SUMMARY
Use this guide to understand the different ways you can analyse KPI data in Factbird and when each option is most appropriate. Choosing the right analysis method helps you balance speed, accuracy, and flexibility depending on your reporting needs.
WHAT THIS IS
KPI analysis is the process of reviewing production performance using the tools available within Factbird or through external reporting solutions.
Factbird provides several ways to analyse KPI data, each designed for different use cases. Some tools are intended for quickly exploring production data, while others are designed for repeatable reporting, data exports, or integration with external Business Intelligence (BI) platforms.
Understanding the purpose of each option helps you choose the most appropriate method for your reporting requirements.
WHY IT MATTERS
Different reporting requirements often need different levels of detail and flexibility.
For example:
- A production manager may need a reusable dashboard that is updated automatically.
- A customer may want to export KPI values into Excel for further analysis.
- A data analyst may require raw production data for Power BI or Tableau.
- A support engineer may want to quickly answer a question about production performance.
Using the appropriate analysis method helps ensure the data is presented in the most effective format while reducing unnecessary manual work.
WHEN YOU WOULD USE THIS
Use this when:
- You need to decide which Factbird reporting tool best fits your reporting requirements.
- You want to understand the differences between AI-generated insights, Reports, Trends, and API data.
- You need KPI data for customer reviews, internal reporting, or external analysis.
- You are planning to export production data for additional processing.
HOW IT WORKS
Factbird offers multiple ways to analyse production KPIs, each serving a different purpose.
AI Assistant
The AI Assistant allows users to ask questions about production data using natural language. It is designed for quickly exploring data, identifying trends, and generating insights without manually creating reports.
Reports
Reports use configurable widgets to display KPI data using clearly defined filters and settings. Because each widget is configured explicitly, reports provide consistent and repeatable visualisations that can be shared across teams.
Trends
The Trends page displays KPI development over time using charts and tables. Users can export the displayed KPI values to CSV or Excel for additional analysis outside Factbird.
Depending on the selected time range, KPI values may be aggregated to provide an appropriate level of detail for the selected period.
API
The Factbird API provides access to production data for customers who need to build custom reports or integrate with external Business Intelligence platforms such as Microsoft Power BI or Tableau.
KEY TERMS / COMPONENTS
AI Assistant
Provides AI-generated answers to questions about production data using natural language.
Reports
Reusable dashboards built from configurable widgets with visible filters and calculation settings.
Trends
A visualisation tool for viewing KPI performance over time and exporting displayed KPI values.
API
A programmatic interface for retrieving production data for custom integrations and reporting solutions.
KPI
A Key Performance Indicator used to measure production performance, such as OEE, Availability, Performance, Quality, Downtime, or Production Count.
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS
AI Assistant and Reports provide the same type of reporting.
Although both can present KPI information, Reports use explicitly configured widgets that provide repeatable and transparent calculations, while AI Assistant is designed to help users explore data using natural language.
The Trends export always contains every available KPI value.
Trend exports contain the KPI values currently displayed in the Trends view. Depending on the selected time range, the exported values may be aggregated.
The API is required for all reporting.
Most reporting requirements can be met using Reports or Trends. The API is typically used when integrating Factbird with external reporting platforms or custom applications.
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