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

Go to a dashboard and click Add Widget

Select KPI Card

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

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

Turn on Compare Period if you want to show change vs. a previous period, and pick that period

Apply any filters you want the KPI to respect

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