Executive KPI dashboards summarize the most important business metrics in one place so leaders can review performance quickly.
Common executive KPIs
- Revenue, MRR, ARR, or bookings
- Gross margin and cost trends
- New customers, churn, retention, and expansion
- Product usage and activation
- Support volume, SLA performance, and satisfaction
- Pipeline, conversion, and forecast metrics
- Cash, invoicing, and collection metrics
Dashboard layout
Put the most important metrics at the top as KPI charts. Add trend charts underneath so viewers can see whether the number is improving or declining. Use tables sparingly for executive dashboards unless the table explains a material variance.
Recommended chart types
- KPI and number charts for top-line metrics
- Line and area charts for trends
- Bar and line combo charts for volume plus rate
- Waterfall charts for period-over-period movement
- Grouped bar charts for team, segment, or region comparisons
Governance
Executive dashboards need clear definitions. Use consistent SQL, documented filters, and careful permission settings so the same metric means the same thing across teams.