Define one row
State what a record represents: an order, order line, customer, or daily snapshot. Joining order totals to order lines without accounting for grain can multiply revenue.
Check freshness
Show the source timestamp and the expected refresh interval. Separate a legitimate zero from a failed refresh. Display a clear stale-data message when the source is older than expected.
Check coverage and uniqueness
Compare the date range and record count with the source. Count missing identifiers and duplicate keys. Break the checks down by source or region so a missing segment is not hidden by an overall total.
Reconcile a trusted total
Choose a known total, such as paid orders for a closed day. Explain exclusions, refunds, currency conversion, and time zone boundaries. Keep the reconciliation alongside the report.
Document the metric
For each KPI, write its numerator, denominator, filters, time zone, and owner. Version the definition when it changes. A chart should help someone take an action, and its underlying metric should be reproducible.
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