Fri, 09 Jan 2026

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 Excel: The software that's hard to quit

Companies are trying to wean staff off Excel spreadsheets to centralise control of their data.
Excel, a 40-year-old spreadsheet software owned by Microsoft, has become ubiquitous in the business world with over two-thirds of office workers using it at least once an hour. However, some tech leaders view Excel as a blocker to smoother digital workflows and AI, while others see it as an accident waiting to happen due to its poor documentation and maintenance. The main issue is that people and businesses fail to distinguish between data processing and analysis, often relying on macros to automate tasks within spreadsheets. This can lead to fragile systems, making it hard to secure and manage data centrally. Examples of the problems caused by Excel include:
* Health New Zealand using an Excel spreadsheet as its primary data file for financial performance
* The UK's recruitment process for anesthetists being plunged into chaos due to spreadsheet confusion
* The Afghan data scandal resulting from sharing an Excel spreadsheet Despite efforts to shift users away from Excel, such as Telus' director of digital transformation Moutie Wali, who oversaw a drive to replace hundreds of staff members' Excel use with a custom planning system, people tend to resist change and want to keep their existing setups. Microsoft defends its software by pointing out that it has evolved over four decades into a versatile platform used by everyone, but some experts argue that this reliance on Excel hinders data integration and management, and prevents the adoption of AI and machine learning.
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