Using KPI Chart

2 Value KPI Chart with Variance Explained

KPI charts display 2 values and you can include a variance against a compare dimension with corresponding text.

In Practice

In the example below, gross margin is compared for Q4 and Q3 of 2017. Percentage is shown for variance, but you can opt to display as a number (versus percentage) in the Settings - Property pane. The variance default negative color is displayed in red. The variance default positive color is green.

Steps to create a 2 value KPI with a variance and description:

1. Ensure Variance is turned ON. Click the Settings pane and select the Properties tab. Slide the button for Variance to the right as shown below. The Compare Dimensions prompt is displayed beneath the KPI Chart.

   

2. Select a single member from each dimension as shown below. Notice that checkboxes have been removed from the selection hierarchy. Now, you can just select the member.

   

3. Select compare dimensions. You can add up to 2 compare dimensions for each KPI.

   

4. To add a description, ensure the Description field is turned ON. Click the Settings pane and select the Properties tab. Slide the button for Description to the right as shown below. Enter the description above the Compare Dimensions option (also shown below). Substitution Variables can be used in the description.

   

   Use ‘Type’ to apply a sign reversal.

   Another option is to display variance in a specific color. To do so, select the KPI chart, click the Settings tab and the Style tab. Slide VarianceColor to ON. Select custom positive and negative colors to display.

   At any time you can return to the default color scheme provided by Planful by clicking Reset style setting to default.

   

Two Variances in a KPI Chart

You can calculate two variances in a KPI chart. The following fields are available in a KPI chart:

• VARIANCE 2 section: In the Settings tab, you can enable Variance 2 to calculate variance for the selected dimensions.

• Compare Dimensions for Variance 2 drop-down list: You can select the required dimension from the drop-down list to compare it with the primary dimension selected from the Dimensions drop-down list.

The image below displays the VARIANCE 2 section in the KPI chart. You can now convert the negative variance percentage calculation with the Consider Absolute Value for Denominator option. Click here to learn more.

Using Consider Absolute Value Denominator Option for KPI Chart

The Consider Absolute Value for Denominator option allows you to calculate the variance percentage calculation in the Dashboard KPI chart. With this option, KPIs calculated with negative base values will no longer result in negative output. Instead, turning on the toggle, the denominator value gets converted to absolute value, resulting in a positive variance percentage. You can find this option under the Settings tab in the Properties pane of the KPI chart.

Let's understand this with an example:

Suppose the planned income for a specific period is -1000, and the actual income is 1200. In this case, the variance is 2200 and the variance percentage is -220%. By turning on the Consider Absolute Value For Denominator option, the calculation considers the denominator as the absolute value, and the variance percentage is 220% which is now positive.

Note:

The Consider Absolute Value for Denominator option applies only when calculating variance percentages in KPI charts and not for numbers.

To enable the Consider Absolute Value for Denominator option, do the following:

1. Navigate to Dashboards.
2. Create a new dashboard or edit an existing KPI chart. If creating a new chart, drag and drop a chart to the canvas.
3. Click the Settings tab and then select Properties.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
5. Ensure that the Variance toggle is turned ON by sliding the corresponding toggle buttons to the right.
6. Turn on the Consider Absolute Value for Denominator toggle to calculate the variance percentage.
7. Click Save.