KPI charts allow you to visualize and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) directly from your search results. As part of the new Answer experience, KPI charts highlight a single metric and optionally show how it changes over time. Once configured, you can save the KPI as an Answer or pin it to a Liveboard for ongoing visibility.
In this article:
KPI Chart Overview
Configure visualized columns
Configure KPI display options
Apply conditional formatting
KPI change analysis
Additional Resources
KPI Chart Overview
When you search for a single measure, such as Requisition Open Days, ClearInsights automatically generates a KPI chart displaying the topmost value from the result set. If your search includes multiple measures or attributes, you can configure which column is visualized in the KPI.
You can tailor the KPI to your business needs by adding time-based keywords, such as weekly or monthly, to adjust aggregation. For example, searching for new hires monthly displays the most recent monthly value and shows the percentage increase or decrease from the previous month.
Limitations
- KPI charts cannot be created from searches containing the keywords “growth” or “versus.”
- The “detailed” keyword for date axes is not supported.
- Sparkline visualization is not available for single-point KPI change analysis.
- Custom comparison is not supported for single-point KPI change analysis.
- The comparison window cannot be manually customized (for example, last 10 days vs. the 5 days before that).
- Iterative change analysis is not supported for single-point KPIs.
- The following date filters are not supported for change analysis because they do not define a specific time period:
- Not in between
- Not on
- After
- On or after
- Before this
- After this
- If your query returns more than one row of results, the KPI chart displays the topmost value from the result table.
Configure Visualized Columns
If your search includes multiple measures or attributes, the KPI chart displays only the first search term by default.
To change the visualized column, select the Layout icon and drag the current field to the Not visualized section, then move the desired measure or attribute into the Visualized section.
If your search includes a time column (Date, Datetime, Timestamp, or Time) or a time keyword such as weekly or monthly, the time bucket appears in the Time axis section.
When you include a time-based keyword such as monthly attrition rate or weekly candidate submissions, the KPI displays data from the most recent time bucket in your query. The chart also shows the percentage increase or decrease compared to the previous data point.
To compare two specific periods, define them directly in the search bar. For example, searching headcount quarterly this quarter last quarter compares the current quarter to the previous quarter.
KPI charts require chronological (ascending) date order. Searches using filters such as “date descending” are not supported.
When a time-based keyword is included in your search, the KPI automatically displays a sparkline showing all data points defined in the query. The two most recent data points are highlighted to make comparison easier.
If the current time bucket is still in progress—for example, viewing a weekly hiring KPI mid-week—the sparkline shows a dotted line from the last completed period to the current accumulated value. Hover over the sparkline to see exact metric values and dates for each data point.
Configure KPI Display Options
When working with a time-based KPI, you can adjust display settings before saving or pinning to a Liveboard.
Under Display, you can:
- Show or hide the date label
- Show or hide the sparkline
- Show or hide percentage comparison
- Select a comparison point under Compare with
- Customize positive and negative change colors
- Set the maximum number of data points displayed
The Compare with setting allows you to define how the most recent data point is evaluated. Available comparison options depend on the time bucket used in your search.
For example:
- Daily KPIs can be compared to the previous day, same day last week, same day last month, same day last quarter, or same day last year.
- Weekly KPIs can be compared to the previous week, the same week last month, the same week last quarter, or the same week last year.
- Monthly KPIs can be compared to the previous month, the same month last quarter, or the same month last year.
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Quarterly KPIs can be compared to the previous quarter or the same quarter last year.
- Yearly KPIs compare to the previous year.
All time buckets also support comparison to the previous available data point.
You can define a custom comparison point instead of using system-defined intervals. For example, you can compare the current weekly headcount to the value from three weeks ago.
To set a custom comparison:
- Under Compare with, select Custom.
- Enter the number of periods back for comparison (for example, 3 weeks).
Apply conditional formatting
Conditional formatting adds visual cues to KPI values based on thresholds you define. For example, you might display attrition rate in red and bold when it exceeds a target threshold.
To apply conditional formatting:
- Select the Column Icon. Under the measure, select Conditional formatting.
- Define the value range and formatting rules.
- Select Save.
- Conditional formatting applies to the KPI text only and does not appear in the sparkline.
KPI Change Analysis
Change analysis helps you understand what is driving changes in a metric over time. You can apply change analysis to any chart that includes a time element, such as monthly, quarterly, or yearly trends.
Instead of only showing that a number increased or decreased, change analysis identifies which groups contributed most to that change.
For example:
- If applications increase over a quarter, change analysis can highlight which jobs, recruiters, or sources drove the change.
This helps you move beyond seeing a trend to understanding the factors behind it.
To run change analysis:
- Open the KPI chart.
- Click the Time Series at the top of the chart.
- Review the summary of drivers between the two most recent time buckets.
- You can customize which columns are included in the analysis. Change analysis compares the two most recent data points based on the KPI’s defined time bucket (such as weekly or monthly).
Additional Resources
ClearInsights Max: Chart Types Available
ClearInsights Max: Chart Configurations Overview
ClearInsights Max: Edit Chart Fields
ClearInsights Max: Change Analysis
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