Metrics-First: The Simple Way to Create a Single Source of Truth
Summary: Your team has outgrown spreadsheets, but traditional BI still feels like a maze. PowerMetrics takes a different path: define the metric once, certify it, and let everyone explore trusted analytics without wrestling data models. Clear, governed KPIs. Faster decisions. Less back-and-forth.
The pain: dashboards everywhere, truth nowhere
Spreadsheets worked until they didn’t. Growth brought new tools, more data, and one big headache: nobody agrees on the numbers. One dashboard says 1,912 active customers. Another shows 2,034. A meeting that should take 15 minutes turns into a debate about definitions.
Traditional BI can add friction for smaller teams. Building a dashboard often means wrangling schemas, rebuilding the same joins, and calling in a data analyst. Specialized product analytics tools solve a slice of the problem, yet leave Finance, Sales, and Marketing on the sidelines. The result is scattered data and inconsistent definitions.
Meet PowerMetrics: metric-centric analytics for SMBs
PowerMetrics flips the script. The platform starts with the metric, not a raw data model. You define Monthly Recurring Revenue, Active Users, Qualified Leads, or Net Revenue Retention once, then certify it. The metrics (properly defined) live in an easy to use, trusted Metric Catalog. From there, every chart, dashboard, and comparison inherits that truth.
That means:
- One definition everywhere. No more “what counts as an active user” in every meeting.
- Governed self-serve. Business users can explore confidently without getting into the weeds (no SQL, not models, no APIs).
- Faster value. Build dashboards from trusted metrics instead of starting at the table level.
Under the hood, PowerMetrics connects to hundreds of sources, from spreadsheets and SaaS tools to databases and warehouses. It can even store metric history when the source does not, so you can trend performance over time with confidence.
Who needs PowerMetrics
Use this checklist to see if the fit is right.
| Scenario | Example | PowerMetrics solves this by... |
|---|---|---|
| Inconsistent definitions | Your team frequently argues about what a metric means (e.g., "What counts as an active user?"). | Enforcing clarity and governance with a central Metric Catalog—a single source of truth. |
| Data spread everywhere | Your critical data lives across various sources: a data warehouse, multiple APIs, and a few key spreadsheets. | Excelling at connecting to a wide range of sources and even creating data history for metrics where the source doesn't provide it. |
| BI is too technical | Building a new dashboard requires pulling in a data analyst or engineer every time. | Offering high ease of use for non-technical users (self-service) and reducing dependency on the data team. |
| Need for self-service | Your business users need to explore data confidently without breaking the underlying data model. | Leveraging a metrics-first approach and natural language query/AI to make data exploration intuitive. |
How PowerMetrics compares
Versus Power BI or Looker Studio: Traditional BI centres on general BI and dashboards that rely on complex data modelling. Users often navigate raw tables, joins, and schema decisions. PowerMetrics starts at the metric. Define the metric once, certify and share it, then build visuals and dashboards from that trusted object. Business users tap into analytics without living in the data model.
Versus Mixpanel or Heap: These tools are excellent for product and behavioural analytics. They shine with event tracking and funnels inside an app. PowerMetrics is designed for general business analytics across Finance, Sales, Marketing, and Operations. One platform for the whole business, not just one team.
| Feature | PowerMetrics | Power BI / Looker Studio | Mixpanel / Heap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Metric-centric BI. A central catalog of certified metrics ensures consistent definitions across teams. | General BI and dashboards. Uses a data modelling approach to create visualizations from underlying data models. | Product and behavioural analytics. Focuses on tracking and analyzing user events within an app or website. |
| Data source approach | Connects to a wide range of sources, including APIs, data warehouses, and spreadsheets. It can create data history for metrics even if the source doesn't provide it. | Excellent for connecting to data warehouses and other databases. Data modelling can be complex, especially with multiple datasets. | Primarily relies on event tracking via API or SDKs. Can also connect to data warehouses to augment behavioural data. |
| Ease of use for non-technical users | High. The metrics-first approach and natural language query with AI reduce the need for data analysts. | Medium to High. Dashboards are easy to use once built, but creating them from raw data can require technical skill. Looker Studio is more accessible for beginners. | Medium. While easy for viewing, setting up event tracking often requires engineering resources. |
| Best for your use case (API and warehouse data) | Very strong. PowerMetrics explicitly states it connects to APIs and data warehouses, and it excels at managing this data in a centralized, metric-first manner. | Strong. Both Power BI and Looker Studio have robust connectors for warehouses and can use API data. The key difference is the traditional BI reporting style versus PowerMetrics' metric catalog. | Can be strong for combining warehouse data with user behaviour. However, it's a more specialized tool for product analytics, not general business reporting. |
What you get out of the box
Here’s what you can set up right away without a long implementation.
1. A governed Metric Catalog
Clear names, descriptions, owners, tags, certification. Everyone uses the same definitions.
2. Fast connections
130+ connectors across popular apps, databases, and warehouses. Bring in spreadsheets, APIs, and cloud storage too.
3. Stored history for trending
Track changes over time even when the original source does not. Compare periods and monitor goals with confidence.
4. Self-serve exploration
Filter, segment, and drill into metrics without risking the underlying model. Ask questions in plain language and get charts in seconds.
5. Ready-made content
Hundreds of instant metrics and starter dashboards to jumpstart your workspace. Build momentum fast.
6. Real access to support
Our product experts are world-class and are here to help. They will unblock technical hurdles, train your team, or work more closely with you to build the perfect solution for your needs.
A simple path to a single source of truth
Use this rollout plan to create clarity fast and keep teams aligned.
1. Pick the metrics that matter
List the 10 to 15 KPIs your leadership team reviews every week: MRR, ARR, CAC, SQLs, NRR, Activation Rate, Pipeline Coverage. These become the backbone of your Metric Catalog. Check out MetricHQ for inspiration.
2. Connect your sources
Use built-in connectors for tools like your billing system, CRM, marketing platform, warehouse, or spreadsheet. Map each metric to its data and set refresh schedules that match your cadence. Check out our Connecting Data playlist.
3. Define and certify
Document each metric’s purpose, calculation, filters, and owner. Add tags and descriptions. Certify the metric your team agrees to use.
4. Share dashboards built from metrics
Assemble dashboards by selecting certified metrics and choosing visualizations. Since dashboards inherit definitions from the metric, you avoid one-off logic and hidden discrepancies. Learn more about sharing assets.
5. Encourage exploration
Give teams permission to explore without fear. Set goals, add comparisons, and subscribe to alerts. Use natural language to ask questions like “MRR growth last quarter vs previous quarter” and turn insights into action.
Results you can count on
Once your metrics are certified and shared, you can expect these wins.
- Decisions move faster because numbers match across teams.
- Analysts spend more time on high-impact work, not fixing duplicate logic.
- Stakeholders explore data safely and confidently.
- Leadership sees trends earlier thanks to stored history and consistent period comparisons.
When PowerMetrics is the right call
Choose PowerMetrics if you want an analytics platform that balances capability and simplicity. You get warehouse and API connections, data prep with formulas and joins, and a governed layer for metrics. You also get an experience designed for non-technical users.
If the goal is to graduate from complex, model-first tools and establish a single, non-technical source of truth, PowerMetrics is worth a look.
Get started
Ready to stop arguing over definitions and start deciding with confidence. Start building with PowerMetrics today.