SAP Analytics Cloud QRC3 2026 Gauge chart: track a KPI against its target

The Gauge chart is one of three native chart types SAP added in the QRC3 2026 release — alongside the Sankey and Funnel charts. It does one thing well: show a single KPI against a target or threshold, at a glance. Here is when to use it, and a free template to try it on.

What the Gauge chart is for

A gauge turns one number into a sense of progress. Instead of reading "84%" and doing the mental math against your goal, the filled arc shows attainment instantly, with the threshold built in. It is the natural choice for the summary tiles at the top of an executive dashboard — revenue vs target, service level vs SLA, budget consumed vs plan.

When a gauge beats a plain KPI number

Reach for a gauge when the number only means something relative to a target, and when a quick "are we on track?" read matters more than the exact figure. If there is no meaningful target, or you need to compare many values, a KPI tile or a bar chart is the clearer choice — a gauge on its own says little without the threshold behind it.

The three new QRC3 charts, in one line each

• Gauge — one KPI against a target or threshold (summary tiles).
• Funnel — stage-by-stage drop-off (pipeline, conversion). See the Funnel example.
• Sankey — flow and volume between categories (budget allocation, resource flow).

All three build faster with the new Quick Builder for Charts in QRC3, and being native means no custom widget to package or maintain.

Try it on a real scenario

Gauges shine on a KPI scorecard where each metric has a goal. Our free ESG scorecard template is built around exactly that — KPIs tracked against targets across three pillars — so you can drop gauges onto goal-based metrics straight away. It is one of the 64 free templates, no sign-up. Prefer a finance angle? The annual budget template gives you budget-consumption KPIs to gauge against plan.

Where to go next

See the animated 60-second QRC3 tour, the full QRC3 2026 recap, and the Funnel chart guide. Building the model behind the tiles? The template catalog has ready-made structures across 16 industries.

Note: The three new charts (Sankey, Gauge, Funnel) and the Quick Builder for Charts are part of SAP's announced QRC3 2026 scope. Rollout is staggered — confirm availability in your tenant's What's New Viewer. Independent project, not affiliated with SAP SE.