The Challenge
Understanding how actual performance compares against targets is one of the most common reporting needs - but it can quickly become complex.
Targets are often managed across spreadsheets or multiple data sources, making it difficult to consolidate them into a single, reliable view.
When targets change, updating reports manually is time-consuming and prone to error. The more granular the reporting needs e.g by channel, market, time period, or product, the harder this becomes to maintain consistently.
How Manage Data Helps
Manage Data allows clients to build and maintain target data directly within the platform and removing the need for manual workarounds or external data management.
Building a Target Table Around Client Needs
Target tables can be configured to reflect exactly how a business measures performance.
For example, if a client wants to set sales targets broken down by channel and market, this can be easily structured within the platform. Date ranges can also be applied, giving clients full control over the time periods their targets cover.
Uploading and Amending Targets
Users can either upload a target table directly or add to an existing one. As targets evolve, whether due to seasonality, business changes, or new objectives, clients can amend values as needed without disrupting the wider reporting setup.
Monitoring Performance in Dashboards
Once a target table is in place, the data feeds directly into dashboards. Clients can monitor how actual performance is behaving against targets in real time, with a clear and consistent view across all relevant dimensions.
Table Structure
Target Tables operate using a two-layer structure.
Input Table - This is the source table where users upload or manually edit their target data.
Usually populated via CSV uploads
Some users only need to add or adjust individual rows
Output Table - The output table is created using a transform or SQL subquery.
Converts the input data into a structured format used by platform metrics and dimensions
Feeds into reports and dashboards
Watchouts
Date Range Requirements
Target tables require both a Start Date and End Date.
Reports that rely on target data must use a date range that overlaps with the table’s defined range.
If a report queries a date outside this range, the target values may not appear.
Example: Media Cost Vs Target Media Cost
A client needed a clear way to monitor their actual Media Cost per Channel against their planned targets.
To support this, a Target Input table was configured within Manage Data, structured by date and channel to reflect how the client tracks their media spend.
Additional metrics were then created alongside the table to enable direct comparison between actuals and targets.
Once the client updates their Target Input table with the latest figures, the data is automatically reflected in their dashboard, giving them an up-to-date view of how their Media Cost is performing against plan, without any manual reporting required.
