NIC MAP’s Market Research tools generate valuable data through the use of metrics. But what exactly is a metric?
What is a Metric?
A metric is an output derived from an analysis and is the result of a specific mathematical formula applied to data. Metrics are used to describe supply or demand dynamics in your market area. For example, Median HH Income CY is indicative of Median Household Income across all ages, in the current year.
The exact formula used depends on the metric in question. For more details on a specific metric or for a comprehensive list of metric descriptions, feel free to contact us at support@nicmap.com.
How Metrics Are Processed
Your NIC MAP portal contains hundreds, possibly thousands, of metrics. Each time you run an analysis, the system calculates all enabled metrics using data from your selected market areas. These metrics are then cached and stored in the system for easy access.
Why Don’t I See All Metrics in My Reports?
If certain metrics are missing from your reports, it’s likely that they haven’t been added to the selected report template. To resolve this, check the Settings - Report Builder section and manually add any missing metrics to your report templates. This is especially important if you have recently added custom metrics to your portal.
If you do not see the metric you are looking for in the report builder, that metric may need to be enabled.
Reviewing Old Analyses with New Report Templates
Because every metric on your portal is calculated and stored during an analysis, you can apply a new report template to an old analysis and view all metrics that were available at the time the analysis was run.
Why Don't I See My New Metrics in My Old Reports?
If you add new metrics or custom metrics to your portal today, they won’t be available for past analyses. Only the metrics that were enabled at the time the analysis was run will be available. Once an analysis is completed, it is effectively “frozen in time” with the metrics that were enabled during its execution.