The Metric Tree shows you how a key metric like Gross Margin is built from its component metrics, laid out as a visual tree. Instead of scanning a dashboard full of numbers, you can trace exactly which inputs are pushing a metric up or down.
Each node in the tree displays the metric's value for your selected date range and how it changed versus the comparison period, so you can follow the story from the top-level result down to its root causes.
What you can do with the Metric Tree
Trace any change to its source. If Gross Margin dropped, follow the tree to see whether revenue fell, costs rose, or both.
See the math behind your metrics. Operators between nodes (+, −, ×, ÷) show exactly how each metric is calculated from its children.
Pan and zoom the canvas to navigate the tree comfortably and focus on the branch you're analyzing.
Compare periods to see the change of every metric in the tree at once.
Before you start
Connect your data sources. The tree is only as complete as your data. Make sure your integrations (Shopify, ad platforms, and any cost sources) are connected and synced.
Know your date ranges. Every value in the tree reflects the date range you select, and every change indicator reflects the comparison period.
Reading the tree
Nodes
Each node represents one metric. It shows:
The metric name.
The value for the selected date range.
The change versus the comparison period, color-coded so you can spot improvements and declines instantly.
Operators
The signs between a metric and its children show how the parent is calculated:
Addition and subtraction (+, −) connect metrics that sum into the parent. For example, COGS subtracts from revenue to produce Gross Margin.
Multiplication and division (×, ÷) connect ratio-based metrics. Divisions are displayed with the numerator above and the denominator below, like a fraction, so the calculation reads naturally.
Navigating the canvas
Pan: click and drag anywhere on the empty canvas to move around.
Zoom: scroll (or pinch on a trackpad) to zoom in and out, or use the zoom controls.
Zoom out for the full picture, then zoom into the branch you're diagnosing.
Selecting dates and comparing periods
Use the date range picker to set the analysis period. Every node updates to show its value for that range and its change versus the comparison period.
This is where the tree shines: instead of checking metrics one by one, you see the change of the entire system at once and can immediately spot which branch turned red.
How to diagnose a metric drop
A practical workflow:
Start at the top. Look at the root metric's change for the period.
Follow the red. Scan the tree for the child metrics with negative changes.
Keep drilling. Follow the declining branch until you reach a metric you can act on, like ad spend on a specific channel or refunds.
Confirm with a report. Once you've found the driver, open the related report to analyze it in depth with filters and breakdowns.
Tips
A parent can improve while a child declines. For example, Gross Margin can rise even if COGS went up, as long as revenue grew faster. The tree makes these offsetting effects visible.
Percentages and absolute values tell different stories. A large percentage change on a small metric may matter less than a small change on a large one. Check both.
Use it in weekly reviews. The tree is a fast way to open a Monday meeting: one screen showing what moved and why.