Build a KPI Chart (Beta)

This feature is currently in open Beta and subject to quick, iterative changes. As a result, the latest product version may differ from the contents of this document.

Key performance indicator (KPI) charts highlight single metric values typically used to measure performance or progress toward goals. With Sigma, you can create a KPI chart to summarize the total value of a metric for a specific period, or you can include additional data to compare the metric’s value over time and measure it against a benchmark or target value.

Example use cases:

  • Marketing analytics - track click-through rates to highlight email campaign performance over time.
  • Executive dashboarding - measure monthly year-over-year revenue to understand how the current month’s revenue compares to the previous year benchmark.
  • Manufacturing analytics - report cycle time to analyze the amount of time it takes a product to complete the manufacturing process.

Contents

User Requirements

KPI Chart Variations

Basic KPI Chart Configurations

Add a KPI Chart

Define the Metric Value

Define the Measurable Period

Select a Comparison Period

Add a Comparison Value

Advanced KPI Chart Properties and Formatting

Change Value Font Color

Add Conditional Formatting

Customize Value Font

Customize Comparison

Customize Trend Line

Customize Chart Layout

All KPI Chart Format Options

Related Resources

User Requirements

The ability to create KPI charts and other visualizations requires the following:

  • You must be assigned an account type with the Edit Workbook and/or Explore Workbook permission enabled.
  • You must be the workbook owner or be granted Can explore or Can edit workbook permission.

If you’re granted Can explore access to the workbook, you can create and modify visualization properties and formatting in Explore mode, but you cannot publish your changes.

KPI Chart Variations

Sigma’s KPI charts allow you to track and display metrics in various ways depending on how you configure the element properties.


Summary Value

Summarize the total value of a metric.

Required element properties:

Summary Value Comparison

Summarize the total value of a metric and measure it against a benchmark or target.

The KPI displays the comparison as a percentage, delta, or absolute value.

Required element properties:

Period Value

Highlight the value of a metric for a specific period (week, month, year, etc.).

The KPI can include a trend line that illustrates metric trends and patterns over time.

Required element properties:

Sequential or Period-Over-Period Comparison

Highlight the value of a metric for a specific period (week, month, year, etc.) and display a sequential or period-over-period comparison as a percentage, delta, or absolute value.

The KPI can include a trend line that illustrates metric trends and patterns over time.

Required element properties:

Period Value Comparison

Highlight the value of a metric for a specific period (week, month, year, etc.) and measure it against a benchmark or target.

The KPI displays the comparison as a percentage, delta, or absolute value and can include a comparative trend line that illustrates metric trends and patterns over time.

Required element properties:

Basic KPI Chart Configurations

KPI charts feature the following element properties:

  • Visualization - chart type displayed in the workbook
  • Value - source column that defines the metric value
  • Timeline - source column that defines the measurable period
  • Comparison - source column that defines the comparison period or value

At the core of every visualization is an underlying data table (derived from the data source) that supplies the information visualized by the chart. As you build a KPI chart, Sigma automatically calculates and structures the data to map the element properties to source columns in the underlying data table. For information about how to view the underlying data while you configure the chart, see Maximize or Minimize a Data Element.

Add a KPI Chart

Create a new visualization element and designate it as a KPI chart.

  1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode and add a new visualization element.
  2. In the Visualization property, click the dropdown field and select KPI from the list.

You can also use this dropdown to change the visualization type of an existing element. Sigma retains all property and format configurations shared by the initial and new type. Unshared properties and formatting aren’t saved and aren’t restored if you further convert the visualization.

Define the Metric Value

Configure a source column to define the metric value.

  1. In the Value property, click Add calculation and select an option from the menu:
    • To aggregate values in an existing column, search or scroll the Aggregate column list and select the preferred column name.
    • To apply a custom formula, select Add new column and enter the formula or value in the toolbar.
    • To count the number of rows in the data source, select Row count.

    You can also select or replace an existing column by dragging and dropping a column name from the Columns list to the Value property.

    When you only configure the Value property, the chart summarizes the total value of the metric by aggregating all data points in the source column.

  2. [optional] Control how the metric is measured and displayed:
    1. In the Value property, hover over the column name, then click the caret () to open the column menu.
    2. Hover over any of the following items and select the preferred option:
      • Set aggregate - Measure the metric based on the selected aggregation method.
      • Transform - Convert the column to the selected data value type.
      • Format - Display the metric value in the selected format.

Define the Measurable Period

Configure a source column to define the measurable period. The KPI chart displays a value for the latest period and allows you to view previous periods by hovering over the trend line.

  1. In the Timeline property, click Add column and select and option from the menu:
    • To aggregate values based on dates in an existing column, search or scroll the Select column list and select the preferred column.
    • To apply a custom formula, select Add new column and enter the formula in the toolbar.

    You can only select or create a date column in the Timeline property. Existing columns that don’t contain date values cannot be selected in the Select column list.

    If the size of the element allows, the chart displays a trend line when a source column is configured in the Timeline property. You can hover over the trend line to view previous period values.

  2. [optional] Control how the period is measured and displayed:
    1. In the Timeline property, hover over the column name, then click the caret () to open the column menu.
    2. Hover over any of the following items and select the preferred option:
      • Truncate date - Measure the metric value based on the selected period.
      • Format - Display the period date in the selected format.

Select a Comparison Period

Select a comparison period to display a sequential or period-over-period comparison.

  1. In the Comparison property, enable the Period option. If a source column is configured in the Timeline property the option is automatically enabled.
  2. Click the dropdown and select a type of period comparison.

    Configuring a column in the Timeline property automatically engages the Comparison property. To build a KPI chart that highlights the period value of a metric without displaying a comparison, ensure the dropdown is set to None.

    By default, a comparison value is displayed as a percentage. To instead display a delta or absolute value, customize the comparison in the Element format panel.

Add a Comparison Value

Configure a source column to measure the metric against a benchmark or target value.

  1. In the Comparison property, click Add calculation and select an option from the menu:
    • To aggregate values in an existing column, search or scroll the Aggregate column list and select the preferred column name.
    • To apply a custom formula, select Add new column and enter the formula or value in the toolbar.
    • To count the number of rows in the data source, select Row count.

    By default, a comparison value is displayed as a percentage. To instead display a delta or absolute value, customize the comparison in the Element format panel.

  2. [optional] Control how the benchmark or goal is measured and displayed:
    1. In the Comparison property, hover over the column name, then click the caret () to open the column menu.
    2. Hover over any of the following items and select the preferred option:
      • Set aggregate - Measure the metric based on the selected aggregation method.
      • Transform - Convert the column to the selected data value type.

Advanced KPI Chart Properties and Formatting

Sigma features various properties and format options that give you the flexibility to build detailed KPI charts.

The following sections introduce configurations that can enhance your charts and help you deliver specific insights with meaningful and actionable information.

Change Value Color

Change the metric value’s font color in the Element properties > Marks > Color tab. This determines the default color of the metric value, which can be overridden by conditional formatting rules.

The Color property (including conditional formatting) applies to the metric value only and doesn’t impact the element title or comparison font.

Add Conditional Formatting

Configure formatting rules rules (click + Add rule) in the Element properties > Marks > Color tab to change the metric value’s font color according to value-based conditions. This allows you to highlight or emphasize the value when it meets the specified conditions.

Customize Value Font

Customize the metric value’s font weight, color, and size in the Element format > Value section.

The Value format settings apply to the metric value only and don’t impact the element title or comparison font. If you change the font color in this section, the font color is also changed in the element’s Color property.

Customize Comparison

Customize the comparison line in the Element format > Comparison section.

In addition to modifying the color indicators, you can change the font size of the comparison value, show or hide the label, and customize the label content.

You can also select the type of comparison displayed and identify the favorable direction of the comparison. The Direction setting determines when the Good color, Neutral color, and Bad color indicators apply to the comparison value.

Display

Percentage

Display the percent of increase or decrease relative to the comparison value.

Delta

Display the numerical increase or decrease relative to the comparison value.

Absolute

Display the absolute value of the comparison period or column.

Direction

Higher is better

Apply the Good color selection to increased comparative values and the Bad color selection to decreased comparative values.

Lower is better

Apply the Good color selection to decreased comparative values and the Bad color selection to increased comparative values.

None

Apply no color indicator to the comparative value.

Customize Trend Line

Customize the trend line in the Element format > Trend section.

In addition to showing and hiding the trend line, you can select the trend line shape and customize its colors.

Shape
Line Area

You can also enable tooltips on hover and display tick marks and labels on the x-axis.

Tooltip Timeline axis

Customize Chart Layout

Customize the chart layout in the Element format > Layout section.

Change the alignment of the text components, and select the location of the title and comparison value.

Alignment
Left Center Right
Title
Top Bottom
Comparison value
Right Below

All KPI Chart Format Options

Related Resources

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