Is Excel the right tool for the job? How about Grist?

Written By Paul Barnhurst

Post sponsored by Grist

It has often been said Excel is all things to all people. Nearly everything has been tried and built-in Excel, but that does not mean it should be.

One of the first questions we should ask ourselves before building something is should I use Excel for this job, and is it the right tool for the job. Answering this question after an honest review of our needs will not only save us time but will often reduce the chance of costly errors.

Excel is a great option if you build a complex financial model or conduct some ad-hoc financial analysis. However, if you want to create a model/application that can:

  • Store data in a highly structured manner

  • Act like a relational database

  • Control who sees what data at a granular level

  • Require consistent use of formulas

  • Make version control easy

  • Allow easy collaboration, sharing, and updating of data

Then the reality is we should consider a tool other than Excel. Examples of some of the applications that can be built in Excel but are often difficult include:

  • Lightweight CRMs

  • CAP tables for equity ownership

  • Data Entry trackers - If you are not careful, Excel leads to what some call "Tracker Hell"

  • Sales Trackers

  • Applications that require control over who sees what which columns and rows

This is where we should do our homework and look for a tool that will save us time and get the job done without a lot of pain and consternation. Today we have more options available for doing things we used to do in Excel, and many of these options are available with minimal cost or, in some cases, even free for basic tasks.

I have always been a big proponent of adding tools to our toolbelt when it makes the job easier. For the above examples, you will want a tool that combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the robustness of a database so you can organize your data your way. One such tool that provides this flexibility is Grist.

I came across Grist a few months ago when researching Excel alternatives, and since that time, I have spent time reading about and using the product and have come away impressed with what I have learned. You can access the product and learn more about Grist at the following website:

Grist - The Evolution of Spreadsheets

The product is free for individual users, and you can build up to 10 different documents using Grist's free plan. Recently I used the CRM template available on the product website to build my own CRM for tracking leads for my own business. After spending a little time reviewing product documentation and getting familiar with the product, I found it relatively easy to build out my own CRM and I have enjoyed how easy it is to relate the data together and see everything laid out in a product view. If you want to see the CRM template, click on the below link:

Lightweight CRM Template | Grist (getgrist.com)

Below is a video that provides a nice overview of Grist. Grist is a nice addition to the spreadsheet/database space and I think it is worth giving it a try and seeing what you think. Leave your thoughts about Grist in the comments.

Paul Barnhurst