What business problems do you solve using macros?

[sergey_z]

I'm looking for software ideas that could potentially make your life easier. Instead of trying to guess what people want I decided to come for your opinion and advice first.

Lots of you probably use Excel for professional tasks, like keeping track of customers, orders, resources, finances etc. Many of these Excel files could be instead implemented using software.
This is exactly what I'm looking for - problems that are currently solved using Excel, but it would be more convenient to have some kind of specialized software solution for this problem.

Please share what business problems you're solving using Excel, I would really appreciate it!

[humdingaling]

To be honest you should be asking your employees what is needed as they are (hopefully) doing the work required of your business

Scope your project...infrastructure/software investment should not be done on a whim as you will find besides the expensive outlay ....the next biggest issue after that is the not knowing how much the "additional" outlays will be required....add-in/ad hoc requests become rather expensive (that's assuming it is plausible)

be realistic about the companies growth and in turn the infrastructure required....3-5-10 year planning (if your not doing this or haven't got one of these then i can assume your a small business and excel is perfectly fine)

Excel can only do so much, it does not work well with "large" data sets (many SKU/customers/Suppliers/deliveries)
You will need to be diligent in creating something that is well rounded in order to integrate it all......making your life much easier come audit time

Mainly the tasks surrounding AR/AP as well as whatever your buying/selling
HR function can generally be somewhat independent but having the same overall format will make it easier to incorporate into the overall financial modelling/P&L

having said all that
i work in a multinational so we software systems (SAP/BAAN/other random cloud portals)
Excel macros i have produced is to work these outputs of these systems into a workable format in Excel (and Access) in which tracking/reporting/slicing/analysis can be done
the other end of the scale is to work extract existing formats/information into acceptable upload files to other system

[JBeaucaire]

Most of my clients need:

1) Forms and ordering/reporting tools connected to remote resources
2) Stored data (any size) converted from one format to another
3) Dashboards and analysis tools


As you can see, though the list is standard, the resulting tools needed for each client would be 100% custom.

[sergey_z]

Thank you JBeaucaire and humdingaling for your replies!

[Winon]

Hello sergey_z,

I have used Excel with great results in developing Production Planning/Scheduling using current workdays, capacity (adjusting labor) where and if needed, etc. etc.
Another accomplishment was to provide a fool prove Stores "Two Bin" system control, including processing raw materials into final products, keeping track of usage, returns and scrap, of both raw materials and final products produced.

That is only to mention a few.

Used properly, one can program Excel to do just about anything you want. In certain circumstances there may be some limitations on Sharing a Workbook on a Network, depending on its build or structure.

humdingaling also offers very valid points.

I guess that in the end it boils down to "Exact real needs" and capabilities of a program, or the developers skills to deliver what is required.

Regards.