Recognising the limit.
WHAT SPREADSHEETS DO WELL
Ad hoc analysis Modest volumes One person working Flexible exploration
WHERE THEY STRUGGLE
Large volumes Several people editing Repeated identical processes Anything requiring an audit trail Complex relationships between tables
SIGNS YOU HAVE OUTGROWN THEM
The file is slow to open Errors appear regularly Several versions exist Only one person understands it You rebuild the same analysis monthly
THAT LAST POINT
Repetition is the strongest signal.
WHAT TO MOVE TO
A database, for volume and relationships A reporting tool, for recurring dashboards A proper business system, where the spreadsheet is substituting for one
WHAT NOT TO DO
Move because a tool was recommended Move before the spreadsheet actually fails
WHY
A working spreadsheet is cheaper and more flexible than most alternatives.
WHAT TO KEEP EITHER WAY
Clean, consistent data.
Every tool depends on it.
