Board views let you group your contacts (or accounts) into columns based on a single dropdown field, then drag records between columns as their status changes. It's a kanban-style alternative to scrolling through a table, and it works alongside the standard table view without replacing it.
Before You Start: Create Your Grouping Field
Board views group records by a single-select dropdown field, so that field needs to exist before you create the board. Think of the field as your pipeline in list form — each option becomes one column on the board.
A common setup is a field called Sales Status, with options that move from open to closed, for example: Lead In, Contacted, Qualified, Discovery Call, Application, Agreement, Closed Won, Closed Lost. Your stages will vary based on your own process, but the same open-to-closed logic applies.
Once this field exists, you're ready to create the board view.
How to Create a Board View
Go to Settings and click Customize.
Click Contact to expand it.
Click Board Views.
Click Create Board View.
Enter a View Name.
Set Item Type to Contact.
Choose a field under Group into Columns By.
Only single-select dropdown fields with up to 40 options can be used for grouping. Fields marked as tracked record every change made to them, which lets the board show how long each record has sat in a given column.
Check Also Show This Field at the Top of the Record if you want the field visible as a full-width strip below the record name, so it can be changed in one click without opening the record's fields.
Check Track Changes to This Field if you want the board to show average time spent in each column. This also logs changes to the field in the Change Audit Trail report.
Choose how cards should be sorted under Sort Cards By, and the order under Order.
Choose who can see this view under Who Can See This View.
Click Save.
How to Switch to Board View
Go to Contacts and click the board view icon next to the list view icon, above the contact table.
Your board loads with a column for each option in the field you grouped by.
How to Manage Existing Board Views
Go to Contacts and switch to board view.
Click the dropdown with your current board's name in it.
Click Manage Boards.
From here you can edit an existing board's settings, create an additional board, or switch between boards you've already created.
Board Views for Accounts
Board views work the same way for accounts. Go to Settings, click Customize, expand Account instead of Contact, and follow the same steps under Board Views.
Key Notes
Board views are separate from filter views. A filter view narrows a list by rule; a board view groups an entire list into columns by one field.
Opportunities already have their own board view, documented in Opportunities & Pipelines Page Walkthrough.
Grouping is limited to single-select dropdown fields with 40 or fewer options.