How do I configure a KPI card widget?

Overview

Configuring a KPI card widget shows one key number on your dashboard, with an optional comparison to a previous period so you can see whether it's trending up or down.

When to Use

Use this feature when:

• You want to highlight a single key metric, like total submissions or completion rate
• You want to show whether a number has gone up or down compared to a previous period
• You need a custom calculation that a simple count, sum, or average can't do

Concepts

• KPI Card – A widget that shows one number, usually with a label and a trend arrow
• Source Field – The field whose values the KPI calculates — for example, submission count
• Aggregation – How a field's values are combined into one number, such as Sum, Count, or Average
• Compare Period – An optional second time period the KPI compares against, to show a trend
• Custom Formula – A manually written calculation, used when the built-in aggregations aren't enough

Set Up Guide

1. Go to a dashboard and click Add Widget
2. Select KPI Card
   
3. Choose the source — if the dashboard has only one source, it's selected automatically; if there are multiple sources or a relationship, choose which one to use
   
4. Build the KPI in one of two ways:
   • Select one field and choose the aggregation (Sum, Count, Average, etc.)
     
   • Or write a custom formula instead
     
     
5. Turn on Compare Period if you want to show change vs. a previous period, and pick that period
6. Apply any filters you want the KPI to respect
7. Click Save
   

Best Practices

• Use Compare Period when the trend matters more than the raw number
• Only use Custom Formula when Sum, Count, or Average can't do what you need — it's harder to maintain
• Keep the KPI's label short so it's easy to read at a glance

Related Links/FAQs

Related pages in this book:

• What widget types are available in Vantage?
• How do I configure a chart widget?

FAQs

Can a KPI card use a custom formula?
Yes — if the built-in aggregations (Sum, Count, Average) don't cover what you need, you can write your own formula.

Does the KPI card show a trend automatically?
Only if you turn on Compare Period and pick a period to compare against.

Can I combine data from two sources in one KPI card?
Yes — but you need a Relationship defined between the sources first.

Version Notes

Last Updated: Oct 2026