Metrics and semantic layers should be considered as infrastructure, their utility and adoption ultimately driven by the application ecosystem they serve.
This statement holds a powerful implication: if an organization's sole requirement is a set of metric dashboards, then implementing a metrics layer communicating with a data reporting and visualization tool might be an over-engineered solution.
The following table outlines scenarios where adopting a metric layer could be beneficial:
The most exciting aspect of the future enabled by metric layers lies in scenario (4). In this envisioned future, metrics transcend their traditional role as mere data points and instead serve as foundational elements for a host of innovative applications.
These applications can streamline, even partially automate critical organizational workflows, ranging from strategic planning and goal setting to ongoing monitoring, root cause analysis, and predictive forecasting.