Simplify Excel
Posted by
Tom Salzer on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 @ 03:23 PM
Go into an organization and ask to see some of their Excel applications. Inevitably, there are applications that are amazingly powerful and equally complex.
Does it have to be that complex? So often the complexity is there because of the perceived need to build the ultimate workbook. How does it get there?
The truth is that it evolved. It didn’t start out that way. In every organization we speak to, the common thread was that the beauty of Excel was that it was easy to develop what began as a straightforward application. Then, all the additions and changes turned it to a large and chaotic application.
So, what can we do?
BREAK IT DOWN! 
Break it down into what? For a start… into its simplest components. Then do all the adding up and reporting. You may end up with many more Excel Files, but it will be so much easier to maintain and understand.
Imagine the application to look like an organization chart with every level reporting to its appropriate spot. Then just simplify, simplify, simplify. Making changes and reorganizing would be as simple and fast as moving building blocks.
Think of how much time you would save if you could all that you are doing today in an easily scalable, flexible and straightforward way.
So now instead of avoiding Excel applications, you can capitalize on the Excel skills you already have in your organization to budget in Excel, consolidate in Excel and continue to report in Excel.
Take a closer look at ExcelCube (www.excelcube.com).