> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.kodelabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What is Building BI?

> Create interactive dashboards and data visualizations to monitor building performance and share insights across your portfolio.

Building BI is the analytics and visualization module in Cloud BMS. Create single-pane-of-glass dashboards that consolidate metrics, support operational workflows, and highlight trends across your entire building portfolio

A single dashboard can combine <Tooltip tip="Fault Detection and Diagnostics monitors equipment and detects operational issues in real time.">FDD</Tooltip> results, <Tooltip tip="Functional Testing Tool runs automated tests on HVAC equipment such as AHUs, VAVs, and FCUs.">FTT</Tooltip> scores, energy data, and graphics. You can also include [AssetOps](/products/assetops/quickstart/overview) insights and live sensor readings in one view.

Open Building BI from the Cloud BMS portfolio or building sidebar.

Design dashboards so users find what they need without leaving the view. See [The philosophy of Building BI](/products/building-bi/concepts/philosophy).

<Info>
  Building BI replaces the legacy `Dashboard` module in Cloud BMS. If you still see the old `Dashboard` module in your navigation, switch to Building BI for the full feature set.
</Info>

## Start here

Pick a path based on what you need first.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build your first dashboard" icon="graduation-cap" href="/products/building-bi/tutorials/build-your-first-dashboard" arrow={true} cta="Start">
    Create, configure, and publish a dashboard in one guided session.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dashboards" icon="layout-dashboard" href="/products/building-bi/dashboards" arrow={true} cta="Explore">
    Work with charts, tables, widgets, filters, and sharing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data sources" icon="database" href="/products/building-bi/data-sources" arrow={true} cta="Connect">
    Connect tables, columns, and metrics that power your charts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Collections" icon="folder-open" href="/products/building-bi/collections" arrow={true} cta="Organize">
    Group dashboards and share them with roles across your team.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Portfolio and building scope

Building BI works at two levels: <Tooltip tip="Cross-building scope across every site in your estate. Use it for portfolio analytics and site-to-site comparison.">portfolio</Tooltip> and <Tooltip tip="Scope limited to a single building after you select a site. Use it for day-to-day operations.">building</Tooltip>. The interface and features match at both levels. Only the data scope changes.

* **Portfolio level** — Cross-building analytics, aggregated metrics, and site-to-site comparisons. Executives and portfolio managers use this view most often.
* **Building level** — Data filtered to one site for monitoring, targeted workflows, and deep-dive analysis. Building operators and facility managers use this view for daily work.

Design each dashboard for the altitude where people will open it. A portfolio comparison can look empty at a single building. A building-ops layout can look incomplete at portfolio level.

<Note>
  Some features appear only at the portfolio level. [`Deployment Manager`](/products/building-bi/deployment-manager), for example, is available only when you open Building BI from the portfolio view. Organizations can also limit users to specific buildings through role permissions. See [How Building BI permissions work](/products/building-bi/concepts/how-permissions-work).
</Note>

## Enable Building BI

Enable Building BI per building in [Launchpad](/products/launchpad/get-started/introduction). After the module is on, assign role permissions so users can open and edit dashboards. See [How Building BI permissions work](/products/building-bi/concepts/how-permissions-work).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the building">
    In Launchpad, go to `Buildings` and select the building where you want Building BI.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Modules">
    Select the `Modules` tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Building BI">
    Find `Building BI` in the module list and turn the toggle on.

    <Frame caption="Enabling Building BI on a building Modules tab in Launchpad">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/kodelabs/B4MTivRlYKOrn2ok/images/kode-os/building-bi/bbi-enable-building-module.gif?s=20dca7494274f17d99cf21a05d12c352" alt="Launchpad Buildings flow opening a building Modules tab and turning on the Building BI module toggle" width="1718" height="1270" data-path="images/kode-os/building-bi/bbi-enable-building-module.gif" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  KODE Support often enables Building BI for your organization. If you cannot access building modules, contact [support@kodelabs.com](mailto:support@kodelabs.com) or ask your customer success manager (CSM).
</Tip>

## Access Building BI

Select `Building BI` from the left navigation bar. The module opens to your dashboard view.

The left-hand navigation panel is the primary way to move through Building BI. It has two sections.

**Top section**

* [`Collections and Dashboards`](/products/building-bi/collections) — Opens the management page where you edit collections and dashboards, including configuration, settings, and permissions.
* Collections list — <Tooltip tip="A role-based grouping of dashboards, similar to a folder. One dashboard can belong to multiple collections.">Expandable groups</Tooltip> of dashboards by topic or team. Select the arrow next to a collection name to expand or collapse it. Visibility depends on your KODE OS role. Editing a dashboard in one collection updates it everywhere it appears.
* `My Dashboards` — Dashboards you created or can edit as a collaborator, across every collection. Unlike collections, access here is assigned per user. See [My Dashboards](/products/building-bi/collections#my-dashboards).

**Bottom section**

* [`Deployment Manager`](/products/building-bi/deployment-manager) — Deploy a dashboard or collection across multiple buildings at once. Portfolio level only. Highly customized dashboards may not scale well across sites.
* [`Settings`](/products/building-bi/settings) — Manage shared links, scheduled reports, and custom color palettes.
* [`Data Sources`](/products/building-bi/data-sources) — Add, edit, or remove tables, columns, and metrics available across your Building BI instances.
* [`Templates`](/products/building-bi/templates) — Create, import, or export templates for collections, dashboards, tabs, or widgets. This section also includes global templates with standard KODE Labs dashboards.

<Warning>
  Changes made through the bottom navigation tools (`Data Sources`, `Settings`, `Templates`) affect the entire portfolio, not just the current building.
</Warning>

You can collapse the panel when you need more canvas space.

<Tip>
  Select the `<` icon at the top of the navigation panel to maximize your dashboard viewing area.
</Tip>

## Key features

Building BI provides tools to create, manage, and distribute visualizations across your portfolio.

* **[Dashboards](/products/building-bi/dashboards)** — Build interactive views with configurable <Tooltip tip="Customizable components on a dashboard canvas, such as charts, slicers, cards, tables, and graphics.">widgets</Tooltip>, charts, and data tables.
* **[Collections](/products/building-bi/collections)** — Organize dashboards into groups and control access with role-based sharing.
* **[Data sources](/products/building-bi/data-sources)** — Connect dashboards to live building data from devices, points, and other KODE OS modules.
* **[Deployment manager](/products/building-bi/deployment-manager)** — Deploy a dashboard configuration across multiple sites at once.
* **[Templates](/products/building-bi/templates)** — Duplicate collections, dashboards, tabs, or widgets for faster reuse.
* **[Widget customization](/products/building-bi/widget-customization)** — Style and configure individual widgets on the canvas.
* **[PDF exports](/products/building-bi/pdf-exports)** — Generate scheduled PDF reports and distribute them to stakeholders.
* **[Version history](/products/building-bi/concepts/draft-mode-version-history)** — Track dashboard changes over time and restore earlier versions when needed.
* **[Settings](/products/building-bi/settings)** — Configure sharing, scheduled reports, and color palettes.

## How these docs are organized

Building BI docs follow the product, not documentation labels.

* **Get started** — This overview, plus a **Tutorials** group for guided walkthroughs such as the [first-dashboard tutorial](/products/building-bi/tutorials/build-your-first-dashboard).
* **Feature groups** — [Dashboards](/products/building-bi/dashboards), [Data sources](/products/building-bi/data-sources), [Collections](/products/building-bi/collections) and [templates](/products/building-bi/templates), and [Administration](/products/building-bi/settings).
* **Concepts** — Why and how the product works, starting with [philosophy](/products/building-bi/concepts/philosophy).
* **Reference** — Field-level lookups and the [glossary](/products/building-bi/glossary).

If you know what you need, use search. If you are learning the product, start with the tutorial, then open the matching topic page.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build your first dashboard" icon="graduation-cap" href="/products/building-bi/tutorials/build-your-first-dashboard" arrow={true}>
    Walk through creating, configuring, and publishing a dashboard in one session.
  </Card>

  <Card title="The philosophy of Building BI" icon="lightbulb" href="/products/building-bi/concepts/philosophy" arrow={true}>
    Learn the design mindset behind dashboards that fit real workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Deployment manager" icon="rocket" href="/products/building-bi/deployment-manager" arrow={true}>
    Roll out dashboards and collections across buildings in your portfolio.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Building BI settings" icon="settings" href="/products/building-bi/settings" arrow={true}>
    Configure shared links, scheduled reports, and color palettes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>