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Improve KPIs the Easy Way (2024 Update)

Improving your key performance indicators (KPIs) can be a critical step in ensuring your business is successful. Here are some steps to help improve KPIs:

1. Define your business Objectives

The first step in improving KPIs is to define your business objectives. This will help you identify the KPIs that matter the most to your organization. KPIs should be aligned with your business objectives and reflect what is most important to your organization.

2. Identify Relevant KPIs

Once you have defined your objectives, you need to identify relevant KPIs. There are several categories of KPIs, including financial, customer, operational, employee, and social responsibility KPIs. Review the categories and select the KPIs that will be most effective in measuring the success of your business.

3. Limit the Number of KPIs

It is essential to limit the number of KPIs you track to prevent information overload. Focus on the top five to ten KPIs that will provide the most value to your organization. This will help your team stay focused on what matters most.

4. Set SMART Goals for Each KPI

To ensure that your KPIs are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, set SMART goals. For example, if one of your KPIs is customer satisfaction, a SMART goal could be to increase customer satisfaction by 10% in the next quarter.

5. Automate KPI Tracking with Tools

Automating KPI tracking will save time and ensure accurate data. Identify the tools you need to automate your KPI tracking, such as accounting software or production tracking programs. These tools can be used to build dashboards and visualization tools that will provide real-time access to KPI data.

6. Communicate KPIs to your Team

It is essential to communicate KPIs to your team to keep everyone aligned and motivated. Ensure that your team is aware of what you are trying to accomplish and how they can contribute to achieving your targets. Provide visibility of KPIs to your team and celebrate the wins.

7. Review and revise KPIs Regularly

The needs of your business will change over time, and it is essential to review and revise KPIs regularly. Revisit your KPIs at least once a year to determine if they are still aligned with your business objectives. Replace KPIs that are no longer relevant and add new KPIs that reflect your current business goals.

8. Plan for KPI Implementation

Planning for KPI implementation is essential to ensure that KPIs are implemented correctly. Determine who needs to know about the KPI, how it will be tracked, and how it will be reported. Communicate the intent of the metric in a way that can be easily understood.

9. Monitor Behaviors, Measure Results

It is essential to monitor behaviors that you want to change and address them directly. Ensure that your KPIs align directly with those organizational changes. Identify the behaviors that you want to change and manage them to achieve your desired outcomes.

10. Align KPIs with Corporate Goals

Aligning KPIs with corporate goals is essential to ensure organizational alignment. The process works best if KPIs are developed from the top down. Ensure that your primary indicators align and support your corporate objectives to prevent organizational confusion.

Example Scenario

XYZ Company is a retail company that specializes in selling fashion accessories. They want to improve KPIs to stay competitive in the market and maintain their profitability. 

1. Define your business Objectives

XYZ Company's objective is to increase their revenue by 15% in the next fiscal year by improving their operations and customer satisfaction.

2. Identify Relevant KPIs

XYZ Company identifies over 15 KPIs they could improve.

3. Limit the Number of KPIs

XYZ Company decides to limit the number of KPIs to the top five, which are:

Sales growth: This KPI measures the increase in sales generated by the company over a specific period of time.

Customer retention rate: This KPI measures the percentage of customers who continue to purchase from the company.

Average transaction value: This KPI measures the average amount spent by customers per transaction.

Employee satisfaction: This KPI measures the level of job satisfaction of employees.

Return on investment (ROI): This KPI measures the efficiency of the company's investments in terms of revenue generated.

4. Set SMART Goals for Each KPI

Sales growth: Increase sales by 10% in the next quarter through targeted marketing campaigns.

Customer retention rate: Increase the customer retention rate by 5% in the next six months by providing exceptional customer service and personalized experiences.

Average transaction value: Increase the average transaction value by 15% in the next year by offering product bundles and upsells during checkout.

Employee satisfaction: Increase the employee satisfaction score by 20% in the next year by implementing a performance recognition program and providing professional development opportunities.

Return on investment (ROI): Increase the ROI by 20% in the next year by investing in new technologies that streamline operations and reduce costs.

5. Automate KPI Tracking with Tools

XYZ Company decides to use Lido.app to track all of their KPIs from a single dashboard. So they can easily track KPI improvement.

6. Communicate KPIs to your Team

XYZ Company communicates the KPIs to their team by setting up regular meetings to discuss progress and targets. They also celebrate successes and encourage feedback.

7. Review and revise KPIs Regularly

XYZ Company reviews their KPIs at least once per quarter to ensure that they are still aligned with their business objectives. They replace KPIs that are no longer relevant and add new KPIs that reflect their current business goals.

8. Plan for KPI Implementation

XYZ Company plans for KPI implementation by determining who needs to know about the KPI, how it will be tracked, and how it will be reported. They communicate the intent of the metric in a way that can be easily understood by all stakeholders.

9. Monitor Behaviors, Measure Results

XYZ Company monitors behaviors that they want to change and addresses them directly. They ensure that their KPIs align directly with those organizational changes. They identify the behaviors that they want to improve and manage them to achieve their desired outcomes.

10. Align KPIs with Corporate Goals

XYZ Company aligns their KPIs with their corporate goals to ensure organizational alignment. They ensure that their primary indicators align and support their corporate objectives to prevent organizational confusion.


By following the framework above and tracking their progress with a dashboard from Lido, XYZ Company were able to dramatically improve KPIs and reach their company-wide goals.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our articles on KPI grabbing and what KPI benchmarking is.

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