Managing indicators from the Platform Analytics library

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Managing indicators from the Platform Analytics library

    This guide explains how ServiceNow users can manage Performance Analytics indicators (KPIs) within the Platform Analytics library. The indicator library provides access to all indicators users are permitted to view or edit, depending on their roles. Users can open, filter, sort, and navigate indicators efficiently through this centralized interface.

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    Basic Indicator Management

    • All users with read access can view indicators that are marked to show in the library, including automated, formula, external, manual, and benchmark indicators.
    • The interface allows filtering by bookmarked indicators or creator (if permitted), searching by name or description, and applying complex filters.
    • Users can save filter settings for reuse and customize which indicator attributes appear as columns, with sorting options for each column.
    • Indicators can be opened individually in KPI Details for further inspection.
    • Navigation panes enable seamless movement between libraries and usage insights without disrupting workflow.

    Enhanced Management for Privileged Users

    Users with papoweruser or padatacollector roles, or higher, gain additional controls:

    • Access to extra navigation destinations within the application.
    • Ability to create new indicators via a dedicated form (automated or formula indicators).
    • Filter to view only the indicators they have created.
    • Indicator health tiles provide insights on the status of indicators, such as how many lack active data collection jobs or have not been viewed recently, helping identify candidates for deletion.
    • Bulk deletion of indicators by selecting multiple entries.
    • Editing capabilities through direct access to indicator records, subject to security.
    • Additional default columns showing indicator source, data collection job status, and usage statistics (last viewed date and view count in the past year).
    • Administrators with the paadmin role or higher may see recommendations for problematic indicators to help maintain data quality.

    Admin Management with Data Snapshots Enabled

    • Instances can check eligibility for Data snapshots from the KPI Details banner and activate this feature if supported.
    • Once enabled, users see new tiles indicating Data snapshots status and can enable this feature on supported indicators in bulk.
    • A specific column can be shown to display which indicators support Data snapshots, facilitating management.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Centralized and role-based management of Performance Analytics indicators ensures users can efficiently monitor and maintain KPIs relevant to their roles.
    • Filtering, sorting, and health metrics empower users to keep indicator data accurate, relevant, and up to date.
    • Data snapshots functionality helps admins enhance analytic data capture for deeper insights.
    • Improved navigation and saved filters streamline ongoing indicator management workflows.

    The indicator library lists all the Performance Analytics indicators or KPIs to which you have access. Users who can create or edit indicators or Performance Analytics collection jobs have additional information.

    Open the list of indicators at Platform Analytics > Library > Indicators. You can also navigate to this library from other Platform Analytics library pages. The configuration of the Indicators page and the data access depends on your roles. All users with at least read access to an indicator get the basic indicator management functionality that is included in the default view.

    Library pages like this one include a navigation pane that provides access to the other libraries and the Usage Insights page. Use it to navigate between the libraries without interrupting your workflow.

    Basic indicator management

    Figure 1. Default indicator library view with basic functionality
    Default view of indicator library for non-admin users.

    You can see any automated, formula, external, or manual indicator that has Show in library enabled on its indicator record and to which you have access, including benchmark indicators. Select the name of an indicator to open it in KPI Details, in a new tab.

    You have several options for filtering what appears in the library. The numbered callouts in Default indicator library view with basic functionality match the numbers in the following list:
    1. Under Filter by, you have the option to filter on bookmarked indicators. If you have the right to create indicators, you can also filter on the indicators that you have created.
    2. Use the Search field to search by indicator name or description.
    3. Expand the Filter list and add conditions for filtering the indicators. Under Saved filters, you can save the filters you currently have open and reopen them later. You can also toggle the labels on the filter fields on and off.
      Conditional filter list on indicator library.
    4. Open the Edit columns dialog, and select which indicator parameters appear as columns in the list.

    Sort the records according to a column's values by selecting the column label. Repeatedly select the label to switch between forward and reverse sorting. The type of sorting depends on the type of data in the column, such as alphanumeric sorting for text or date sorting for dates.

    Indicator management for users who can edit indicators or collection jobs

    Note:
    The functionality in this section is available only to users with the pa_power_user or pa_data_collector role or higher. Users also have all the basic functionality that was described in the previous section.
    Figure 2. Default indicator library view for privileged users, Data snapshots not enabled
    Platform Analytics indicator library
    Privileged users have the following extra functionality:
    1. Application navigator: Additional navigation destinations.
    2. Creating indicators: Press Create indicator to open an empty Indicator form. For more information, see Create an automated indicator or Create a formula indicator.
    3. Indicators you created: You have an additional Filter by option, to see only the indicators you have created.
    4. Indicator health: A row of tiles shows you useful statistics about the health of your indicators, such as how many automated and formula indicators do not have active collection jobs. The No active data collection job, Not viewed in 6 months, and Not viewed in one year tiles suggest how many indicators you may be able to delete. Conversely, Updated in the last 30 days gives you an idea how many indicators are truly active. Press a tile to filter the indicator list by that statistic.
      Note:
      Filters on the list of indicators do not currently filter the tiles.
    5. Deleting indicators: Select one or more indicators by ticking the box in its row, then press Delete. The Delete button shows you how many indicators are selected for deletion.
    6. Editing indicators: Select the pencil icon next to an indicator to open that indicator's record. Security restrictions may apply.
    Privileged users also see a different set of default columns. In place of the Description field, you see the following information:
    • The indicator source for each automated indicator
    • The state of the data collection job
    • The last time the indicator was viewed
    • How many times in total it was viewed in the last year
    Note:
    A user with the pa_admin role or higher might also see a panel with recommendations about problematic indicators. For more information, see Platform Analytics library recommendations.

    Indicator management for admin users with Data snapshots enabled

    If you have not tried to enable Data snapshots on your instance, you have a banner at the top of KPI Details.
    Banner for checking Data snapshots eligibility.
    Press Check instance eligibility to see if your instance is eligible for Data snapshots and, if not, why. For more information, see Activate Data snapshots.
    When your instance is eligible for Data snapshots, you have a banner announcing this fact and two new tiles, Data snapshots enabled and Data snapshots supported. You can select one or more indicators in the list and press Enable Data Snapshots (quantity of indicators selected).
    Tip:
    If you show the Data snapshots status column, you can see which indicators support Data snapshots.
    Figure 3. Default indicator library view for privileged users, with Data snapshots enabled
    Indicator library with Data snapshots eligible on the instance.