Understanding Your Dashboard

Overview

Your Akili Apps dashboard is your command center for managing expenses, invoices, and business finances. This guide explains each section and how to use them effectively.

What You'll Learn

• Navigate the main dashboard layout
• Understand each dashboard component
• Customize your dashboard view
• Use quick actions efficiently
• Read analytics and insights

Dashboard Layout

The Akili Apps dashboard is organized into several key sections designed for quick access to your most important financial data.

Top Navigation Bar

Located at the very top of your screen:

1. Search Bar (left)

   • Global search for expenses, invoices, and receipts
   • Search by merchant name, amount, category, or description
   • Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + K

2. Quick Actions (center)

   • + New Expense - Add expense manually
   • Scan Receipt - Camera or upload
   • Create Invoice - New invoice
   • Add Client - New client entry

3. User Menu (right)

   • Profile settings
   • Account preferences
   • Subscription management
   • Help & support
   • Sign out

Sidebar Navigation

The left sidebar provides access to all major features:

1. Dashboard - Home view (you are here)
2. Expenses - All expense tracking
3. Receipts - Receipt gallery and management
4. Invoices - Invoice creation and tracking
5. Reports - Analytics and export tools
6. Bank Accounts - Connected accounts and sync
7. Clients - Client management
8. Settings - Account configuration
9. AI Assistant - Maple tax assistant

Main Dashboard Area

The central area displays your financial overview:

1. Financial Summary Cards (Top Row)

Month-to-Date Expenses

• Current month's total expenses
• Comparison to last month (% change)
• Click to view detailed breakdown

Outstanding Invoices

• Total unpaid invoice value
• Number of overdue invoices
• Click to view invoice list

This Month's Income

• Total invoiced amount
• Paid vs. pending
• Click for detailed report

Tax Summary

• GST/HST collected
• GST/HST paid on expenses
• Net tax position

2. Quick Stats Row

Visual indicators showing:

• Number of expenses this month
• Number of receipts scanned
• Number of invoices sent
• Bank accounts connected

3. Expense Analytics Chart

Interactive chart displaying:

• Line Chart - Spending trends over time
• Bar Chart - Spending by category
• Pie Chart - Category distribution
• Time period selector (Week, Month, Quarter, Year)
• Category filter options

4. Recent Activity Feed

Chronological list of recent actions:

• Expenses added or modified
• Receipts scanned
• Invoices created or sent
• Payments received
• Bank transactions synced

Each item shows:

• Date and time
• Action type (icon)
• Description
• Amount
• Quick action buttons (View, Edit, Delete)

5. Upcoming & Overdue Section

Recurring Expenses

• List of upcoming recurring expenses
• Next due date
• Amount
• Quick edit or skip options

Overdue Invoices

• Invoices past their due date
• Days overdue
• Client name
• Quick reminder button

6. Tax Insights Panel

AI-powered suggestions:

• Potential deductions you may have missed
• Tax-saving opportunities
• GST/HST filing reminders
• Quarterly tax estimate

7. Tips & Recommendations

Contextual tips based on your usage:

• Features you haven't tried
• Best practices for your industry
• Time-saving shortcuts
• Seasonal tax reminders

Customizing Your Dashboard

Rearrange Widgets

1. Click "Customize Dashboard" (gear icon, top right)
2. Drag and drop widgets to rearrange
3. Click "Save Layout"

Show/Hide Components

1. Click "Customize Dashboard"
2. Toggle visibility for each widget
3. Recommended to keep financial summary visible

Set Default Time Period

1. Go to Settings > Preferences
2. Select default dashboard time range
3. Options: Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Current month, Current quarter

Choose Chart Type

1. Click the chart type dropdown on the analytics chart
2. Select Line, Bar, or Pie chart
3. Your preference is saved automatically

Quick Actions & Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

• Ctrl/Cmd + K - Global search
• Ctrl/Cmd + E - New expense
• Ctrl/Cmd + I - New invoice
• Ctrl/Cmd + R - Scan receipt
• Ctrl/Cmd + / - Show all shortcuts

Quick Filters

Use filters above the activity feed:

• All Activity - Everything
• Expenses Only - Just expenses
• Invoices Only - Just invoices
• Today - Today's activity
• This Week - Last 7 days

Action Buttons

Hover over items in the activity feed to reveal:

• View (eye icon) - See full details
• Edit (pencil icon) - Modify entry
• Delete (trash icon) - Remove entry
• Duplicate (copy icon) - Create similar entry

Mobile Dashboard View

The dashboard automatically adapts for mobile devices:

• Simplified Layout - Cards stack vertically
• Swipe Actions - Swipe left on items for quick actions
• Bottom Navigation - Easy thumb access
• Touch-Optimized - Larger touch targets

Tips & Best Practices

• Check daily - Quick morning review keeps finances current
• Use quick actions - Faster than navigating through menus
• Set up widgets - Customize for your most-used features
• Monitor trends - Watch the analytics chart for spending patterns
• Review activity feed - Catch errors or duplicate entries quickly
• Address overdue invoices - Use the quick reminder feature
• Enable notifications - Get alerted to important changes

Common Questions

Q: Why is my expense total different from my bank balance? A: The dashboard shows business expenses tracked in Akili Apps, not your bank balance. Connect your bank account to reconcile transactions.

Q: Can I change what appears on my dashboard? A: Yes! Click "Customize Dashboard" to show/hide widgets and rearrange the layout.

Q: How often does the dashboard update? A: The dashboard updates in real-time as you add or modify data. Bank transactions sync every 24 hours.

Q: What's the difference between This Month's Income and Outstanding Invoices? A: "This Month's Income" shows all invoices created this month (paid and unpaid). "Outstanding Invoices" shows unpaid invoices from any time period.

Q: Can I export dashboard data? A: Yes, click the export button (download icon) on any widget to export that data to CSV or PDF.

Q: How do I access the old/classic dashboard? A: The dashboard updates automatically with new features. If you prefer the previous layout, contact support.

Related Articles

• Creating Expenses - Add expenses from dashboard
• Quick Start Guide - Get started fast
• Analytics Dashboard - Detailed analytics
• Onboarding Guide - Initial setup

Need More Help?

Contact support at support@akiliapps.com or use the live chat in the bottom right corner of the app.