Hey everyone,
I’m excited to share FabLab Brno’s newest FabMan integration: custom analytics!
As our makerspace continues to grow, we needed a solid foundation for making strategic decisions. That’s why we built this comprehensive analytics tool. It helps us understand:
- How our user base is growing.
- Which membership packages users are choosing.
- How users transition between packages.
- The time spent on specific machines.
- How often users visit the makerspace.
- The training progress of users.
- Trends in newly completed trainings.
All the data is aggregated and visualized over time, with months shown on the X-axis.
The best part? This integration is open-source, so anyone using FabMan can implement it in their makerspace!
Let me break down each metric and what it tells us. (Unfortunately, I can’t share live screenshots due to internal policies, but I hope the descriptions are helpful!)
1. Number of Users
This metric tracks how many users FabLab Brno has in total. It also breaks down which membership packages users have chosen (e.g., Basic, Standard, Premium). The graph shows how these numbers change over time, providing insights into growth and package preferences.
2. Active Memberships
This focuses specifically on the number of users with active memberships. It shows:
- How many users are in each package.
- Changes in these numbers month by month.
- The total number of active memberships in the makerspace.
3. Transitions Between Memberships
This metric is all about movement. If a user changes their membership package, the graph highlights:
- Which package they transitioned from.
- Which new package they selected.
It’s a great way to spot trends in user preferences.
4. Time Spent on Machines
This metric tracks how many hours users spend on each piece of equipment. A key note:
- For highly-used machines like 3D printers, we divide total hours by 10 to make the data easier to interpret visually.
5. Visit Frequency
This shows how many days users visited the makerspace within a given timeframe. The data is grouped into categories:
- Less than 3 days.
- Between 3 and 7 days.
- More than 7 days.
This helps us see how actively our users engage with the space.
6. User Trainings
This metric tracks how many trainings users have completed, including:
- Only one training (exc. safety training)
- At least 3 basic trainings (e.g., 3D printers, laser cutter, vinyl cutter).
- Advanced trainings for specialized machines (e.g., CNC, sewing machines).
7. Newly Completed Trainings
This shows the number of trainings completed each month for specific machines or tools. It helps us identify:
- Popular trainings
- Underutilized trainings that might need promotion or updates.
This tool has already provided us with valuable insights, and we’re excited to see how it evolves. If you’re using FabMan and want to explore similar analytics for your makerspace, feel free to check out the open-source repository. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome!