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What is a KPI and how is it different from a regular metric?
A KPI, or key performance indicator, is a metric tied directly to a business goal and used to judge progress. Any number you can measure is a metric, but only the few that reflect success against an objective deserve to be called KPIs. Page views are a metric; qualified leads per month might be a KPI.
A good KPI is clearly defined, measurable from reliable data, owned by a person, and linked to a target or threshold. If nobody would change behaviour when the number moves, it is probably just a metric.
Typical examples differ by business: gross margin and stock turnover for retail, on-time delivery for logistics, utilisation for professional services. Keep the list short so attention is not diluted.
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