# KPI Summaries
Highlight key metrics with at-a-glance performance indicators
KPI (Key Performance Indicator) summaries display your most important metrics in a clear, scannable format. Each KPI tile shows a primary value along with comparison data—making it easy to see performance at a glance.
# What KPI Summaries Show
Each KPI tile displays:
| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Primary Value** | The main metric (e.g., $1.2M Revenue) |
| **Comparison** | Prior period or target value |
| **Change Indicator** | Arrow showing direction (↑ up, ↓ down) |
| **Percentage Change** | How much the metric changed |
| **Trend Color** | Green for positive, red for negative changes |
# Creating a KPI Summary
## Step 1: Add KPI to Canvas
1. Open your canvas in edit mode
2. Click the **+ Add** button in the toolbar
3. Select **KPI** from the object types
4. Click on the canvas where you want to place the KPI
## Step 2: Configure the Metric
1. **Select Dataset:** Choose the dataset containing your metric
2. **Choose Metric:** Select the column to measure (e.g., Revenue, Count, etc.)
3. **Set Aggregation:** Sum, Average, Count, Min, or Max
4. **Apply Filters:** Optionally filter to specific segments
## Step 3: Set Up Comparison
For time series data:
- Scoop automatically compares to the prior period
- Monthly data compares to previous month
- Weekly data compares to previous week
- Daily data compares to previous day
For non-time-series data:
- Set a target/reference value for comparison
- Enter the value you want to measure against
## Step 4: Customize Display
- **Title:** Add a descriptive label (e.g., "Monthly Revenue", "Active Customers")
- **Format:** Set number formatting (currency, percentage, decimal places)
- **Size:** Resize the tile to fit your layout
# Comparison Types
## Time Series Comparisons
When your dataset has snapshot dates, KPIs automatically compare:
| Data Frequency | Compares To |
|---------------|-------------|
| Daily | Previous day |
| Weekly | Same day last week |
| Monthly | Same day last month |
| Quarterly | Same day last quarter |
| Yearly | Same day last year |
**Example:** If today's Active Deals is 142 and yesterday was 138, the KPI shows:
- Primary: 142
- Change: +4 (+2.9%)
- Indicator: ↑ Green
## Reference Value Comparisons
For datasets without time series, set a target:
| Use Case | Reference Value |
|----------|-----------------|
| Sales quota | Monthly target |
| Budget | Planned amount |
| Benchmark | Industry average |
| Goal | Team objective |
**Example:** If Revenue is $95,000 and target is $100,000, the KPI shows:
- Primary: $95,000
- Change: -$5,000 (-5%)
- Indicator: ↓ Red (below target)
# KPI Best Practices
## Choose Meaningful Metrics
Focus on metrics that:
- Drive business decisions
- Are actionable
- Change frequently enough to be worth monitoring
- Have clear "good" and "bad" directions
**Good KPIs:**
- Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
- Pipeline Value
- Conversion Rate
- Average Deal Size
**Avoid:**
- Vanity metrics with no action path
- Metrics that rarely change
- Metrics without context
## Use Consistent Formatting
| Metric Type | Format Example |
|-------------|----------------|
| Currency | $1,234,567 or $1.2M |
| Percentage | 23.4% |
| Count | 1,234 or 1.2K |
| Duration | 14 days |
## Group Related KPIs
Arrange KPIs in logical groups:
- **Sales:** Revenue, Deals, Win Rate, Cycle Time
- **Marketing:** Leads, MQLs, Conversion Rate, CAC
- **Customer Success:** Churn, NPS, Retention, Expansion
## Consider Color Psychology
Scoop uses color to indicate performance:
- **Green:** Positive change / above target
- **Red:** Negative change / below target
Make sure your metric's direction makes sense:
- Revenue up = Green ✓
- Churn up = Should be Red (flip the comparison)
- Costs down = Green ✓
# Layout Ideas
## Executive Dashboard
Arrange 4-6 top-level KPIs across the top of your canvas:
```
┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐
│ Revenue │ │ Pipeline │ │ Deals │ │ Win Rate │
│ $1.2M ↑ │ │ $4.5M ↓ │ │ 47 ↑ │ │ 28% ↑ │
└──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘
[Detailed charts and tables below]
```
## Departmental Views
Create sections with department-specific KPIs:
```
Sales KPIs │ Marketing KPIs
────────────────────│────────────────────
Revenue Pipeline │ Leads MQLs
Deals Win Rate │ CAC Conversion
```
## Performance Cards
Large KPIs for wall displays or meetings:
```
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ $1,247,500 │
│ Monthly Revenue │
│ ↑ 12.3% vs LM │
│ │
└─────────────────────────┘
```
# Connecting KPIs to Details
KPIs work best when users can drill into details:
1. Place KPI tiles at the top of your canvas
2. Add related charts below showing trends
3. Include tables with supporting detail data
4. Use consistent filters across all elements
**Example Layout:**
- **Top:** KPI showing "Deals Closed This Month: 47"
- **Middle:** Line chart showing deals closed over time
- **Bottom:** Table listing all 47 deals with details
# Troubleshooting
## KPI Shows Unexpected Value
- Check filters applied to the KPI
- Verify the aggregation type (Sum vs Count vs Average)
- Confirm the date range matches your expectation
- Look for data quality issues in the source dataset
## Comparison Shows Wrong Period
- Verify the dataset has the expected date column
- Check that snapshot frequency matches your comparison expectation
- For non-time-series, confirm reference value is set correctly
## Color Seems Wrong
- Some metrics should flip direction (lower is better)
- Check if your metric interpretation matches the color logic
- Consider if the comparison period is appropriate
# Related Topics
- [Interactive Charts and Tables](interactive-charts-and-tables) - Add detail visualizations
- [Sheetlets](sheetlets) - Include editable spreadsheet data
- [Presenting a Canvas](../presenting-a-canvas) - Share KPI dashboards with stakeholders