I'd like to propose an enhancement to Oracle Analytics Cloud that would allow for more sophisticated KPI visualizations through native layering support. While we can currently achieve limited layering through careful positioning of elements on a canvas, a more streamlined approach would unlock powerful new visualization possibilities.

The Concept

The idea is simple yet powerful: Allow multiple visualization objects to be stacked within a single visualization container using an intuitive layer order concept. This would enable the creation of information-rich KPI cards that combine multiple visualization types in a cohesive, space-efficient display.

Example Use Case

Imagine a Sales Dashboard with an enhanced KPI visualization that shows:

• The primary KPI value (e.g., $1.45M in monthly revenue)
• A sparkline or mini line chart showing the trend over time
• A month-over-month (MOM) percentage growth indicator
• YTD and target metrics
• All in a single, unified visual container!

Proposed solution would:

1. Start with a base visualization (e.g., KPI card)
2. Add additional visualizations as layers
3. Manage layers through a dedicated "Layers" panel (similar to design tools)
4. Maintain proper scaling and positioning automatically

Here's how this enhanced layered KPI card might look:

Technical Implementation Suggestions

This feature could be implemented by:

1. Adding a new "Layers" panel to the visualization editor
2. Creating a new "Composite Visualization" type that can contain child visualizations
3. Providing layer management controls (visibility, order, opacity)
4. Ensuring proper scaling behavior when dashboard dimensions change
5. Maintaining data context synchronization across all layers

This enhancement would:

• Save dashboard space by combining multiple related visualizations
• Improve visual coherence of complex metrics
• Reduce development time compared to current workarounds
• Enhance storytelling by presenting related metrics in context
• Maintain responsiveness across different screen sizes
• Match capabilities available in other leading BI tools

This layering approach would be valuable for:

1. Executive Dashboards: Where space is premium and information density matters
2. Operational KPIs: Combining current values with trends and targets
3. Financial Reporting: Showing performance vs. benchmarks and historical context
4. Marketing Analytics: Displaying campaign performance with trend context
5. Sales Dashboards: Highlighting growth patterns alongside absolute numbers

Implementation Example

Here's how a user might implement this with the proposed feature:

1. Create a base KPI card showing Monthly Revenue ($1.45M)
2. Add a Line Chart layer showing the 12-month trend
3. Add a MOM % Change layer (+8.3%) with conditional formatting
4. Add context information layers (YTD total, Target values)
5. Adjust layer visibility, order, and transparency
6. Save as a single visualization object