Overview
Manually updating goal progress works, but it is easy to forget and time-consuming to maintain. By connecting a goal to a live data source, clariBI pulls the latest metric value on a schedule and updates progress automatically.
This guide covers how to connect a goal to live data using dashboard widgets.
Prerequisites
Before connecting a goal to live data, make sure:
- The goal exists and has a target value set. See Business Goals: Creation and Target Setting.
- The data source you want to use is already connected in clariBI. See the Data Sources category for setup guides.
- You have at least Member role in the workspace where the goal lives.
Method 1: Connect via Dashboard Widget
Use this method when you already have a dashboard widget displaying the metric you want to track.
Step-by-Step
- Open the goal and click the Data Connection tab.
- Click Connect Data Source.
- Select Dashboard Widget as the connection type.
- Choose the dashboard from the dropdown.
- Select the specific widget (only widgets displaying a single numeric value are listed).
- Set the refresh frequency.
- Click Save Connection.
This is the fastest option if you already have the metric displayed on a dashboard. The goal inherits the widget's data source and query configuration.
Managing Connections
Viewing Connection Status
The Data Connection tab shows:
- Connection type (Dashboard Widget)
- Last refresh time and the value retrieved
- Next scheduled refresh
- Connection status: Active, Paused, or Error
Handling Errors
If a data connection fails (query timeout, API auth expired, widget deleted), clariBI:
- Marks the connection status as Error.
- Sends a notification to the goal owner.
- Retries the connection at the next scheduled refresh.
- After 3 consecutive failures, pauses the connection.
To fix an error, click Edit Connection, resolve the issue, and click Test to verify. Then click Resume to restart automatic updates.
Pausing and Resuming
You can manually pause a data connection at any time. Click the Pause button on the Data Connection tab. Paused connections stop refreshing but retain their configuration. Click Resume to restart.
Refresh Frequencies and AI Credits
Data connection refreshes do not consume AI credits. Only conversational AI queries and report generation use credits.
Available refresh frequencies:
| Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|
| Hourly | Fast-moving metrics like website traffic or sales |
| Daily | Most business metrics (recommended default) |
| Weekly | Slower-moving metrics like churn rate or NPS |
| Monthly | Long-term metrics like annual revenue targets |
Best Practices
- Start with daily refreshes. You can always increase or decrease the frequency later.
- Test your query first. Always use the Test button before saving a connection. A broken query means no automatic updates.
- Use dashboard widgets for quick setup. If the metric already exists on a dashboard, connecting via widget is the fastest path.
- Monitor connection health. Check the Data Connection tab periodically to make sure your connections are active and returning expected values.
- Set up milestone alerts. Combine live data connections with milestones (see Milestones and Progress Tracking) to get notified when you hit key checkpoints automatically.