The Cure for the Common Spreadsheet

5 Common Shortcomings of Your Spreadsheets

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:03:12 GMT

Don't Be Found Guilty of These Common Faux Pas!

Spreadsheets are great (I mean, who doesn't love a good spreadsheet, right?), but not all spreadsheets are created equal. In fact, many spreadsheets suffer from a variety of issues that can make them ineffective and even harmful to your business.

Here are 5 Reasons Your Spreadsheets (May) Suck!

Lack of Structure

Spreadsheets that lack a clear structure can be difficult to read and understand. Columns and rows should be clearly labeled, and data should be organized in a logical manner. If your spreadsheet lacks structure, consider using formatting tools such as color-coding or shading to make the data more visually appealing and easier to read.

Inconsistent Formatting

Inconsistent formatting can make it difficult to compare data across different columns and rows. Make sure that all data is formatted consistently, with the same font size and style, and the same number of decimal places.

Improper Use of Merged Cells

Merged cells can be visually appealing, but they can also make it difficult to sort and filter data. Avoid using merged cells, and instead use separate cells to enter data.

Lack of Data Validation

Data validation is an important tool that can help prevent errors in your spreadsheets. By using data validation, you can ensure that data is entered correctly, and that any errors are caught and corrected before they cause problems.

Overreliance on Formulas

Formulas can be a powerful tool for analyzing data, but overreliance on formulas can make your spreadsheet difficult to read and understand. Instead of using complex formulas, consider using pivot tables or other analysis tools to help you make sense of your data.

Spreadsheets can be an effective tool for organizing and analyzing data, but they can also be a source of frustration and inefficiency if not used properly. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create spreadsheets that are easy to read, understand, and use, and that can help you make better decisions for your business.

About the Author

Christian Torres is the Co-Founder of AriaLab, LLC.

AriaLab provides spreadsheet process automation and custom design & development solutions for small businesses.

His areas of expertise are:

Data Analysis
Data Visualization
Excel VBA Automation
Business Intelligence
Decision Support Systems

Reach him at : ctorres@arialabsystems.com

or explore what AriaLab has to offer at: https://www.arialabsystems.com/services

Microsoft Excel in the Age of A.I.

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 02:00:04 GMT

The Road Ahead

As the world enters the age of artificial intelligence (AI), many people are questioning the role that Microsoft Excel will play in this new era. While some may argue that Excel is an outdated tool that will soon be replaced by more advanced technologies, the truth is that Excel still has a vital role to play in the age of AI. In fact, as AI becomes more prevalent it will create massive opportunities for spreadsheet geeks who can know wield a faster and more efficient data sword!

Here are just a few ways that Excel will continue to be relevant in the age of AI:

Data Preparation

One of the biggest challenges of working with AI is preparing the data for analysis. AI requires clean, organized data in order to function properly, and this is where Excel comes in. Excel allows users to easily clean and organize large sets of data, making it an ideal tool for preparing data for AI analysis. Excel's filtering, sorting, and pivot table features, for example, are all designed to help users organize and analyze data quickly and efficiently.

Automation

Automating Excel processes via Visual Basic for Applications (VBA, a.k.a. "Macros") has always been a powerful way to create impressive efficiency gains and reduce errors, but the ability develop robust macros was held by only those who chose to dive down the VBA rabbit hole. AI tools such as Chat GPT are democratizing the development process by generating base code for VBA modules that users can build upon to create powerful automations without the need for programmer-level experience in navigating the Excel object library.

Integration

Finally, Excel will continue to be relevant in the age of AI because it can easily integrate with other tools and technologies. As AI becomes more prevalent in the business world, it will likely be integrated with other tools and technologies, such as robotic process automation (RPA). This may sound fancy and exciting, but we all know that someone is going to have to export and work with some of that AI-generated data, and Excel's ability to integrate and adapt to small business tech stacks makes it an ideal platform for working with AI and other emerging technologies.

About the Author

Christian Torres is the Co-Founder of AriaLab, LLC.

AriaLab provides spreadsheet process automation and custom design & development solutions for small businesses.

His areas of expertise are:

Data Analysis
Data Visualization
Excel VBA Automation
Business Intelligence
Decision Support Systems

Reach him at : ctorres@arialabsystems.com

or explore what AriaLab has to offer at: https://www.arialabsystems.com/services

EXCELerating Sustainability

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 21:43:49 GMT

Excelerating Sustainability

Spreadsheets are not just for Accounting, they are versatile tools used in every industry and they can help kick-off your sustainability journey!

A chemical engineer, safety manager, and an accountant walk into a bar… regardless of how you think the joke plays out, the punchline is probably on a spreadsheet!

Ah yes, spreadsheets – those wonky, messy, eye-straining, receptacles of “data” that elicit anger, fear, or indifference in the vast majority of corporate America. No longer confined to the cubicles of accounting departments, spreadsheets are now used in almost every industry known to man, and that includes sustainability.

Should I build a spreadsheet or buy an App?

The challenge for sustainability has always been bridging the gap between intent and facts. We are now in a world where “data-driven” is no longer a differentiator but a standard. As we learn more about what it means to be sustainable and assign standardized metrics, protocols, and best-practices, many companies are asking themselves: “How do we measure and track our sustainability metrics, projects, and progress?” Now comes the choice.

There’s an app for that…

Spend two minutes on Google and you are bound to find a specialized piece of software that promises to revolutionize and streamline your sustainability efforts. The offerings range from chemical databases to life-cycle assessments, and each comes with a healthy price tag that is buried beneath the promise of enhanced reporting capabilities.

In-House Excel Expertise

While every company has unique staffing considerations and strategic objectives, I would argue that many companies are jumping into the software pool prematurely. Chances are that somewhere in your organization lies a spreadsheet enthusiast that can design and develop basic tools to help you track and analyze the numbers you need as you begin your journey into sustainability. (If that's not the case then scroll to the bottom for who to call...)

Excel-based tools can be used for product analysis, chemical inventories, energy inventories and greenhouse gas calculations, project management, materiality studies, risk management models, and so much more.

I would even go as far as saying that the process of planning, building, and using an in-house Excel solution yields much more than cost-avoidance benefits compared to buying a pre-built software subscription:

Your team gets to define the inputs, processes, and outputs of the tool. This gives you the opportunity to learn and understand more about the numbers you are tracking and how they relate to your sustainability goals.

Building an Excel-based tool requires both analytical thinking and collaboration. No spreadsheet is an island, and your suite of tools will require contributions from your accounting department, facilities, safety, engineering, etc.

Buying an off-the-shelf solution means you have no flexibility or say in how the tool works. Building your own tool gives you the opportunity for revisions, updates, and growth that aligns with your sustainability efforts.

Recognizing that an Excel tool is not the solution for every company, I think it is still the best starting point. Maybe you outgrow your spreadsheets, or maybe you invest in training and or talent to take them to the next level. Either way, spreadsheets are a wonderful, and cost-effective, way to wade into world of sustainability metrics tracking and reporting.

If you need help with your sustainability strategy, reporting, or metrics, I would highly recommend checking out Foresight Management . They have a team of industry experts that can assist with:

Building Performance
ISO 14001
ESG Reporting
Energy Efficiency
Sustainability Reporting
Life-Cycle Assessments, and much more.

(Full Disclosure: I help develop tools for them, so I can vouch for the awesomeness of their spreadsheets! ��)

About the Author

Christian Torres is the President & Co-Founder of AriaLab, LLC. AriaLab provides expert spreadsheet design and remote accounting services.

His areas of expertise are:

Data analysis
Data visualization
Excel VBA automation
Decision Support Systems

Reach him at : ctorres@arialabsystems.com

or explore what AriaLab has to offer at: https://www.arialabsystems.com/services

How Do I Get More Templates in Excel

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:28:55 GMT

WHERE DO PEOPLE GO FOR EXCEL TEMPLATES?

For most people, building an Excel Template from scratch is about as fun as getting a root canal. So what do people do? They run to Google (ironically) to search for pre-built Microsoft Excel Templates. That's when the fun really starts...

FREE EXCEL TEMPLATES

90% of the results include some mention of "Free Templates", which sounds great, but what are the chances that you're going to find exactly what you need?

When you're searching for an Excel Template, you already have a vision of what you're hoping to find. You know what you or your organization needs, and it's highly unlikely that you will find a template that includes everything you really need...

MODIFYING EXCEL TEMPLATES

... But maybe that's ok? Right? Maybe you can work with what you find. Maybe you can tweak it or modify it to fit your needs.

If you choose this approach, you now have the daunting task of modifying the structure and functionality of something that someone else built! This requires Excel knowledge, time, energy, and a touch of reverse-engineering skill.

Wait, wasn't the whole idea NOT to have to build or design things in Excel? Wasn't the idea to find an Excel Template that was ready to go?!

HOW TO GET CUSTOM EXCEL TEMPLATES?

Look inward - Chances are that someone in your organization has some Excel skills that can be tapped into. They may be able to build a version of what you were hoping for.

Look for a freelancer - You can hop on Fiverr or UpWork to look for someone to build this perfect template for you. If you're lucky, you will find someone who is in your time-zone and understands your industry enough to help. If you're not so lucky, then you will jump through the 3rd party hoops of the platform just to end up with a low-cost and low-quality sheet that either doesn't work or doesn't meet your needs because there was little-to-no focus on the DESIGN.

Hire an expert - Believe it or not, there are people out there who truly take pride and ENJOY visualizing, planning, designing, and developing custom Excel Templates. If you find a good one, they will take the time to help you understand what you truly want and need out of your template. An expert won't write a single formula until a clear picture emerges of what the sheet must do, how it's going to do it, and the value that it's intended to provide.

HOW MUCH DOES A CUSTOM EXCEL TEMPLATE COST?

"You get what you pay for." This expression is over-used and feels like an excuse... but it is rooted in truth. The math behind the value of an Excel Template comes down to 3 factors:

Convenience - If the template makes your life easier, then the value of the sheet is relative to the value you place on your own peace of mind.

Efficiency - If the template saves you time because it automates processes for you, then the value of the sheet is relative to the value you place on your time.

Opportunity Cost - If the template frees you up to work on other (higher-value) tasks, then the value of the sheet is amplified by the value of the opportunities you can now pursue.

At the end of the day, any Excel Template or custom spreadsheet you have built should deliver value and a return on your investment.

Depending on your need, a $50 template could save you a headache or a $1,500 custom Excel tool could revolutionize your business operations; the key is to have it built FOR YOU, so that the value it delivers is maximized!

The best part is that once you have purchased the Custom Excel Template, the value it delivers (your return on investment) is INFINITE for as long as you continue to use the sheet. You're goal should always be to pay once and save forever!

About the Author

Christian Torres is the Co-Founder of AriaLab, LLC.

AriaLab provides spreadsheet process automation and custom design & development solutions for small businesses.

His areas of expertise are:

Data Analysis
Data Visualization
Excel VBA Automation
Business Intelligence
Decision Support Systems

Reach him at : ctorres@arialabsystems.com

or explore what AriaLab has to offer at: https://www.arialabsystems.com/services