What Is a KPI Report: Summarize Your Business’ Performance

Key Performance Indicators (KPI as an acronym) are used to measure progress and success in achieving objectives. KPIs can be used in various contexts, but they are often used in business to track progress towards specific goals.

So what is a KPI report?

If effective, even a monthly KPI report can be an invaluable tool for gauging success and driving positive change within an organization. Let’s get into the most important aspects!

Key Points

  • What Is a KPI Report
  • What Does a KPI Report Look Like
  • How Do You Write a KPI Report
    • Setting SMART KPIs
  • Different KPI Report Types
  • Tips for Interpreting the Data in Your KPI Report

What Is a KPI Report


A KPI report is a document that captures the most important metrics for tracking the performance of a business, individual, or team—it basically offers a KPI summary for stakeholders, CEOs, etc.

The report should be customized to align with the specific goals and objectives of the organization (be sure not to confuse KPI and OKR reporting and metrics in general). For example, a retail store might track KPIs such as sales volume, customer satisfaction, and inventory levels. A manufacturing company might track KPIs such as production output, safety incidents, and quality defects.

By regularly reviewing a KPI report, managers can identify areas of improvement and develop strategies for achieving desired results. KPIs can, additionally, be used to benchmark performance against competitors or other businesses in the same industry. Ultimately, a well-designed KPI report can be a powerful tool for driving business success.

What Does a KPI Report Look Like


This report is typically about data visualization. KPIs are defined as a set of quantifiable measures used to monitor and assess the success of an organization or individual in achieving predetermined goals.

A KPI report usually contains a list of KPIs and their current values and trend lines. Here’s a typical table of contents:

  • A list of KPIs
  • The current values for each KPI
  • Trend lines for each KPI
  • Target values
  • Recent changes

How Do You Write a KPI Report


A KPI report is a document that compares actual results against desired results and tracks progress over time. It aims to give stakeholders visibility into key performance indicators to make informed decisions about where to allocate resources. There are four steps to writing a KPI report.

Step 1

Define KPIs you will track. Begin by identifying which KPIs are most important to your organization. Remember that not all KPIs are created equal—some will be more relevant to your business than others. Once you’ve identified the most important KPIs, define what each one will measure and how it will be calculated.

Step 2

Set goals for each KPI. Once you’ve defined your KPIs, it’s time to set goals. For each KPI, determine what constitutes success and establish realistic targets. Be sure to involve stakeholders in this process, so there is the buy-in for the goals.

Step 3

Collect KPI data and calculate results. Now it’s time to start tracking progress toward your KPIs. Collect data regularly and calculate the results for each KPI using the agreed-upon methodologies.

Step 4

Complete and KPI analysis and report results. Review the data you’ve collected and analyze the results. Are you on track to reach your targets? If not, what strategies can you implement to get back on track? Be sure to communicate your findings to stakeholders clearly and concisely.

Setting SMART KPIs

When setting KPIs, it is essential to make sure they are SMART:

S—Specific: The KPI should be specific to what you want to measure.

M—Measurable: The KPI should be able to be quantified so you can track progress over time.

A—Achievable: The KPI should be realistic and achievable, given the resources available.

R—Relevant: The KPI should be relevant to the organization’s goals.

T—Time-bound: The KPI should have a timeframe associated with it so you can track progress.

Different KPI Report Types


There are many different types of KPI reports, each of which has its unique benefits and uses. Common KPI reports include sales reports, customer satisfaction reports, financial reports, and operations reports.

  • Sales reports are typically used to track the progress of a company’s sales team in meeting its sales goals.
  • Customer satisfaction reports are used to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction levels.
  • Financial reports are used to track a company’s financial performance against its objectives.
  • Operations reports are used to track the progress of a company’s operations team in meeting its operational goals.

Each type of KPI report has its unique advantages and disadvantages, so it is crucial to choose the right type of report for your needs.

Tips for Interpreting the Data in Your KPI Reporting


Once you’ve collected the KPI data, it’s time to analyze it and draw conclusions. Here are a few tips to help you interpret the data in your report:

  • Compare actual results to desired results. This will help you identify gaps between where you are and where you want to be.
  • Look for trends over time. This will help you identify any patterns or trends in the KPI data.
  • Compare results across different KPIs. This will help you see how different KPIs perform relative to each other.
  • Use benchmarks and industry standards. This will help you put your results into perspective.
  • Communicate your findings to stakeholders. Reporting KPIs should be straightforward and brief.

KPI reports are an essential tool for any business. By tracking the proper KPIs, you can make informed decisions about allocating resources. Follow the tips above to ensure that you get the most out of your report.

What Is KPI Reporting: Key Takeaways


  1. A KPI report is a type of business document used to measure and track the performance of specific KPI metrics within an organization.
  2. The KPIs that are tracked in reports can vary depending on the industry and the organization’s specific goals. Still, they typically include sales figures, productivity levels, customer satisfaction rates, and more.
  3. There are many different types of KPI reports, each with unique benefits and uses, such as sales reports, customer satisfaction reports, financial reports, and operations reports.
  4. When setting KPIs, it is essential to make sure they are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
  5. Once you learn what is a KPI report, dive into the tips for interpreting that data by comparing actual results to desired results, looking for trends over time, and comparing results across different KPIs.