Platform engineering is not just a technology concern. As a crucial part of a platform adoption journey, it’s essential to choose the right metrics to gain a clear, comprehensive view and drive success. While DORA metrics are valuable for platform teams, assessing platform adoption solely based on deployment frequency doesn’t make sense. Other frameworks, such as SPACE and MONK, can complement DORA to better align platform team strategies with the broader organization’s goals. Reflecting on our expertise, we’ve learned that measuring platform success involves two types of KPIs: progress metrics and outcome metrics.

In this talk, we’ll explore how measuring both allows us to identify patterns and correlations between technical improvements and business success. By combining these two sets of KPIs, we gain a comprehensive view of the platform’s value. This approach helps stakeholders quantify the platform’s technical contributions while also understanding its influence on key business objectives. Ultimately, it enables us to set meaningful milestones for future improvements and effectively communicate the platform’s value across the organization.