Distribution – Supplier Metrics

What is a Supplier KPI Dashboard? Supplier KPI dashboards are considered important analysis tools and are used by analysts and purchasing managers to monitor the performance of their suppliers. Some of the main functionality in this type of dashboard is that it is parameter-driven and helps the user analyze the company's suppliers from six perspectives: 1) Cost per drop, 2) Back order rate versus perfect order rate, 3) Length of transit (hours) versus production time, 4) Purchase trend, 5) Top 10 items, and 6) Top 10 suppliers. You find an example of this type of dashboard below.

Purpose of Supplier KPI Dashboards Distribution businesses use Supplier KPI Dashboards for monthly performance tracking of their suppliers. When used as part of good business practices in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Purchasing departments, a company can improve its supply chain, product quality and efficiency. It can also reduce the chances that major disruptions or cost issues occur due to avoidable supplier problems.

Who Uses This Type of Dashboard? The typical users of this type of dashboard are: COOs, purchasing/procurement managers, analysts. Other Dashboards Often Used in Conjunction with Supplier KPI Dashboards Progressive Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Purchasing and operational departments sometimes use several different Supplier KPI Dashboards, along with  inventory reports, inventory dashboards, demand and supply forecasts, sales budgets, margin reports, quality reports and other management and control tools.

Where Does the Data for Analysis Originate From? The Actual (historical transactions) data typically comes from management systems or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) Finance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC), Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Sage Intacct, Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, SAP Business One, SAP ByDesign, Acumatica, Netsuite and others. In analyses where budgets or forecasts are used, the planning data most often originates from in-house Excel spreadsheet models or from professional xFP&A solutions.

Built for distribution finance teams and aligned with Solver's xFP&A platform, this Solver report template connects directly to your ERP data via the Solver Data Warehouse, enabling near real-time analysis with minimal setup. Designed for QuickStart deployment, it can be activated rapidly so your team can focus on analysis and decisions — not data preparation.

What is the Distribution – Supplier Metrics in Solver? The Distribution – Supplier Metrics is a pre-built xFP&A report template in Solver designed for distribution organizations. It delivers key financial and operational metrics in a single, easy-to-use interface — purpose-built for distribution finance workflows.

Who uses this Solver report template? This template is primarily used by CFOs, operations managers, and distribution finance teams in distribution organizations who need accurate, timely data to support planning, reporting, and decision-making. It is particularly valuable for distribution finance teams managing budgets, forecasts, and performance reviews.

Where does the data come from? Data is sourced automatically from your ERP system through the Solver Data Warehouse, which integrates with platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Finance, Acumatica, Sage Intacct, and other leading ERP solutions. Once connected, the template updates in near real-time with no manual data entry required.

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