Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - we love them but they can be a hassle to manage.
So, what makes KPIs such a popular topic of discourse? At their core, KPIs offer clarity amidst the complexities of running a business. KPIs have the power to distill intricate data and convoluted processes into simple, quantifiable metrics. They function as teams' End Destination, guiding companies toward goals, and thus providing teams and individuals with a sense of direction and purpose to ensure everyone rows in the same direction.
But KPIs aren't just about simplification; they reveal not only what's working but also what needs attention and improvement. This insight is pivotal for strategic decision-making, enabling organizations to pivot as needed and channel their efforts where they matter most.
In the context of team management, KPIs introduce a balancing act— "trust but verify." They empower managers to place trust in their team's capabilities while retaining the ability to objectively evaluate progress. This delicate balance promotes a culture of accountability and continuous improvement among organizations.
Perhaps the most compelling argument for KPIs is their inherent ability to stimulate minds and encourage progress. KPIs set the stage for a perpetual cycle of measurement, feedback, and refinement. They push individuals and teams toward ever-higher levels of achievement, offering a tangible means of gauging success.
“What gets measured gets improved.” - Peter Drucker
For those venturing into the world of KPIs for the first time, the prospect may appear daunting. However, if you're not sure where to start, we got you covered! We suggest first identifying the biggest areas of improvement within your business, and using our list of 100+ KPI Examples as a jumping-off point.
**For more support or questions, contact maya@levelupws.com
Here is a list of over 100 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) categorized by department:
Finance and Accounting KPIs
Revenue Growth Rate
Net Profit Margin
Gross Profit Margin
Operating Profit Margin
Return on Investment (ROI)
Current Ratio
Quick Ratio
Debt to Equity Ratio
Accounts Receivable Turnover
Accounts Payable Turnover
Cash Conversion Cycle
Working Capital
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT)
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA)
Return on Assets (ROA)
Return on Equity (ROE)
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
Break-Even Point
Budget Variance
Cash Flow from Operations
Sales and Marketing KPIs
Monthly Sales Growth
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
Sales Conversion Rate
Lead-to-Customer Conversion Rate
Customer Churn Rate
Marketing Qualified Leads (MQL)
Sales Qualified Leads (SQL)
Customer Retention Rate
Average Order Value (AOV)
Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Cost Per Click (CPC)
Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS)
Social Media Engagement Rate
Email Open Rate
Email Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Website Traffic
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Score
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Marketing ROI
Human Resources KPIs
Employee Turnover Rate
Employee Satisfaction
Employee Engagement
Cost Per Hire
Time-to-Fill
Absenteeism Rate
Training and Development ROI
Revenue Per Employee
HR to Employee Ratio
Diversity and Inclusion Metrics
Compensation Ratio
Benefits Enrollment Rate
Employee Performance Ratings
Leadership Pipeline Succession Rate
Onboarding Completion Rate
Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)
360-Degree Feedback Score
Average Tenure
Operations and Manufacturing KPIs
Inventory Turnover Ratio
Manufacturing Cycle Time
Order Fulfillment Accuracy
On-Time Delivery Rate
Capacity Utilization Rate
Equipment Downtime
Scrap and Rework Rate
First-Pass Yield
Cost of Quality
Maintenance Cost as a Percentage of Revenue
Supply Chain Cycle Time
Supplier Quality Index (SQI)
Productivity Per Employee
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
Sustainability Metrics
Health and Safety Incidents
Customer Service KPIs
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Score
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Customer Effort Score (CES)
Average Response Time
First-Contact Resolution Rate
Customer Churn Rate
Customer Retention Rate
Service Level Agreement (SLA) Compliance
Average Handle Time (AHT)
Escalation Rate
Self-Service Adoption Rate
Customer Feedback and Complaints
Service Desk Ticket Volume
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
Abandonment Rate
Call Center Agent Productivity
IT and Technology KPIs
System Uptime
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
Application Performance Index (API)
IT Budget Variance
Security Incident Rate
Data Backup Success Rate
IT Project Delivery Time
Software License Utilization
IT Cost Per User
Server Utilization Rate
IT Helpdesk Ticket Volume
Network Latency
Cybersecurity Threat Detection Rate
Website Load Time
Mobile App Crash Rate
Research and Development (R&D) KPIs
New Product Development Cycle Time
Research Project Success Rate
Research and Development Budget Allocation
Number of Patents Filed
Innovation ROI
Research Collaboration Partnerships
Product Development Cost Per Unit
Intellectual Property Portfolio Value
Ideation Conversion Rate
Time-to-Market
R&D Expense as a Percentage of Revenue
Supply Chain and Logistics KPIs
Order Accuracy Rate
Perfect Order Rate
Days of Inventory on Hand (DOI)
Supplier On-Time Delivery
Freight Cost Per Unit
Lead Time Variability
Inventory Carrying Cost
Warehouse Utilization Rate
Inventory Accuracy Rate
Supply Chain Sustainability Metrics
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) Rate
In-Transit Inventory Value
Legal and Compliance KPIs
Regulatory Compliance Rate
Legal Cost as a Percentage of Revenue
Contract Management Efficiency
Litigation Expense Per Case
Compliance Audit Pass Rate
Intellectual Property Protection Metrics
Quality Assurance
Defect Density
Customer Complaint Resolution Time
Quality Cost as a Percentage of Revenue
Manufacturing Error Rate
Inspection Efficiency
Non-Conformance Rate
Product Recall Rate
Executive Leadership and Strategy KPIs
Strategic Plan Execution Progress
Market Share Growth
Shareholder Value Creation
Return on Innovation Investment (ROII)
Strategic Initiative Completion Rate
Leadership Team Diversity Metrics
Executive Compensation Metrics
Environmental Sustainability
Carbon Emissions Reduction
Energy Consumption Efficiency
Water Usage Efficiency
Waste Reduction Rate
Sustainability Reporting Metrics
Sales Operations
Sales Pipeline Conversion Rate
Sales Forecast Accuracy
Sales Territories Coverage
Sales Call-to-Meeting Conversion Rate
Sales Quota Attainment
Sales Training ROI
Salesperson Activity Metrics
Salesperson Turnover Rate
Customer Success and Support
Customer Onboarding Completion Rate
Customer Health Score
Upsell and Cross-Sell Rate
Customer Advocacy and Referrals
Customer Onboarding Time
Remember that the specific KPIs you track will depend on your industry, goals, team size, and unique circumstances. Tailoring KPIs to your organization's needs is crucial for effective performance measurement and improvement.