Working with Metrics

Metrics are what make your KPI trees actionable. They attach real numbers to nodes, turning a visual diagram into a performance tracking system. This guide covers how to define, manage, and analyze metrics in Valtrics.

What Is a Metric?

A metric in Valtrics is a measurable value that you track over time. Each metric has:

• Name — What you're measuring (e.g., "Monthly Active Users")
• Target — The value you're aiming for
• Actual — The current or recorded value
• Time period — When the measurement applies
• Unit — How the value is expressed (count, percentage, currency, etc.)

Metrics are attached to nodes in KPI trees. A single node has one metric, and that metric can have values across multiple time periods.

Creating a Metric

1. Open a product or KPI tree
2. Navigate to the metrics section or click a tree node
3. Click Add Metric
4. Fill in:
   • Metric name — Clear and specific (e.g., "Q1 Revenue" rather than just "Revenue")
   • Unit — Select from: Number, Percentage, Currency, Custom
   • Target — Your goal value
   • Actual — Current value (you can update this later)
   • Time period — Select the relevant period
5. Click Save

The node now displays metric information directly on the canvas.

Metric Categories

Categories help you organize metrics into logical groups. Common categories include:

• Engagement — MAU, DAU, session duration, feature adoption
• Revenue — MRR, ARR, ARPU, deal size
• Quality — Bug count, uptime, error rate, CSAT
• Growth — New users, conversion rate, churn, activation

You can create custom categories that match your organization's terminology.

Time Periods

Metrics in Valtrics are tracked across time periods. This lets you compare performance over time and spot trends.

Available Periods

• Monthly — Track month by month (e.g., January 2025, February 2025)
• Quarterly — Track by quarter (e.g., Q1 2025, Q2 2025)
• Annually — Track by year
• Custom — Define your own date ranges

Adding Values for Multiple Periods

To track a metric over time:

1. Click the node to open the detail panel
2. Under the metric, click Add Period
3. Select the time period
4. Enter the target and actual values
5. Save

You can add as many periods as needed. This builds a history that helps you analyze trends.

Updating Metric Values

Metrics are most useful when they're current. To update a value:

1. Click the node in the KPI tree
2. In the metric section, find the time period you want to update
3. Click the actual value field
4. Enter the new value
5. Save

We recommend establishing a regular cadence for updates — weekly or monthly depending on how frequently your metrics change.

Understanding Metric Health

Each metric shows a health status based on how the actual compares to the target:

Status	Condition	Visual
On Track	Actual is at or above target	Green indicator
At Risk	Actual is within 80–99% of target	Yellow indicator
Off Track	Actual is below 80% of target	Red indicator
No Data	No actual value recorded	Gray indicator

These thresholds are applied automatically and give you a quick read on performance without needing to analyze every number.

Health Rollup

In a KPI tree, parent nodes can show an aggregated health status based on their children:

• If all children are green, the parent shows green
• If any child is yellow or red, the parent reflects the worst status
• This lets you scan from the top of the tree and drill into problem areas

Metric Types and Units

Number

Raw counts — users, transactions, tickets, etc.

• Example: "Monthly Active Users: 12,500"

Percentage

Rates, ratios, or proportions.

• Example: "Conversion Rate: 3.2%"

Currency

Financial metrics.

• Example: "MRR: $45,000"

Custom

Any unit that doesn't fit the above.

• Example: "NPS Score: 42" or "Response Time: 230ms"

Linking Metrics to KPI Trees

Metrics become most powerful when linked to KPI tree nodes. This creates a direct connection between the numbers you track and the goals you're pursuing.

To link a metric to a tree node:

1. Open a KPI tree
2. Click on a node
3. In the detail panel, click Add Metric or Link Metric
4. Select an existing metric or create a new one

See Building KPI Trees for more details on tree structure and node management.

Metric Best Practices

1. Be Specific with Names

• Bad: "Users"
• Good: "Monthly Active Users (MAU)"
• Bad: "Revenue"
• Good: "Net New MRR"

Specific names prevent confusion when multiple team members look at the same tree.

2. Set Realistic Targets

Targets should be ambitious but achievable. If every metric is red, targets may be too aggressive — which leads to people ignoring the health indicators entirely.

3. Define "How to Measure" Upfront

Before adding a metric, make sure your team agrees on:

• Where the data comes from
• How it's calculated
• Who's responsible for updating it

4. Don't Measure Everything

Focus on metrics that:

• Directly connect to a business outcome
• Are actionable — you can influence them
• Are measurable — you can reliably get the data

5. Review and Prune Regularly

Over time, some metrics become irrelevant as products and priorities change. Review your metrics quarterly and remove or replace ones that no longer serve a purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import metric values from a spreadsheet? Bulk upload for metric values is planned. Currently, values are entered manually through the UI.

Can a metric be shared across multiple nodes? Each node has its own metric. If you need the same measurement in multiple places, add it to each node separately.

How far back can I track metrics? There's no limit on time periods. You can add historical data going back as far as needed.

Can I set different targets for different time periods? Yes. Each time period entry has its own target value. This is useful for seasonal products or phased goals.

What happens to metrics when I delete a KPI tree node? When you delete a node, its metric data is also removed. This action cannot be undone.

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