7 Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Spreadsheets

Quick answer: If several people edit the same sheet, data is typed twice, or nobody trusts the numbers, it is time for a system.

The seven signs

1. Version chaos. "Final_v3_updated.xlsx" is in your inbox.
2. Double capture. The same information is typed into two or more places.
3. One person holds the key. Only one staff member understands the sheet.
4. Nobody trusts the numbers. Reports are checked by hand before anyone uses them.
5. Clients wait for answers. "Let me check and come back to you" is said daily.
6. Access is all or nothing. Everyone can see, and break, everything.
7. It is slow. The file takes minutes to open.

What to do next

Write down what the spreadsheet is used for, who uses it and what goes wrong. That list becomes the scope for a simple system, often just a few screens, a proper database and the right logins.

See our custom software service.