An Excel alternative that runs your business.
Spreadsheets are where a business keeps the rules no other system could hold. thinkbridge reads the logic out of your files, confirms it with the people who maintain them and builds a system that holds the same logic with an audit trail.
Signs you've outgrown Excel and spreadsheets
- One person understands the master spreadsheet.
- Versions conflict, and nobody is sure which number is right.
- The same data is typed into several files.
- Errors are found at month-end, or by customers.
Excel and spreadsheets compared with a system you own
| Excel and spreadsheets | thinkbridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules and logic | Formulas and knowledge in a few people's heads | Written into the system, with the exceptions |
| Versions | Copies drift, and nobody is sure which is current | One version of every number |
| Control | Anyone can overwrite a cell | Permissions and a full audit trail |
| Growth | Breaks as people, sites and volume grow | Scales with the business |
How the move works
- ObserveWe watch how the work runs today, including the workarounds.
- Model and buildThe system is modeled on your process and generated with
think One - Migrate and validateYour data moves over and your team tests it on real cases.
- Go liveIn about four months.
The four stages are a short version of the six-step method (see how it works). For what gets built, see Replace spreadsheets and manual work.
Questions about moving off Excel and spreadsheets
What happens to our spreadsheets during the build?
They stay available until the new system is live, so nobody loses the version they trust.
Can the system still export to Excel?
Yes. Reports and data can be exported whenever people need them.
What does replacing spreadsheets usually cover?
Pricing, scheduling, inventory, approvals, reconciliations and reporting are the most common starting points.
Related alternatives
See every alternative, grouped by vendor.
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