Understanding KPI Cards & Trend Charts in TatvaAI

Dashboards are only useful if the numbers on them are easy to interpret correctly. This article explains how to read TatvaAI's two most common chart types — KPI cards and trend charts — so the insights they carry aren't misread.

What a KPI Card Tells You

A KPI card shows one number at a glance — such as "Total Vendor Spend: 31,81,08,13,857.95" or "Distinct Vendors: 1,860." These are best used for totals, counts, or current-state snapshots rather than for showing change over time.

Reading a Trend Chart Correctly

A trend chart plots a metric across a timeline, letting you spot patterns a single number can't show — spikes, dips, seasonality, or a steady baseline. When reading a trend chart, look for:

• Spikes — sudden jumps that may represent a one-time event (like a bulk purchase)
• Seasonality — repeating patterns tied to a time of year
• Baseline shifts — a sustained change in the "normal" level, rather than a single outlier

Combining KPI Cards With Trend Charts

The most useful dashboards pair a KPI card (the current total) with a trend chart (how it got there). Seeing "Total Stock Value: 98,53,326" alone doesn't tell you if that's growing or shrinking — the accompanying trend chart does.

Avoiding Common Misreads

A common mistake is treating a single spike on a trend chart as a new normal, when it may just be a one-off. Before reacting to a spike, it's worth asking a follow-up question in chat — such as "what caused the spend spike in March?" — to understand the cause before drawing conclusions.

Practical Tip

When reviewing a dashboard for the first time, scan the KPI cards first for an overall snapshot, then check the trend charts for context on whether each number is improving, worsening, or holding steady.

FAQ

Q1: What is a KPI card best used for?

A single total, count, or current-state snapshot.

Q2: What should I look for in a trend chart?

Spikes, seasonality, and shifts in the baseline level.

Q3: Why pair a KPI card with a trend chart?

The KPI card shows the current number; the trend chart shows how it got there.

Q4: What's a common mistake when reading trend charts?

Treating a one-time spike as a permanent new normal.

Q5: How should I approach a new dashboard?

Scan KPI cards first, then check trend charts for context.