Simple Card
Simple Card
What Is This Report Type?
A Simple Card is a minimalist KPI visualization that displays a single, prominent data point—without any trend lines, sparklines, or historical comparisons. It is designed to deliver the most critical number in the largest, most readable format possible.
Why Is It Used?
Simple Cards are used when absolute clarity is the priority. In situations where a metric speaks for itself—such as total headcount, current inventory, or system status—adding trend context would only introduce visual noise. The Simple Card focuses the viewer’s attention on one thing only.
Key Features and Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Single-Value Display | One large, bold number representing a key metric (Sum, Count, Average, Min, Max, or custom aggregation). |
| Descriptive Label | A clear title and optional subtitle describing what the metric represents. |
| Conditional Formatting | Background color or text color changes based on thresholds (e.g., turns red if value exceeds a limit). |
| Icon Support | Optional icons alongside the value for quick visual identification of the metric category. |
| Compact Footprint | Takes minimal dashboard real estate, making it ideal for multi-card layouts. |
When to Use It (Use Cases)
- Status Dashboards: Displaying the total number of servers currently online.
- HR Dashboards: Showing total employee headcount or open job requisitions.
- Warehouse Management: Displaying the current total inventory count.
- Event Monitoring: Showing the number of unresolved alerts in a monitoring system.
Real-Time Business Example
Scenario: A help-desk manager needs a large, visible display of the current number of open support tickets for the team to see on a wall-mounted screen.
Visualization: A Simple Card shows “42” in large, bold text with the label “Open Tickets” underneath. The card’s background is yellow because the value exceeds the threshold of 30 (a configurable alert level). This gives the entire team an immediate sense of workload without any additional detail.
Common Metrics Displayed
- Total Count: Number of active users, transactions, orders, or records.
- Sum of Values: Total revenue, total amount due, or cumulative hours logged.
- Current Status: A single number representing a real-time state (e.g., “3 servers offline”).
- Averages: Average response time, average rating score, or average deal size.
User Interactions
| Interaction | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Dashboard Filters | Global filters (e.g., date range, department) automatically recalculate the displayed value. |
| Click / Drill-Down | Clicking the card may navigate the user to a detailed Table or Chart report that breaks down how the number was derived. |
| Conditional Alerts | The card’s appearance changes dynamically based on preconfigured threshold rules. |
| Export | Export to Excel. |
Creation Steps
- Select Simple Card as the report type.
- Metrics: Drag the single value to display (e.g., Total Revenue or Open Tickets).