Do you track monthly results but lose sight of the full year? With cumulative KPI tracking in AmpliFlow, you can see how results accumulate over time — ideal for annual targets and long-term performance monitoring.
What is cumulative KPI tracking?
AmpliFlow displays your measurements in two ways: monthly and cumulative. Both use the same underlying data, but present it differently.
Monthly view shows the result for each individual period. The chart displays what happened in January, February, and March — each month independently of the others.
Cumulative view adds results together as the year progresses. Each point on the chart shows the sum of all previous periods plus the current one.
Measurements are central to tracking progress over time. Cumulative tracking makes it easier to see whether you are on track towards an annual target.
Monthly vs cumulative — what they look like
Imagine you sell 10 units in January, 15 in February, 20 in March, and 25 in April.
In the monthly view, each month appears as a separate bar. The chart shows that April was the best month with 25 units. February was the weakest with only 15.
In the cumulative view, each month’s result is added to all previous months. January shows 10, February shows 25 (10+15), March shows 45 (10+15+20), and April shows 70 (10+15+20+25). The line rises steadily upward.
The monthly chart answers “which month was best?” The cumulative chart answers “where do we stand against our annual target?” If the goal is 200 units and you have 70 after four months, you are 10 units ahead of plan.
When does cumulative tracking work best?
Use cumulative tracking when you want to:
Monitor annual targets. Have you set a goal to reduce customer complaints by 50 during the year? The cumulative view shows how many you have eliminated so far. AmpliFlow supports time-bound targets with specific values — cumulative tracking makes it straightforward to see whether you will reach them.
Compare against plan. Add a cumulative target curve and see immediately whether you are above or below. The gap is visible every month.
Manage seasonal variation. If you sell most in autumn, the monthly view may look worryingly low in spring. Cumulative tracking smooths out the variation and reveals the underlying trend.
Report to management. “Year-to-date, we have…” is often more meaningful than individual monthly results.
When does monthly tracking work best?
Use the monthly view when you want to:
Spot anomalies. A sudden spike or dip is clearly visible in a monthly chart. In the cumulative view, that same anomaly is absorbed into the rising curve and harder to detect.
Compare periods against each other. Was February better than January? The monthly view answers directly.
Track ongoing KPIs without an end target. Customer satisfaction (NPS), lead times, and response times are best followed monthly. These metrics should hold a level — they are not meant to accumulate.
Measurements reflect business as usual, whilst targets drive change. The monthly view suits ongoing KPIs; the cumulative view suits goals with a defined endpoint.
How to switch between views
In AmpliFlow, you toggle between views using a button above the chart:
- Open the measurement detail page
- Locate the button with two icons in the toolbar
- Click to switch:
- Calendar icon = monthly view (each period shown separately)
- Timeline icon = cumulative view (accumulated totals)
AmpliFlow remembers your selection the next time you open the same measurement.
Practical example: customer complaints
Scenario: You have set an annual target to reduce customer complaints from 120 to 80 — a reduction of 40 complaints over the year. Targets should be measurable and time-bound.
Situation in April: You have had 8 complaints in January, 6 in February, 5 in March, and 7 in April.
Monthly view shows: 8 → 6 → 5 → 7. A positive trend until April, then an uptick. Concerning?
Cumulative view shows: 8 → 14 → 19 → 26 complaints so far this year.
If you take last year’s 120 complaints and distribute them evenly (10 per month), you would expect 40 by the end of April. You have 26 — that is 14 fewer than expected. Despite a weaker April, you are comfortably on track against the annual target.
Cumulative tracking provides perspective. A single poor month does not necessarily mean you will miss your annual goal.
Summary
Both views show the same data. They tell different stories. Cumulative tracking suits annual targets, plan comparisons, and year-to-date reporting. Monthly tracking suits anomaly detection, period-on-period comparisons, and ongoing KPIs without an endpoint.
Choose the view that fits your question. And remember: you can always switch back.
With AmpliFlow’s goal management and measurements linked to specific targets, following up and demonstrating results becomes straightforward.
Want to see cumulative tracking in practice? Contact us and we will show you how to monitor annual targets in AmpliFlow.
