KPI DashboardsMonitoring Key Performance IndicatorsMonitoring Key Performance Indicators

The The InetSoft Self-Learning Series

June 2010June 2010

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What is a KPI?What is a KPI?

A A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a metric that allows an organization to (KPI) is a metric that allows an organization to measure its progress toward a predetermined goal. measure its progress toward a predetermined goal.

KPIs provide an overview of an organization’s present state and help to provide an overview of an organization’s present state and help to determine the best course of action for the future, and can vary widely determine the best course of action for the future, and can vary widely according to the size, strategy, nature and niche of an organization.according to the size, strategy, nature and niche of an organization.

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Who uses KPIs? Who uses KPIs?

Simply put, everyone. Simply put, everyone.

Any Any industry, government agency, or non-profit organization needs to measure its performance on a daily, monthly or quarterly basis, and

key performance indicators are those statistics that are deemed important to track in order to meet business goals or organizational objectives.

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What is a KPI What is a KPI Dashboard?

A dashboard is an A dashboard is an interactive visualization that allows a user to arrange a visual representation of data in a way that facilitates the recognition of trends and patterns. Thus, a KPI Dashboard enables a user to recognize trends and patterns in key performance measures.

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Where can I get a KPI Dashboard?Where can I get a KPI Dashboard?

In general, no In general, no business intelligence software is going to provide KPI dashboards that are ready-to-use because KPIs are derived from formulae that are specific to an organization, and in all cases, the data that make a KPI need to be mapped into the software application.

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Which application lets me get the most from KPIs?Which application lets me get the most from KPIs?

The most important thing you should look for in your Business Intelligence The most important thing you should look for in your Business Intelligence (BI) Software is the ability to create data mashups. (BI) Software is the ability to create data mashups.

Traditional BI draws from data warehouses that can hold large quantities of Traditional BI draws from data warehouses that can hold large quantities of information, but inflexible to change. This allows users to analyze historical information, but inflexible to change. This allows users to analyze historical data, but makes it difficult to analyze real-time transactional processes. data, but makes it difficult to analyze real-time transactional processes.

Other applications can alert users of real-time processes, but lack the Other applications can alert users of real-time processes, but lack the analytical capabilities that are necessary to track the course of progress over analytical capabilities that are necessary to track the course of progress over a sufficient amount of time. a sufficient amount of time.

Ideally, you want an application that allows the user to create a data mashup Ideally, you want an application that allows the user to create a data mashup from both real-time and historical data simultaneously. from both real-time and historical data simultaneously.

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KPI Dashboard SummaryKPI Dashboard Summary

Key performance indicators (KPIs) help an organization measure its Key performance indicators (KPIs) help an organization measure its progress toward a goal. progress toward a goal.

A KPI Dashboard provides a visual overview of an organization’s present A KPI Dashboard provides a visual overview of an organization’s present state and helps determine the best course of action for the future.state and helps determine the best course of action for the future.

The most important feature to have in a business intelligence application is The most important feature to have in a business intelligence application is the ability to create data mashups from both current and historical data. This the ability to create data mashups from both current and historical data. This provides users with the best chance at recognizing long-term patterns and provides users with the best chance at recognizing long-term patterns and trends, allowing them to make informed decision on a day-to day basis. trends, allowing them to make informed decision on a day-to day basis.

Want to learn more about KPI monitoring? Visit www.inetsoft.com for tips, Want to learn more about KPI monitoring? Visit www.inetsoft.com for tips, demos, and interactive examples. demos, and interactive examples.