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As a business manager, using a Key Performance Indicator, or KPI, dashboard has changed the way I do things. It’s not just a tool; it’s what keeps the company going and helps it succeed. These dashboards give us real-time information about our performance metrics, which helps us make strategic decisions. These screens are like the ones in aeroplane cockpits—they show us where we’re going and help us get there accurately.
Using the information in these dashboards has given me the power to make smart choices that have helped our business grow. Having this complete picture of our business has been very helpful for analysing sales trends, keeping an eye on customer satisfaction, and keeping track of operational efficiency. We feel like we have a personal advisor whispering advice into our ears, which helps us stay flexible and proactive in a market that is changing quickly.
But because there are so many dashboard monitoring tools out there now, it has been a journey in itself to find the right one for our business. It’s important to carefully consider which tool fits our goals and workflows the best because each one has its own set of features and functions. It’s not enough to just find a tool; we also need to find a partner that will work well with our current processes and help us make better decisions.
What is a KPI Dashboard?
In business or in life, you should never go into something without a plan. It’s impossible for your company to reach its full potential if you don’t plan ahead and use correct data to guide you. When you don’t have a plan or direction, you’re more likely to get things done quickly.
Because of this, KPI dashboards and software for tracking metrics should be important parts of your strategic planning. These digital tools make it easy to get a quick picture of your company’s health, growth, and performance. Dashboards and metric monitoring are two different tools that work together to give you the information you need to see things clearly and make smart choices.
Best KPI Dashboard Software Comparison Table
It can be hard to pick the right KPI dashboard tool for your business because there are so many to choose from. You should think about your business’s size, KPIs, budget, and skills before choosing a tool. It is also important to pick a tool that is simple to use and understand. This will help make sure that your team can get things done without having to deal with complicated setups or maintenance.
Feature | Hive | Google Analytics | Klipfolio | Datapine | InetSoft |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Target Audience | Small to medium businesses, teams | Websites, online stores | Marketers, business users | Businesses of all sizes | Enterprise businesses |
Data Sources | Connects to various databases, spreadsheets, and APIs | Primarily web and app analytics data | Connects to various data sources | Connects to various data sources | Connects to various data sources (ERP, CRM, databases) |
Data Visualization | Drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, custom charts | Customizable dashboards and reports | Drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, custom dashboards | Drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, custom dashboards and reports | Wide range of pre-built visualizations, custom dashboards and reports |
Data Analysis | Basic calculations, filtering, and aggregation | Advanced segmentation, funnels, user path analysis | Basic calculations, filtering, and aggregation | Advanced calculations, filtering, aggregation, custom formulas | Advanced calculations, statistical analysis, data mining |
Collaboration | Secure team sharing and real-time collaboration | Limited collaboration features | Team sharing and commenting on dashboards | Team sharing and collaboration features | Collaborative dashboards and reporting |
Best KPI Dashboard Software
A KPI dashboard is essential for any business manager. It gives a quick overview of the company’s performance, well-being, and expected growth by collecting, grouping, organizing, and visualising key metrics. KPI dashboards allow organizations to monitor their success indicators in real time and make informed decisions to achieve long-term goals. There are many KPI dashboard software options. Easy metric-tracking to advanced business intelligence.
Hive

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Data Warehousing | Centralized storage for all data sources |
SQL Query | Intuitive SQL interface for data manipulation |
Data Pipelines | Automated workflows for data processing |
Collaboration | Real-time collaboration on datasets |
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It stands out as a strong open-source data warehouse solution that works well with Apache Hadoop. Its strength is making it easy to summaries data, ask complex questions, and do in-depth analysis for large datasets spread out across distributed storage systems like the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). Hive is different because it has an easy-to-use interface that uses SQL language that most people already know. This makes it easier to navigate through the large datasets stored in Hadoop.
The Good
- Comprehensive data warehousing
- User-friendly SQL interface
- Efficient data pipelines
The Bad
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Limited visualization capabilities
Google Analytics

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Website Tracking | Monitor website traffic and user behavior |
Conversion Tracking | Track conversion rates and goals |
Audience Insights | Understand demographics and interests of visitors |
Custom Reports | Generate tailored reports based on specific metrics |
Google Analytics turns into a must-have tool. For me, Google’s free web analytics service has been very helpful in understanding how people visit my website. Google Analytics gives you a full picture that you need to make smart choices about how to manage and improve your website. It lets you see everything from the demographics of your visitors to how they behave and where their traffic is coming from.
The Good
- Robust website tracking
- Extensive conversion tracking
- Deep audience insights
The Bad
- Complex interface for beginners
- Limited customization options
Klipfolio

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Dashboard | Create customizable dashboards for data display |
Data Sources | Connect to various data sources for integration |
Data Visualization | Build visually appealing charts and graphs |
Scheduled Reports | Automate report generation and distribution |
Klipfolio is a cloud-based business intelligence platform that I’ve found to be essential. Its flexibility is shown by the fact that dynamic data visualisations and dashboards can be made with it. Klipfolio is amazing because it works so well with many different data sources, such as popular platforms like Google Analytics, Salesforce, and HubSpot. This makes it a popular choice among businesses of all sizes that want to find useful information to help them make smart decisions.
The Good
- Highly customizable dashboards
- Wide range of data sources
- Beautiful data visualization
The Bad
- Initial setup can be time-consuming
- Advanced features require learning curve
Datapine

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Drag-and-Drop | Intuitive interface for data manipulation |
Collaboration | Share and collaborate on reports and dashboards |
Predictive Analytics | Utilize machine learning for insights |
Data Security | Secure data handling and access control |
Datapine stands out as a great cloud-based business intelligence platform for making interactive dashboards and reports. Datapine has a full set of tools that businesses need for a complete business intelligence (BI) solution. These tools include powerful data blending, real-time data updates, and drill-down features. Datapine has been very helpful for businesses that want to get useful information from their data, in my experience.
The Good
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Seamless collaboration capabilities
- Powerful predictive analytics
The Bad
- Limited customization options
- Higher pricing tiers for advanced features
InetSoft

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Data Mashup | Combine data from multiple sources for analysis |
Interactive Reports | Create interactive reports for exploration |
Mobile Access | Access and view reports on mobile devices |
Data Governance | Ensure data integrity and compliance |
From what I’ve seen, InetSoft has become a trustworthy company that sells and provides services for business intelligence. With products like InetSoft Panorama, a BI platform that runs in the cloud, and InetSoft Reporting Server, an on-premises BI solution, InetSoft can meet a wide range of business needs. Its adaptability and ability to grow make it a good choice for companies that want a BI solution that can be changed to fit their needs.
The Good
- Versatile data mashup capabilities
- Interactive and dynamic reports
- Convenient mobile access
The Bad
- Steeper learning curve for complex analysis
- Limited pre-built templates
Key Features to Look for in KPI Dashboard Software
When selecting KPI (Key Performance Indicator) dashboard software, consider the following key features to ensure it meets your specific needs and requirements:
- Customizable Dashboards: Look for KPI dashboard software that offers customizable dashboards, allowing users to create, modify, and personalize dashboards according to their specific roles, objectives, and preferences. Customization options should include the ability to add or remove widgets, rearrange layout, and set up personalized views.
- Data Visualization Options: Choose dashboard software that offers a variety of data visualization options, including charts, graphs, tables, gauges, maps, and KPI cards. Visualization options should be customizable to present data in a format that is easy to understand, interpret, and analyze.
- Real-Time Data Updates: Prioritize KPI dashboard software that supports real-time data updates to provide users with the most up-to-date information and insights. Real-time data updates enable users to monitor KPIs, track performance trends, and respond to changes promptly.
- Integration with Data Sources: Ensure that the KPI dashboard software can integrate with your existing data sources, systems, and databases, including ERP systems, CRM systems, databases, spreadsheets, and cloud services. Seamless integration allows users to access and visualize data from multiple sources in one centralized dashboard.
- Alerts and Notifications: Look for dashboard software that includes alerts and notifications functionality to notify users of important events, thresholds, or deviations from target KPIs. Alerts can be configured based on predefined conditions, triggers, or thresholds to prompt proactive action and decision-making.
- Drill-Down and Interactivity: Choose KPI dashboard software that offers drill-down and interactive features, allowing users to explore data in more detail and analyze root causes or underlying factors affecting KPI performance. Interactive features should enable users to click on data points, filter data, and drill down to deeper levels of analysis.
- Performance Benchmarking: Prioritize dashboard software that supports performance benchmarking capabilities, allowing users to compare current performance against historical data, targets, benchmarks, or industry standards. Benchmarking features provide context and insights into performance trends and relative performance across different metrics.
- User Access Controls: Ensure that the KPI dashboard software provides robust user access controls and security features to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. User access controls should allow administrators to define roles, permissions, and access levels for different user groups.
Questions and Answers
The first step in developing a dashboard for key performance indicators (KPIs) is to select the metrics and KPIs that will be monitored. After that, choose the data sources that are pertinent. As soon as you have identified these, you should visualise the data by using charts and graphs that are pertinent. Sharing the dashboard is the final step.
KPIs can be tracked in Jira with the help of the Performance Objectives app, which is a versatile tool. You have the ability to set your key performance indicators (KPIs) based on standard Jira metrics as well as dynamic metrics such as “Time Since,” “Time in Status,” “Time Between,” “Time in Assignee,” “Cycles in Status,” “Cycles in Assignee,” and other metrics even though Jira does not have these metrics as data fields.