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<span class="sc-573fa0e8-7 gqeTMs">Joe Fay</span>
<span data-testid="byline-contributors-contributor-0-role-location" class="sc-573fa0e8-8 bIfajQ">Technology Reporter</span>
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<p><figcaption class="sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ">Excel remains a staple tool, even after 40 years since its inception.</figcaption></p>
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<p>In the 1990s, various computer games featured a "boss key" that allowed employees to quickly pull up an Excel spreadsheet, providing a cover for non-work activities.</p>
<p>However, modern workplaces might not view a worker engrossed in a spreadsheet as productive. Excel, owned by Microsoft, is now four decades old, and some industry leaders argue it hinders seamless digital workflows and AI integration, with a higher risk of errors.</p>
<p>Excel's widespread use in business continues, with research from Acuity Training indicating that two-thirds of office workers utilize Excel every hour.</p>
<p>According to Tom Wilkie, CTO of data visualization company Grafana, Excel's longevity is due in part to its integration in tech education alongside tools like Word and PowerPoint. He notes, "Excel is an outstanding tool for small datasets, quick ideas, or chart creation."</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Prof. Mark Whitehorn from Dundee University points out that many fail to differentiate between data processing and proper analysis or visualization. Excel often becomes a catch-all solution, leading to poorly documented and fragile spreadsheets that lack central control and can impede security and data movement within organizations.</p>
<p>Moving away from Excel is not easy, as Moutie Wali, director at Telus, explains. Transitioning hundreds of employees from Excel to a customized planning system required a firm stance: users could not maintain their old spreadsheet setups. "Forcing the adoption of new applications means you cannot allow Excel to coexist," Wali said.</p>
<p>Microsoft defends Excel, asserting its evolution into a multifaceted platform and noting that its usage has risen consistently over the past six years, remaining the go-to tool for data analysis across various sectors.</p>
<p>Beyond large enterprises, smaller organizations can also benefit from reconsidering their reliance on Excel. Kate Corden, who runs Hackney Bike Fit, switched from Excel to LinkSpace to streamline complex workflows, citing data management efficiency. Similarly, Julian Tanner, a London-based PR exec, streamlined his charity's accounts with an online accounting solution that integrates AI for customized reports, resulting in significant cost savings.</p>
<p>While larger companies can reap benefits like improved workflows and standardized data, Wali anticipates saving C$42 million annually by aligning capital. This may require users to give up the perceived control of their data. "It isn't just your data; it's the company's data," Whitehorn reminds us.</p>
<p>A total abandonment of Excel may not be feasible, so alternative solutions, like creating new ways to mask spreadsheet usage, may be needed in future work environments.</p>
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