How to calculate remaining units and the required daily rate
Formulas for achieved, remaining, required per day and the period-end projection, with a worked example. See which branch is behind before the month ends.
The purpose of target tracking is to act before the period is over. For that, "what percentage have we done" is not enough: you need to know how many a day you need from today to reach target, and how the period will end at the current pace. Five simple formulas give you that.
The five formulas
| Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
| Remaining | max(target − achieved, 0) |
| Required per day | remaining ÷ days left |
| Daily average | achieved ÷ days elapsed |
| Period-end projection | achieved + daily average × days left |
| Should have by today | target × days elapsed ÷ total days |
Deviation from plan is achieved − should have by today. If it is negative you are behind plan.
A worked example
A branch’s home-internet target is 180 units, the period is 30 days and today is day 18. So far 70 units are done.
- Remaining: 180 − 70 = 110 units
- Days left: 30 − 18 = 12
- Required per day: 110 ÷ 12 ≈ 9.2 units
- Daily average: 70 ÷ 18 ≈ 3.9 units
- Period-end projection: 70 + 3.9 × 12 ≈ 117 units
- Should have by today: 180 × 18 ÷ 30 = 108 units; deviation 70 − 108 = −38
Reading it: at the current pace the period ends at 117 units (about 65% of target); to reach target the daily pace must rise from 3.9 to 9.2, more than double. Seen on day 18 you can still act; seen at month end you can only take notes.
A projection is not a guarantee
The projection carries the past pace into the future. A campaign, a holiday or stock can change the pace; read it as a signal, not a promise.
Label the status
Not everyone reads numbers; a status label does it for them. A simple rule is enough: a KPI that has reached target is "Completed", one with a small deviation is "On track", one whose projection falls under target is "At risk", and one whose required daily rate far exceeds the current pace is "Behind". A Branch Manager should see which KPI to focus on within seconds.
Look at branch and employee level
The company total can look fine while a single branch is behind. Applying the same formulas per branch and per employee shows who needs support. KPI target tracking does these calculations from transactions automatically; the effect of reaching target on commission can be followed on the commission calculation page.