SharePoint Dashboard & Card Boost: Expand Your Insights Quickly

Key insights

• Dashboard web part is now available for all SharePoint sites, not just Home Sites. This allows teams to add interactive dashboards with cards on any site, including Teams and Communication sites.
  
• Cards are customizable content blocks that display dynamic information such as playlists, events, documents, or ticket statistics. Teams can use both out-of-the-box cards and custom cards created with the Card Designer or SharePoint Framework.
  
• Customization is easy—site authors can mix and manage different cards on their dashboard pages. Custom cards are deployed through the SharePoint app catalog and can be reused across various sites.
  
• User engagement increases because dashboards present relevant data directly to users, reducing repetitive requests for information from departments like HR or IT.
  
• The update supports a single dashboard instance per site, but you can place multiple web parts on different pages showing the same content for consistency.
  
• This feature entered private preview in May 2025, with general availability expected by the end of May 2025. It aligns with Microsoft’s focus on low-code/no-code solutions and improved intranet experiences across Microsoft 365.
  

Introducing Dashboard Expansion Across SharePoint Sites

Microsoft recently unveiled a significant update in its latest YouTube video, focusing on the expansion of interactive dashboards and cards across all SharePoint sites. Traditionally, the Dashboard web part—integral to Viva Connections—was confined to SharePoint Home Sites. However, this new feature now allows the addition of dashboards to any SharePoint site, including Team and Communication sites. This shift enables organizations to deliver personalized, engaging experiences tailored to departmental needs, such as HR or IT, without being restricted to a single hub.

The rollout began with a private preview in early May 2025, and general availability is expected by the end of the same month. This move marks a strategic step toward making SharePoint a more flexible and interactive platform for both information sharing and collaboration.

Core Features and Customization Options

At the heart of this enhancement is the Dashboard web part, which empowers site authors to build rich dashboards using modular "cards." These cards serve as interactive content blocks, displaying information such as playlists, upcoming events, documents, or ticket statistics. The cards can be either pre-configured out-of-the-box or custom-developed using tools like the Card Designer or SharePoint Framework.

Notably, organizations can now deploy custom cards at the tenant level through the SharePoint app catalog, making them reusable across multiple sites. While only one dashboard instance is supported per site, authors can embed the dashboard web part on various pages, ensuring consistency of content throughout the site. This approach balances ease of management with broad accessibility.

Benefits and Organizational Impact

Expanding dashboard capabilities offers several tangible benefits. First, it enhances user engagement by presenting visually cohesive and interactive content directly within departmental sites. By surfacing key information and actionable items, these dashboards help reduce the volume of repetitive requests, such as HR inquiries or IT support tickets.

Moreover, the flexibility to combine standard and custom cards means teams can design dashboards that closely match their unique workflows. This not only streamlines day-to-day operations but also supports a consistent experience across the broader Microsoft 365 environment. As a result, organizations see improved efficiency and a more unified intranet experience.

Tradeoffs and Implementation Challenges

While the new dashboard capabilities bring substantial advantages, they also introduce some tradeoffs. The current architecture allows only one dashboard per site, which simplifies management but may limit advanced customization needs for complex organizations. Additionally, rolling out custom cards requires coordination with IT to manage deployments through the app catalog, possibly posing challenges for smaller teams lacking technical resources.

Another consideration involves balancing low-code/no-code flexibility with the potential need for more advanced, code-based customizations. Organizations must assess their internal skill sets and decide whether to rely on out-of-the-box solutions or invest in developing custom cards using the SharePoint Framework. This decision impacts both the initial rollout and ongoing maintenance.

Alignment with Microsoft 365 Trends

This dashboard extension is part of a broader Microsoft 365 strategy focused on empowering users through low-code and no-code solutions, particularly via Power Platform integrations. By enabling more personalized and department-centric content surfaces, Microsoft aims to boost intranet engagement and streamline navigation across SharePoint.

Furthermore, these advancements complement ongoing improvements to the SharePoint start page and user interface. Together, they create a more intuitive and productive environment for document handling, team collaboration, and internal communications.

Conclusion

In summary, the expansion of dashboards and cards across SharePoint reflects Microsoft’s commitment to delivering versatile, interactive tools for modern workplaces. By making these features available beyond Home Sites, organizations gain the flexibility to create engaging, department-specific dashboards that drive both productivity and user satisfaction. As with any new technology, careful planning and consideration of organizational needs will be key to maximizing the benefits while managing the inherent complexities of deployment and customization.

Keywords

SharePoint dashboards SharePoint cards customization Extend SharePoint UI SharePoint web parts dashboard integration Office 365 dashboards Power BI SharePoint extensions