A simple KPI dashboard is often more useful than a complex analytics setup. The goal is a single, easy-to-update view that answers three questions: Are we growing? Are we healthy? Where are the risks? You can build this in a spreadsheet with manual updates or light automation.

Step one: pick the right KPIs. Choose three to five per area—sales (pipeline, win rate, cycle time), revenue (MRR or monthly sales, churn/retention), operations (on-time delivery, backlog, cycle time), customer (NPS/CSAT, support response), and finance (gross margin, net burn, cash runway). Avoid vanity metrics that do not influence decisions.

Step two: define each KPI clearly. Write the formula, data source, owner, update frequency, and target. For example: Win rate = closed-won deals / total closed deals. Source = CRM. Owner = Sales Ops. Update = weekly. Target = 30%. Clarity prevents debates about numbers later.

Step three: design the dashboard. Keep it on one page. Use a simple table or tiles showing current value, target, and trend (arrow or sparkline). Color-code performance: green on target, yellow at risk, red off target. Link each metric to the underlying data tab so someone can audit numbers quickly.

Step four: set an update rhythm. Weekly updates for go-to-market metrics, monthly for financials, and quarterly for strategic metrics. Assign owners and due dates. If you use Sheets, consider simple scripts or Zapier to pull data from your CRM or support tool to reduce manual work.

Step five: review and act. A dashboard is only useful if it drives conversation. In a weekly meeting, review the reds and yellows, decide actions, and log owners. Remove metrics that no longer inform decisions and add new ones carefully to avoid bloat.

Over time, you can graduate to BI tools, but start simple. A clear, consistent KPI dashboard built in a spreadsheet creates alignment, surfaces problems early, and keeps the team focused on what actually moves the business forward.