The Metrics tab is where you can track KPIs and business metrics for your clients! Think of metrics like Excel that’s directly integrated with your clients QuickBooks data.
Within Metrics, you can:
Create and track custom variables!
These variables will automatically update when your QuickBooks or Xero data does.
Graph variables and create visual representations of your data!
You can graph any variables you create or any accounts on your financial statements.
These graphs can also be embedded into your Management Reports.
Video Tour with Ben
In the video below, follow Ben as he walks through the Metrics tab, showcasing the Variables and Visuals that you can set up in your client’s close.
Understanding Metrics
The Metrics tab has two main sections:
Variables
Your variables section is divided into tabs
A tab is like a tab in an Excel Spreadsheet
Tabs contain variables – a variable is essentially just a row
Visuals
You can create a visual for any variable in your tabs
Variables
This is where you'll create new metrics and edit existing metrics!
The Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows show up as default tabs, but you can add new custom tabs, as well as financial statements filtered by class, location, or customer.
Variable Formulas
Variables in Financial Statement tabs cannot be edited, but you can create number or formula variables in a custom tab.
Create a custom variable tab by selecting the plus (+) sign at the bottom left of the Metrics tab
Create a custom variable by selecting Insert Row at the top right of the Variable tab
Types of Variables
Number variables
allows users to manually input values that don't exist in the ledger
This is helpful for values like employee count or unit sales from a point of sale
Formula variables
allows you to build a formula that references other variables
If you know a little arithmetic, the world is your oyster 🦪
A divider can help you keep your variables spaced out the way you want!
Editing and Deleting Variables
You can edit and remove existing variables by clicking the Settings button in the Type column. From there, you can update the following information for the variable:
Type
Style
Indentation
Edit formula
Delete
To rename a variable row, click into the cell and update from there!
Variable Pro Tips
You can right click a variable to duplicate it, delete it, or insert a variable below it.
If you click the number of a row (the leftmost column), you'll highlight the row. Once you've highlighted it, you can copy it and then paste it over other rows.
Visuals
You can create a visual for any variable in your tabs.
Keeper supports the following metric visual types:
KPI card (screenshot below)
Bar chart
Line chart
Area chart (like a line chart but prettier)
Pie chart
Donut chart
Data bar
Creating Visuals
To get started creating your own visuals,
Navigate to the Visuals tab under Metrics
Select + Add Visual
If the + Add Visual button is greyed out, you may need to disable Report Lock.
From here, you can choose to customize your visuals as needed by entering the following:
Title
Description
Format
Currency
Numbers
Percentages
Rounding
Type
Variables
When you're ready, select Save to add the visual to your list of metrics!
Editing and Deleting Visuals
At the top righthand corner of each visual, users can choose from the following actions
Edit visual
Delete
Drag/drop
There's also the option to switch between Accrual and Cash basis for visuals.
These visual metrics graphs can be added to Management/Financial Reports as part of your reporting package!
You only have to build out your Metrics tab once in the latest close! Opening the following month’s close will update the data accordingly