Defining indicators and reports

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Defining indicators and reports

    The KPI Composer Data Definition tab in ServiceNow allows you to specify and link analysis artifacts to indicator and report definitions. This step connects your functional KPI tree with the technical implementations used in Performance Analytics and Reporting. Each artifact associated with dashboard widgets should reference an indicator or report definition, or both. The interface helps identify missing definitions and enables efficient linking or creation of these definitions.

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    Key Features

    • Artifact and Definition Linking: Artifacts can be linked to existing indicator and report definitions directly in the Data Definition tab, simplifying management and ensuring consistency.
    • Definition Creation Prompts: If an artifact lacks a linked definition, a plus sign (+) prompts you to create one, ensuring no artifact remains undefined.
    • Filtering Options: Filter artifacts by name, creation need, or whether they are linked to Performance Analytics indicators, helping you quickly identify gaps.
    • Indicator Definitions: Describe how to develop specific Performance Analytics indicators, including source tables, conditions, and contributing indicators for formula-type indicators. Indicator definitions link functional KPIs to their technical implementation.
    • Report Definitions: Define report creation details such as the facts table or report source and any relevant conditions, without needing to follow strict technical condition formats.
    • Direct Definition Creation: You can create new indicator or report definitions directly from the artifact in the Data Definition tab, streamlining the setup process.

    Key Outcomes

    • Ensures all measurement artifacts in your KPI tree are properly linked to corresponding indicator and report definitions, enabling accurate Performance Analytics and reporting.
    • Improves clarity and consistency between business analysis artifacts and their technical implementations.
    • Facilitates efficient management of KPIs and reports by providing quick access to definition properties and creation tools.
    • Supports detailed documentation of indicator and report development instructions, including qualitative condition descriptions to guide implementation.

    On the KPI Composer Data Definition tab, you further specify the artifacts you defined during analysis and link them to indicator and report definitions.

    After you open the Data Definition tab, you see the same KPI tree that you defined in the Analysis tab. The header with personas and breakdown definitions and the footer with new artifacts are gone.

    Each artifact that is associated with a Performance Analytics widget on the Dashboard Visualization should reference an indicator definition. Each artifact that is associated with a Reporting widget should reference a report definition. An artifact can be associated with both an indicator and a report definition. If a definition is missing, a clickable plus sign + appears with a message to create the definition. If the artifact is linked to any definitions, there is a hyperlink to open each definition. You can quickly get an overview of which artifacts are missing definitions by filtering on Create definition. The filtering menus with Create Definition selected

    The following illustration shows a measurement artifact that needs both a report and an indicator definition. An artifact definition named "% changes closed within SLA" is linked. The artifact still needs a report definition.

    Before you create a new definition, see if a suitable definition already exists. Click on an artifact to open its properties. You see a read-only view of the properties you set on the Analysis tab, with one addition: You can link the artifact to an existing indicator and/or report definition. Start typing to populate the list of matching definitions. Linking existing definitions is simpler in the properties dialog than in the indicator or report definition records.
    Figure 1. Measurement artifact in data definition tab
    Properties of a measurement artifact in the data definition tab.

    Filtering

    The following filter options are available on the Data Definition tab:
    • Filter by name, for filtering by one or more words that appear in the artifact name
    • Filter by task
    • Create definition, for filtering by whether an indicator or report definition is needed
    • Link PA Indicator, for filtering by artifacts with indicator definitions that are not linked to Performance Analytics indicators

    Filters on the Data Definition tab

    Indicator definitions

    An indicator definition contains the description of how to develop a specific Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition itself is not a Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition bridges the function-oriented artifact in the KPI tree and the technical implementation of the indicator in Performance Analytics.

    If a suitable indicator definition does not exist, click the create indicator definition link in the artifact tile. Specify the required properties of the indicator. Also write any development instructions in the field provided for them. If you are defining an automated indicator, specify the facts table for the indicator source. Also describe any conditions, either on the indicator itself or on the indicator source. You can describe the conditions qualitatively, not following condition builder format. If you are defining a formula indicator, add definitions of its contributing indicators.

    When a suitable Performance Analytics indicator exists, you can add a link to it in the indicator definition. You can see the technical details of the linked indicator. Reproduce the Performance Analytics indicator exactly or specify a modified version.

    Indicator definition record

    Report definitions

    A report definition contains the description to create a report. The key information is the facts table or the report source, along with any conditions. You do not have to follow a technical format when writing the conditions.

    Report definition record