What are the best benefits of using Excel?

Question

If you worked at a company that could benefit from it, but does not use it, how would you try and convince them it is a good thing to use?

Answer 1

It can used as a business expense to lower tax liability?
Otherwise I have no other ideas on the benefits of Excel over any other program, particularly the calc program in Open Office which is open source and available for free.

I once worked at a company that used spreadsheets (Lotus 1-2-3 i believe) for it's estimating program. While there were several engineering calculations that went into the estimating process, most of the data was pretty static (material prices, etc.) and were better suited to being in a database where the calcs can be done in the programming. So I spent time migrating the entire estimating program to a custom database app., which was incomplete when I left the company.
I said all that to say that a spreadsheet isn't always the best program for certain applications. If it's calculating, crunching, and playing with numbers ad-hoc then yes a spreadsheet would probably be well suited.

Answer 2

I'd tell them to get out of the iceage and into the NOW! Seriously though...Microsoft Excel has many great aspects. Even Microsoft.com/office has tutorials on how to use it. If I were you, I would convince them by showing them how useful it is, and how it makes your job easier...allowing you more time for other projects.

Answer 3

You can't change the mind-set of your superiors. Do it in excel, print a hard copy or save in whatever format they want.

Answer 4

Why would anyone want to be a slave to microsoft, try open office instead.