The year of the AI-driven dashboard and what it will mean for dental business owners in 2026

Why real-time data, cockpit-style reporting and smarter decision-making will separate the leaders from the laggards

Here's a prediction for 2026.

The year of the AI-driven Dashboard.

Dashboards that tell us, in real time:

• Detailed financial analysis - revenue, costs, KPIs, OCPSPD;

• Profitability analysis on all types of treatment;

• Real-time fee-setting;

• Clinician productivity analysis and "score on the doors" reporting every day;

• Marketing systems - ROI on everything we do;

• CRM systems - every prospect and patient journey meticulously monitored.

And that's just the start of it - a business manager's workspace will be akin to a pilot's cockpit, with a plethora of dials and read outs - and warning signals whenever you are off course.

The race is now on to see who dominates the dashboard creation industry - I'm interrupted weekly by developers who want to:

• Demo their system;

• Tell me which PMS they are integrating with (and, confusingly, they all seem to be in negotiation with leading PMS providers to become their dashboard of choice);

• Parade their dials, histograms, pie-charts and traffic lights.

I ponder on the following questions:

1. Who will win the race(s) - it's like watching VHS versus Betamax but not knowing the outcome;

2. Which one should we back?

3. Perhaps most importantly - how are we going to get busy team members to read the dials when they are already overwhelmed.

Everyone is going to need flying lessons. Then a pilot's licence. Then to put the hours in.

I can see the innovators ploughing in and the late majority hanging back.

Fascinating