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KPI Vs KRI: What's the Difference? [2023 Update]

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) are widely used in organizations to monitor and assess progress towards goals and potential risks, respectively.

However, it is crucial to comprehend the significant differences between KPIs and KRIs in order to use them effectively in a business. In this article, we will explore the difference between KRIs and KPIs in detail.

What is a KPI?

A Key Performance Indicator is a quantifiable value that shows how successfully a company is meeting its essential business objectives. It is a metric used to monitor progress towards particular targets such as revenue growth or customer satisfaction.

Example

For instance, in the healthcare industry, a typical KPI could be:

KPI: Patient satisfaction rate

This KPI evaluates the percentage of patients who are satisfied with their overall healthcare experience. This KPI is crucial for healthcare providers to track because it indicates the level of quality they are delivering and helps identify areas that may require improvement.

What is a Key Risk Indicator (KRI)?

A Key Risk Indicator (KRI) is a metric used to monitor and assess potential risks in an organization. It is a quantifiable and objective measure that provides early warning signals of potential risks, allowing organizations to take proactive steps to mitigate them.
KRIs are used in conjunction with a risk management framework and can be used to monitor various types of risks, including operational, financial, and strategic risks.

Example

For instance, in the financial industry, a typical KRI could be:

KRI: Loan default rate

This KRI measures the percentage of loans that are not repaid on time. This KRI is critical for financial institutions to track as it indicates the credit risk of their loan portfolio and helps identify trends that may be impacting loan performance.

KPI Vs KRI - Difference Explained

To better understand the difference between KPIs and KRIs, let's take a look at some examples from different industries:

Retail Industry:

KPI: Sales Growth Rate - measures the increase in sales over a given period of time and is an indicator of the success of marketing and sales efforts.

KRI: Changes in Consumer Spending Patterns - measures changes in consumer spending patterns that may impact the sales growth rate and is an indicator of potential risks to the retail industry.

Technology Industry:

KPI: User Acquisition Cost - measures the cost of acquiring new users for a technology company and is an indicator of the efficiency of marketing and customer acquisition efforts.

KRI: Changes in Technology Trends - measures changes in technology trends that may impact the user acquisition cost and is an indicator of potential risks to the technology industry.

Banking Industry:

KPI: Loan Approval Rate - measures the percentage of loan applications that are approved by a bank and is an indicator of the efficiency of the loan approval process.

KRI: Changes in Interest Rates - measures changes in interest rates that may impact the loan approval rate and is an indicator of potential risks to the banking industry.


FAQ

What is the main difference between KPIs and KRIs?

KPIs are used to measure the success of an organization in achieving its goals, while KRIs are used to measure potential risks that may impact the success of the organization.

Can KPIs and KRIs be used together?

Yes, KPIs and KRIs can be used together in an organization to evaluate both performance and potential risks.

How often should KPIs and KRIs be monitored?

The frequency of monitoring KPIs and KRIs may vary depending on the industry and the organization, but it is typically recommended to monitor them on a regular basis, such as quarterly or semi-annually.

In conclusion, KPIs are used to measure the success of an organization in achieving its goals, while KRIs are used to measure potential risks that may impact the success of the organization. Understanding the difference between KPIs and KRIs is important in order to effectively evaluate performance and make informed decisions.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our articles on the difference between an OKR and KPI and KPI benchmarking.

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