Why Beyond Spreadsheets?
For almost 4 years I have traveled the world meeting with companies of all sizes, from small- and medium-sized companies, to Fortune 500 companies. These meetings consist of understanding business needs in regards to managing projects, work, and resources (people).
The One Question and the One Answer
The one question I ask during each meeting is this, "How are you currently managing your projects, work, and resources?" Surprisingly the majority of the responses are, "We use various types of spreadsheets."
These spreadsheets range from small to complex and include:
- Macros
- Access levels
- Templates
- Business processes
After talking with companies for only a few minutes, we eventually discuss what they call Spreadsheet Pain, which is defined as "when spreadsheets fail to scale". The pain they describe includes hours spent manually updating, gathering, and compiling data that executives and managers can use to make informed business decisions. Not to mention, the pain caused when someone updates or reports status on outdated information.
Once we are done discussing "Spreadsheet Pain" we turn our discussion to the world beyond spreadsheets, which has been accelerated with all the technology advances and the ever-pressing need to be more efficient with company resources.
Beyond Spreadsheets
My blog will discuss best practices, methodologies, and products beyond spreadsheets that help companies focus on managing projects, work, and resources at the optimal level with world-class efficiency. I am not totally ruling out spreadsheets, because spreadsheets are the basic foundation needed to excel in the world beyond spreadsheets.
5 Major Benefits from the Getting Beyond Spreadsheets
1. Centralized data in one location to manage and report on all you company’s projects, work, and resources
2. Huge productivity gains when the transition is made from manual processes that take hours to stream-lined processes that take seconds
3. Real-time visibility into your projects and work that provide an accurate understanding of status and needs, enhancing accurate decision-making on complete information
4. Maximized resources that occur when every person in your company is aligned and focused on the work that will accelerate the attainment of strategic and financial goals
5. World-class efficiency that accelerates market penetration, making your company a competitive force and a leader in your industry
These are just five of the many benefits I have witnessed companies experience when they make the tranistion from complex spreadsheets to the world beyond spreadsheets.
