 of Budgeting and Planning Software
Fortunately, there are solutions available that can do the heavy lifting of automating and integrating data collection and manual processes like workflows during the creation process. Thus you are freed to perform meaningful and value-added work.
But can you replace Excel? And, more importantly, should you replace Excel?
Ask any information system professional who has tried to take away Excel as a budgeting or planning tool from users, and they’ll likely tell you how impossible a task it is. And yet, Excel on its own produces results that are only as good as the user is. If the user has bad habits, you could potentially have an error-ridden file. Also, each time you need to create a new version of a file, there is no proper tracking mechanism. Most Excel users will attest to the frustrations of saving over the latest version, or updating an outdated one unwittingly.
The best solution is budgeting and planning software that integrates all the benefits of a modern cloud solution without ever having to leave Excel. If you could have an application that works with Excel in automating workflows for routing and approving, controlling versions and keeping audit trails, wouldn’t you want it? An Excel-based solution will lead to higher adoption rates and a much easier learning curve.
If budgeting and planning are critical to an organization’s success, it’s best to use a tool that delivers more timely and efficient results. Most importantly, you’ll always have a single version of the truth for the entire organization. No more multiple versions of the same file in various databases and users’ directories. No more wondering who’s approving and when, and which is the approved version. Don’t spend all your time planning and budgeting when you can prepare and revise your plans quickly. Free yourself to focus on the important business of running the business.
If you want to learn more about how you can turn Excel into a more powerful tool for your finance team, read our free guide Excel For The Win: A Finance Guide for Spreadsheet Believers.