---
sourceDocument: Australia Platform Analytics
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/now-intelligence

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Platform Analytics

ft:clusterId :

    - par

bundleId :

    - par

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Explore

# Exploring KPI Signals {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read
Summarize  
![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI  
This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.  

## Summary of Exploring KPI Signals

KPI Signals is a feature that alerts users to significant changes in process behavior by applying statistical Process Behavior Charts to Performance Analytics indicators.
It helps identify abnormal variations that deviate from normal patterns, which are crucial for maintaining process integrity.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Abnormal Variation Detection:** KPI Signals notifies users when abnormal or special cause variations occur, distinguishing them from common cause variations.
* **Statistical Framework:** Utilizes standard 3-sigma parameters to determine when an indicator's scores fall outside expected norms.
* **User Roles:** Involves various users such as process owners, administrators, and responsible users, each with specific responsibilities related to monitoring and responding to signals.
* **Workflow Process:** The setup involves a process owner requesting monitoring, an administrator enabling it, and responsible users reacting to notifications based on the significance of the changes.

## Key Outcomes

By implementing KPI Signals, organizations can proactively address process changes before they become apparent, ensuring timely interventions. Users receive notifications that allow them to determine whether the changes are temporary or require a reset of the baseline for ongoing monitoring. Additionally, KPI Signals generates anti-signals when no abnormal variations are detected, confirming that workflows are under control.  
KPI Signals notifies you when the behavior of a process changes significantly. This feature applies standard statistical Process Behavior Charts to Performance Analytics indicators.

## KPI Signals overview {#exploring-kpi-signals__cf-exploring-parent-overview}

Tip:  
A free training for KPI Signals is available from the [NOW Learning Center](https://nowlearning.service-now.com/lxp?id=overview&sys_id=674f2e4b1bea74d4c4b69683b24bcbe2&type=course).

Every process undergoes variation. Most of this variation is normal, or 'common cause' variation, such as the small differences between each time you sign your name. What you need to know about is abnormal, or 'special cause'
variation, such as when you sign with your off hand. KPI Signals lets you know when abnormal variation is occurring. KPI Signals incorporates Process Behavior Charts. These charts use standard statistical methods to pick out the signal of special cause variation from the noise of common cause variation.

KPI Signals uses standard 3-sigma parameters. "Three-sigma" means that the indicator scores for the process are expected almost always to remain within three standard deviations of the norm. The charts require at least
five consecutive scores to calculate parameters.

## KPI Signals users {#exploring-kpi-signals__cf-exploring-parent-users}

{#exploring-kpi-signals__table_l5w_1wl_pcc__entry__2}

| User | Description |
|-|-|
| Process owner | Requests signals monitoring on an indicator in the following circumstances: The indicator is important enough that the process owner wants to know if the trends deteriorate significantly and wants to be notified of this off-platform. However, the process owner does not want to track the trends continuously. Instead, they want the system to inform them when they need to look more closely. Alternatively, the process owner wants to catch the trend early in the process, before it is bad enough to be obvious to the human eye. |
| KPI Signals administrator | Sets up KPI Signals for an indicator at the request of the process owner. Also assigns responsible users for the indicator, generally also at the request of the process owner. |
| Responsible user | Receives signal notifications and acts upon them. The process owner is usually the key responsible user, but they can delegate this responsibility to other users as well. |
[Table 1. Users]

{#exploring-kpi-signals__table_l5w_1wl_pcc}

## KPI Signals workflow {#exploring-kpi-signals__cf-exploring-parent-workflow}

The following diagram shows the workflow for setting up KPI Signals for a Performance Analytics indicator, and the workflow for responding to a signal notification.
Figure 1. Setting up and using KPI Signals  
1. Process owner requests an administrator to enable KPI Signals for an indicator.
2. Administator makes themselves a responsible user for the indicator. Doing so activates KPI Signals monitoring for the indicator.
3. Administrator sets start date for monitoring indicator.
4. Administrator adds other responsible users.
5. Responsible user receives a notification from KPI Signals that an indicator should be examined.
6. Responsible user decides whether the signal is showing a temporary change, possibly due to a problem that can be corrected, or the signal is showing a long-term change in process behavior.
7. If the change is temporary, the responsible user addresses the underlying problem, if appropriate, then dismisses the signal.
8. If the change is long-term, the responsible user resets the baseline for generating the signal appropriately.
{#exploring-kpi-signals__cf-exploring-parent-workflow-ol}

## Other exploration topics {#exploring-kpi-signals__section_r5j_vrb_rcc}

* **[Signal, no signal, and anti-signal](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ORsgR7jCrVSstl795J7rcg)**   
  When KPI Signals detects abnormal variation in the scores of a KPI, it generates a signal. When KPI Signals does not detect abnormal variation for a significant amount of time, it generates an "anti-signal." The anti-signal lets you know that your workflow is under control.
* **[View KPI Signals](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/srOcqJuvgC1XU7gj7~Nftg)**   
  Access KPI Signals from the KPI Details page.

**Related concepts**   

* [Configuring KPI Signals for an indicator](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/j3rOs58kyQe74bqI7u_Fyw "Activate KPI Signals for an indicator and set up signal detection and notifications. Assign responsibility for receiving and handling KPI Signals notifications for an indicator.")
* [Using KPI Signals](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hgUpXDErlUfS1cJPSszPaA "When a responsible user receives a signal notification, they either dismiss the signal or reset the baseline.")
* [KPI Signals roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/N3Wda26GhKN_HiYleCUTCQ "The following roles apply to KPI Signals")