Summary
Metrics and KPIs are the measurable backbone of your goal system. Learn how to create them in Brev, set targets, connect data sources, and make sure they roll up correctly to your Objectives.
Customizable Terminolgy
In Settings > Product > Terminology, you can name the Metric object whatever you'd like. Some teams use KPI, Key Result, Metric, or Measure.
In practice: create a Metric/KPI goal type when you want a number to track. Attach it to an Objective to make it a Key Result.
Creating a Metric or KPI
1. Go to Goals and click + New Goal.
2. Select Metric / KPI as the goal type.
3. Fill in the core fields:
Title — Be specific: "Monthly Recurring Revenue" not "Revenue."
Owner — Who's accountable for hitting this number.
Time period — Quarter or custom range.
Unit — Dollar, percentage, count, etc. Brev uses this to format the display.
1. Set the Start value — where you are today.
2. Set the Target value — where you need to be by the end of the period.
3. Optionally set a Warning threshold — the point at which you'd flag this as at-risk.
4. Click Create.
Pro tip: If you don't know your exact start value, use your most recent data point. An approximate baseline is better than leaving it blank — it's what Brev uses to calculate progress percentage.
Connecting a Data Source
Manual updates work fine, but automated Metric updates are where Brev really shines. After creating a Metric:
1. Open the Metric's detail view.
2. Click Connect data source.
3. Choose your integration (Google Sheets, HubSpot, Salesforce, Linear, GitHub, etc.).
4. Follow the auth flow and select the specific field or cell to pull from.
5. Set the sync frequency — hourly, daily, or weekly.
Once connected, Brev pulls the current value automatically and updates progress without any manual input.
⚠️ Note: Data source connections require the integration to be set up first. See the [Integrations Overview](../05-data-kpi-integrations/integrations-overview.md) for setup instructions.
Linking a Metric as a Child
To attach a Metric to an Objective
1. Edit the Metric by selecting the three dots next to the goal
2. Click Parent
3. Search for the goal you want to link it to
The Metric now appears under the parent goal and contributes to its overall progress score.
You can also add a child from a goal in the reverse order.
Setting Targets That Actually Mean Something
Weak targets make OKRs useless. Strong targets have three qualities:
1. Specific — "Increase NPS from 32 to 45" not "improve NPS."
2. Time-bound — Tied to your quarter or review period.
3. Ambitious but achievable — Brev's Goal Coach will flag targets that look too easy or likely unachievable.
Pro tip: For recurring KPIs (e.g., weekly active users), consider setting a "steady state" target rather than a growth target. Not every metric needs to go up — sometimes maintaining is the goal.
More questions?
As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions or directly chat with us in the Brev app.