What We Can Learn From The Spreadsheet

A frequent a-ha moment for our customers is when they are trying to grow and scale their business, and they feel they need something ‘smarter’, or ‘more efficient’ than a spreadsheet.  The spreadsheet can feel out-dated and low-tech, especially with the overwhelming selection of tech tools and services available to business owners today.

However, there is a lot to learn from the spreadsheet - it can teach us nuanced things about human behaviour that we need to consider when finding a successful replacement.  There is no doubt that moving off the spreadsheet to a more robust software solution can save time, reduce errors, and help to grow the business more sustainably.  However, when it comes time to replace it, it’s not just about swapping software, there are other parts of the user experience to consider and address.  

It’s simple to use 

There is a term in the software world - WYSIWYG (pronounced “wizzywig”).  In the age of AI, we may be getting more comfortable with the robots doing things for us in the background, but in general, humans like to know what’s going on (or at least feel that they do!)

With the default spreadsheet (no filters, macros, code, etc.) nothing is hidden, it’s all right there.  What you type is what you see on the screen.  When we think about transitioning users to other solutions, we need to consider how to keep things feeling simple, so that users feel empowered to make the leap.  At Get Efficient we primarily use Monday.com, which has an interface that is very similar to a spreadsheet, and so it feels familiar to users when they first start using it.

Users are in control

Building on the point above, when it’s WYSIWYG, you feel in control.  As a user, I don’t have to worry about the software doing things that I can’t see, that I’m not aware of.  I make all the choices of what happens to my data.  Users prefer to stumble around and find things, be in control, then for you to try to be smart for them in a way that they can’t understand, control, and/or have visibility into.

You can see everything, you never have to worry about missing information

Although the spreadsheet can feel busy and crowded, when software solutions create simpler, cleaner interfaces, it becomes their burden to make it intuitive for users to find the right information, at the right time.  This takes thoughtful design, knowing their users, and frequently many iterations and changes over time as they learn about all the potential use cases of their customers.

At GetEfficient we use Monday.com because it allows us to co-create intuitive workflows.  With its philosophy to be a work platform that is easily customizable, it allows us to first explore the workflows of our clients, and then build the right bespoke solution to meet their needs.  Since the features aren’t pre-baked like other specialized software (CRM-specific software, for example), we can co-create it incrementally with our customers.  This means we can train customers as we go, as well as observe and get feedback on friction points so that we can address them quickly.  We avoid the big launch that requires a significant training investment, which also typically means a volume of new information that is difficult for most of us to retain.  This will impact the ease of transition and the willingness to make the change, which ultimately affects the business.

At GetEfficient we believe it’s important to not consider the full picture when transitioning software.  It’s never as simple as a ‘direct swap’.  We help you plan a thoughtful transition plan that considers not only your customer experience, but the user experience of your leaders and staff with the new tools.  We believe that leaders and staff will be more engaged and motivated to learn, use, and advocate for the new tools if they feel confident in using them.  

Looking to move off spreadsheets?  Get in touch for a free discovery call.