Keep It Role-Specific

• Sales team: Revenue, pipeline, targets

• Accounting: Payments, overdue invoices, expenses

• Project managers: Tasks, hours logged, deadlines

• Executives: KPIs, profit margins, growth trends

Use user permissions and module access to define who sees what.

2. Avoid Clutter

It’s tempting to add everything, but a good dashboard is clean and focused. Stick to 6–8 widgets max per user.

3. Use Colors and Titles Wisely

When using enhanced modules, choose colors and titles that reflect urgency or importance. Red for overdue items, green for completed goals.

4. Update Regularly

Dashboards should reflect live data. Use cron jobs to keep figures current, or schedule daily refreshes if using exports.

Common Use Cases: Examples of Dolibarr Dashboards Without Code

Sales Manager Dashboard

• Monthly sales chart

• Pipeline opportunities

• Top 10 customers

• Number of quotes sent this week

• Sales by product category

Accounting Dashboard

• Invoices unpaid (aging by date)

• Payments received this week

• Bank account balance summary

• Expense breakdown

Operations Dashboard

• Tasks assigned and in progress

• Inventory low stock alerts

• Open service tickets

• Purchase orders awaiting approval

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Code to Be in Control

One of Dolibarr’s greatest strengths is that it empowers non-developers. With its built-in dashboard tools, module-specific summaries, and a thriving ecosystem of visual add-ons, you can build dashboards that are meaningful and strategic — without touching a line of code.

Whether you're managing your own company or helping clients streamline operations, building a personalized dashboard in Dolibarr helps bring clarity, improves communication, and supports data-driven decisions. Take the time to configure it right, and you’ll save hours every week while staying fully informed.