When a spreadsheet becomes a business process

A spreadsheet starts as a useful model. Over time it often becomes the system of record: approvals, customer updates, reminders and reporting all hang off the same file.

That is fine until more than one person needs ownership, history or a clear next step. Then the file fights you.

Useful signals that it is time to move:

• two or more people edit the same sheet every week
• someone has to copy data into another system afterwards
• you cannot answer "who changed this and when?" without hunting
• a missed row creates a real business risk

The next step is not always a big platform. Often it is a small workflow that keeps the knowledge you already have and removes the copy-paste.

If that sounds familiar, discuss the process with us.