How I Built A Pipeline Forecasting Data App That Sales Leaders Actually Use

As a Solutions Architect at Sigma, I get to solve complex problems and make data work for people in ways that are intuitive and impactful. One of the biggest challenges I’ve seen—both at Sigma and beyond—is how difficult it is for sales teams to get a live, accurate view of the deals in their pipeline. Too often, sellers rely on rigid forecasting tools that don't give them the information they need to do their jobs, or they're trying to use spreadsheets to forecast their deals based on stale data.

Sales teams need more than another SaaS tool that can't adapt to their workflows and can't give them a 360° view of their pipeline. They need a live, structured way to track deals, make forecasts, and adjust projections based on real-time insights. I built a pipeline forecasting data app on Sigma to give them exactly that—a dynamic, flexible tool that makes forecasting more accurate and less of a headache.

Building the app: A hands-on process

I didn’t start with code or dashboards—I started by talking to sales leaders and revenue teams. I wanted to understand what frustrated them about existing tools and what they actually needed. Then, I scoped out a version-one release: something lean and effective that solved their biggest pain points.

I didn’t start with code or dashboards—I started by talking to sales leaders and revenue teams.

From there, I got to work in Sigma. Since all our data already lived in Snowflake, I accessed it directly from Sigma without having to do any ELT. I used input tables and forms to structure forecasts, overlays to add context, and actions to create an interactive, app-like experience. The goal was to make the tool feel natural to use—so teams could focus on their deals instead of wrestling with a forecasting tool.

Making it even better

One of the most exciting parts of this process was iterating quickly. Because Sigma is so flexible, I was able to adjust and add new functionality as feedback came in. Sales leaders wanted to add a field to the forecast? Done. They wanted a way to automatically pull in customer engagement data? Easy. I even built a Q&A bot using LLMs that lets reps ask questions about their deals and get instant answers based on Gong transcripts—no more watching call recordings.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Sales leaders now have a clearer, more accurate view of their pipeline, which means fewer surprises when making forecasts and better decision-making. Teams are spending less time wrangling data and more time closing deals. And because the app is built in Sigma, it can evolve alongside our needs instead of becoming another outdated tool.

Advice for other builders

If you’re thinking about building a data app in Sigma, my biggest advice is to start small and focused. Get informed about a workflow that matters to your stakeholders, build a simple but effective solution, and then iterate based on feedback. Don’t try to do everything at once—just make sure what you build solves a pain point for the business.

The best apps aren’t just technically impressive; they make people’s work easier and more effective.

And most importantly, talk to your end users. The best apps aren’t just technically impressive; they make people’s work easier and more effective. Sigma gives you the flexibility to build exactly what they need—so take advantage of that.

Go further

Want to see my forecasting data app in action? Check out the Sales Pipeline Forecasting App.