Why digital transformation is important
The advantages of digital transformation are manifold and can ultimately help a company grow, increase profits, and foster a digital culture. Here’s how:
Streamlines processes and operations
Digital transformation enables core business functions such as finance, HR, and marketing to move away from manual processes and restrictive legacy software to modern, automated solutions. This allows more time for wider business opportunities and improved efficiency.
Drives data-based insights
Harnessing digital technologies enable companies to better track metrics and analyze data which, in turn, can inform and optimize their strategies and processes for better results. This is particularly beneficial for customer experience, as such insights assist things like hyper-personalization.
Facilitates collaboration
Rather than collaborating via cumbersome methods like emails, new technologies enable individuals and departments to work together through centralized apps.
Boosts security
As businesses grow, the technology they’ve traditionally used can become harder to maintain and less effective at protecting data, thus making them prone to failure or a target for cyber attacks. New technologies tend to be more functional with better security measures, keeping data safe.
Applying digital transformation to spreadsheet software
One aspect of digital transformation is the modernization of processes which are underpinned by spreadsheets. Excel is used on over a billion devices worldwide for countless purposes, such as accounting, sales forecasting, pricing and configuration, and data analysis. However, like many types of legacy software, Excel is plagued with shortcomings that can prevent businesses from moving forward with their digital transformation strategies.
One of these shortcomings is due to the fact that Excel was designed nearly 40 years ago as a desktop solution for the individual user. When pushed into modern environments that involve multiple users accessing the tools they need via the web, then Excel fails miserably. Version confusion, for instance, frequently occurs when multiple users are working off different versions of a spreadsheet at the same time. As edited spreadsheets accumulate on individual systems, users are more likely to share out-of-date files and cause problems for a company. Excel can also bring compatibility issues if users have different operating systems and different editions of Excel than the person who created the original version of a given spreadsheet. This may render them unable to use the software effectively, especially if the spreadsheet contains VB or macros.
Another issue is data security. With multiple users saving many instances on local disks, valuable data is being stored in flat files. This can unintentionally expose business data and IP, even if utilizing Excel’s security features, which are limited and do not offer the level of protection expected of modern systems.
How EASA can help businesses achieve digital transformation
Many businesses have relied on Excel for some time and have so much crucial business process knowledge and data stored within their spreadsheets that they are reluctant to stop using it in spite of the issues. With EASA software, they don’t have to. By “webifying” spreadsheets, the spreadsheet can be accessed online and shared easily if required, eradicating many of the above issues. Though EASA alone won’t enable companies to achieve digital transformation, it can play a significant part in a holistic strategy, considering how important spreadsheets are to businesses around the world. Here are some of the ways the software can transform the way enterprises operate:
Prevents version confusion
EASA eliminates version confusion by only allowing users to access and edit the most up-to-date version of the spreadsheet, and only the permitted administrators can update the master version. As a result, multiple individuals can use a spreadsheet via a browser simultaneously without the risk of overwriting somebody’s work or having to log out.
Stops compatibility problems
Users usually require a specific version of Excel to use spreadsheets created by others. Using EASA’s technology means they only need a web browser and an internet connection either to the company’s network or the cloud.
Safeguard data
EASA only allows authorized individuals to edit and update master versions of a particular spreadsheet; other users can then access the centralized web version of the spreadsheet. Without access to the master file, these users cannot view or amend the master spreadsheet, thus protecting intellectual property. Furthermore, when each user makes changes and saves an instance of a spreadsheet, that information is now saved to a relational database rather than a local flat file.
Process automation
EASA enables businesses to integrate and automate spreadsheets with other types of software and data sources, including CRM systems, ERP software, and databases. Such integration and automation are cornerstones of digital transformation. This streamlines processes and operations, facilitates collaboration, and drives data-based insights.