KPIs is the area in Wave where you track the most important metrics that drive your business. It brings together key performance indicators from both internal tools and third-party integrations, giving you a single source of truth for visibility, measurement, and accountability. Instead of checking multiple systems or spreadsheets, KPIs centralizes your most meaningful data so your team can clearly see how the business is performing and where adjustments may be needed.
The main KPI page displays your KPI groups, which represent collections of metrics organized by team or shared functional area. This structure keeps KPIs focused and relevant so each group contains only the metrics that matter most to that part of the organization. Inside each group, you will see KPIs displayed in three powerful views. Card view gives you a visual snapshot, report view shows trends and comparisons, and list view presents a clean table for scanning information quickly. With flexible data sources, clear ownership, and monthly goal tracking, KPIs becomes an essential tool for operational clarity and performance management.
Five Steps to Get Started
1. Review the KPI groups on your main page
Start by looking at your KPI groups. These are collections of related metrics organized by team or shared responsibility. If you already have groups created, review their titles and assigned teams to understand how your data is structured. This gives you a sense of how KPIs will be organized across your company.
2. Create a new KPI group
Click the plus button in the upper right to create your first group. Add a title that clearly reflects the purpose of the group, such as Marketing KPIs or Company Health Metrics. Assign the group to a specific team or multiple teams if the metrics apply across departments. Select the properties for the group so it is configured correctly for the data you plan to track.
3. Add your first KPI to the group
Inside the group, click the plus KPI button. This begins the setup process where you choose the data source for your metric. You can select internal Wave data or connect to third-party tools like Google Analytics, QuickBooks, or Stripe. Choose the source that matches the metric you want to track.
4. Configure your KPI details
Once you select a data source, choose the specific KPI available from that source. Each KPI comes with its own properties based on what the integration provides. After selecting the KPI, assign a monthly goal and add the owner responsible for monitoring it. Ownership ensures clarity and makes performance management easier.
5. Explore your KPI views
After adding KPIs, review them in card view, report view, and list view. Each view offers a different perspective to help you understand performance. Click any KPI to see more details, including values, trends, and related data. Use these views regularly to track progress and guide decision making.
Tips and Tricks for Best Results
Keep groups focused
Avoid mixing unrelated metrics in the same group. Create separate groups for different functions or responsibilities.
Use clear ownership
Assign every KPI to a single owner so accountability stays simple and effective.
Set realistic monthly goals
Choose targets that are achievable and meaningful so your metrics drive behavior instead of creating noise.
Review KPIs during weekly or monthly rhythms
Regular reviews help teams stay aligned and react quickly when metrics change.
Use multiple views for deeper insight
Card view helps you scan quickly, report view helps you understand trends, and list view helps you compare many metrics at once.