Challenge: Sales Visualization Trends and Analytics

You are preparing a report to analyze company sales data. The goal is to visualize trends in profits and losses, category contributions to sales, and relationships between sales and inventory levels through a series of charts.

Assignment:
Create a table with the following columns (or get a ready-made spreadsheet):

• Month (January–December);
• Category (e.g., Smartphones, Laptops, Televisions);
• Sales (units);
• Inventory (units);
• Profit/Loss;
• Delta (month-to-month difference);

This table organizes key data for each month and category, ensuring it’s ready for visualization.

Create a line chart:

• Purpose: Visualize the trend of profits and losses throughout the year;
• Combine all months into the X-Axis and plot Profit/Loss values as the parameter;
• (To create the chart: Highlight the Month and Profit/Loss columns, go to Insert > Line Chart, and select a style that clearly shows trends.);

Create a pie chart:

• Purpose: Show the proportional contribution of each category to overall sales;
• Aggregate data by Category and use Total Sales as the parameter;
• (To create the chart: Highlight the Category and Total Sales columns, go to Insert > Pie Chart, and select a style with clear labels.);

Create bar charts:

• First Bar Chart:

  • Purpose: Display the monthly variation in sales volume;
  • Combine all months into the X-Axis and plot Sales (units) as the parameter;
  • (To create the chart: Highlight the Month and Sales columns, go to Insert > Bar Chart, and select the appropriate type.);

• Second Bar Chart:

  • Purpose: Show month-to-month changes in sales or inventory levels;
  • Combine all months into the X-Axis and plot Delta as the parameter;
  • (To create the chart: Highlight the Month and Delta columns, go to Insert > Bar Chart, and select a style that emphasizes differences.);

Create an area chart:

• Purpose: Depict the relationship between sales and inventory levels over time;
• Combine all months into the X-Axis, overlay Sales and Inventory (units) as parameters;
• (To create the chart: Highlight the Month, Sales, and Inventory columns, go to Insert > Area Chart, and adjust transparency and colors for clarity.);

Add details to all charts:

• Purpose: Enhance chart readability and understanding;
• Add descriptive titles for each chart, label the Axes, and include a Legend to explain data parameters;
• (To add details: Click on the chart, go to Chart Tools > Format, and use options to customize titles, axes, and legends.);