In other words, Excel was first designed to help us free up our time from mind-numbing tasks-something it’s still doing today.

Released in 1985 as a spreadsheet program using cells, columns, and numbers, the original version of Excel included the ability for end-users to program macros to automate certain tasks and to use defined functions from Excel’s built-in library. What can Excel be used for in business?Įxcel is a powerful tool used by teams throughout small, mid-sized, and enterprise businesses in almost every industry imaginable. In our ultimate guide to Excel reporting, we’re exploring the basics of Excel, including the various use cases, how to generate basic reports, and what tools exist to work alongside Excel and truly provide the functionality you didn’t even know you were missing.

It’s simply that other kinds of tools are needed to take Excel reporting to the next level. And that’s not necessarily the fault of Excel (or the user!). After all, we’ve all dealt with errors from updated data, frozen screens, and the myriad issues that come from any attempt to drill up and down on a large data set. And, you might even be wondering if there are products or tools out there that can ease some of your pain points. From finance gurus to inventory management experts to managers and executives everywhere, we’ve all used Excel to dive into the information needed to keep companies running successfully.īut whether you’re an advanced Excel user or you’re still learning the ins and outs of the platform, you’re bound to have questions from time to time. Sure, there are other great platforms, but few can match Excel’s longevity or the astounding amount of built-in functions it provides users. In the world of spreadsheets and data, Microsoft Excel is certainly one of the most popular.

Using excel for business