If you’re a sales manager, you probably didn’t sign up for hours of spreadsheet wrangling or chasing down reps for updates. You want to see who’s delivering, who’s stuck, and what’s actually moving the needle—preferably without spending half your week pulling reports. This guide is for you: practical steps to automate performance tracking in Spinify, so you can spend less time on busywork and more time coaching or, honestly, just catching your breath.
Why automate performance tracking at all?
Let’s be real: manual tracking is a mess. Even if you’re a spreadsheet ninja, there’s always someone updating the wrong file, or you’re copying and pasting numbers from one tool to another. The result? Outdated data, pointless meetings, and missed opportunities.
Automation, when it works, means: - Your team’s numbers are always up-to-date. - You spend less time chasing data and more time acting on it. - Fewer errors, less stress, and fewer “Wait, what?” moments during reviews.
But let’s not kid ourselves: automation isn’t magic. It takes some upfront work to get set up, and you’ll need to keep an eye on things to make sure your data stays accurate. Still, it’s worth it.
Step 1: Get your data sources in order
Spinify isn’t a CRM or a data warehouse—it’s a performance gamification and tracking tool. It’s only as good as the data you feed into it. Before you start automating, figure out:
- Where does your sales data live? (CRM, spreadsheets, call tracking software, etc.)
- Is your data clean and consistent? (No “Closed Won” vs. “closed-won” confusion.)
- Do you have permissions to connect these tools to Spinify? (You’ll probably need admin access.)
Pro tip: Garbage in, garbage out. If you automate messy data, you just get faster nonsense.
Step 2: Connect Spinify to your sales tools
Spinify plays nicely with a bunch of common sales tools—Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Google Sheets, and others. The goal is to make sure Spinify pulls in fresh data directly, without manual uploads.
Here’s how to connect:
- Go to the Integrations section in Spinify. You’ll find this in your account settings. The UI is straightforward, but if you get lost, their support docs are decent.
- Pick your CRM or data source. Click “Connect” or “Add Integration.”
- Authenticate. You’ll need to log in to your CRM and grant permissions. Make sure you use an account with access to all the sales data you want to track.
- Map your fields. This part matters. Make sure the data fields in your CRM line up with what Spinify expects—names, deal values, close dates, etc. Don’t rely on the default mapping unless you want surprises later.
Heads up: Some integrations only sync certain data (e.g., closed deals but not activities). Double-check what’s actually available, and don’t assume everything will just show up.
What if your CRM isn’t supported?
If you’re using something obscure, or you track data in spreadsheets: - Google Sheets integration: Spinify can pull from Google Sheets, but you’ll need to keep your sheet structure consistent. Any changes can break the sync. - Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat): These automators can connect almost anything to Spinify, but they’re a bit fiddly. Don’t expect plug-and-play—there’s a learning curve.
Step 3: Set up automated leaderboards and goals
This is where Spinify shines—you can create real-time leaderboards and targets that update automatically.
Setting up leaderboards:
- Create a new leaderboard in Spinify.
- Choose your data source and metric. (E.g., “Closed Won Revenue this month” from Salesforce.)
- Pick who’s included. You can track individuals, teams, or both.
- Set your timeframe. Daily, weekly, monthly—whatever matches your sales cycle.
- Customize display options. Spinify lets you tweak visuals, but don’t get bogged down. Clarity beats cuteness.
- Save and activate. The leaderboard should now update automatically every time new data comes in.
Setting up goals and KPIs:
- Define what matters. Don’t track vanity metrics. Focus on what actually drives deals—calls made, demos booked, revenue closed, etc.
- Assign goals to reps or teams. Make them visible and realistic. Overly ambitious targets just annoy people.
- Use automated notifications. Spinify can ping reps when they hit milestones. This is great for motivation, but don’t overdo it—nobody likes a notification spammer.
What to skip: Don’t waste time tweaking every color and animation. Your reps care about where they stand, not if their avatar is doing a dance.
Step 4: Share performance data automatically (and sparingly)
Automating reports is tempting—who doesn’t want to “set and forget”? But here’s the deal: more noise doesn’t mean more insight. Be picky about what you share, and how often.
Setting up automated reports/updates in Spinify:
- Go to the Notifications or Reports section.
- Choose what triggers an update. End of week? When a rep hits a target? Only the big wins?
- Pick your audience. Not everyone needs every update. Managers might want more detail; reps want their own stats.
- Choose the channel. Spinify can send updates via email, Slack, or Teams. Pick what your team actually uses.
- Test before you blast. Send a few trial updates to yourself or a small group.
Honest take: Resist the urge to automate daily report emails for everyone. People tune out fast. Weekly summaries or milestone notifications usually work better.
Step 5: Monitor, tweak, and don’t set-and-forget
Automation isn’t a Ronco rotisserie—you can’t just “set it and forget it.” Check in regularly to make sure:
- Data is syncing correctly (no blank leaderboards or missing reps).
- The metrics you’re tracking still match your sales priorities.
- Your team is actually using the dashboards and not just ignoring them.
Every month or so, ask your team for feedback: What’s useful? What’s just noise? Adjust accordingly.
Pro tip: If people start ignoring the dashboards, it’s usually because there’s too much clutter or the numbers don’t match reality. Less is more.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore
What works:
- Direct CRM integrations (especially Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)
- Real-time leaderboards for motivation
- Automated milestone notifications (sparingly)
What doesn’t:
- Overcomplicating with too many custom metrics
- Relying on manual data uploads (someone always forgets)
- Trying to automate “soft” skills—Spinify can’t measure coaching quality or deal complexity
What to ignore:
- Overly flashy displays or game mechanics—fun for a minute, but not what drives real performance
- Tracking every activity—focus on outcomes, not just busyness
A quick word on privacy and transparency
A little competition is fine, but avoid public shaming. If you use public leaderboards, make sure everyone knows how the numbers are calculated. Nobody likes feeling blindsided or misrepresented. Also, check your company’s privacy policies before pushing individual performance data out to the whole org.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, iterate often
Automating performance tracking in Spinify isn’t rocket science, but it does take some upfront thinking. Start with your core metrics, get the data clean, and automate the basics. Don’t go overboard with bells and whistles. See what actually helps your team, then tweak as you go.
The best setup is the one your team actually uses—and you don’t dread maintaining. Start small, stay honest, and remember: automation should make your life easier, not just more complicated.