26 May 2019

Many people don’t appreciate Microsoft Excel. They don’t know how important this program can be at work. They forget that sometimes, you need proficiency in Microsoft Excel to land your dream job. Employers prefer hiring someone who will hit the ground running immediately they start working. They don’t like hiring people who will have to be trained to use Microsoft Excel. In this article, I will explain the importance of MS Excel in the workplace.

You don’t need specialized software to perform complex calculations at work. Just install MS Excel on your PC, and you will be good to go. This program allows you to handle data like an expert. Several functions can help you compile and summarize data in a more meaningful way. Some of these functions include the sum function, SUMIF function, COUNTIF function, Average function, and VLookup function. The sum function outputs the sum of the value in the selected cells, while the SUMIF function adds the values of the cells that meet a specified criterion. You can add functions together to make a formula that can be dragged along an entire row or column to replicate it throughout every cell. This process simplifies a task that would have taken days to complete if it was done manually.

Automation of repetitive procedures

You can harness the power of Visual Basic for Applications to automate your recurring tasks at work. Using Macros, you complete predictable and repetitive tasks automatically, thereby saving you a lot of time. These tasks can be data related such as formatting and cleanup of data, workbook tasks such as creating a table of contents and pivot table tasks. You can also create a system that updates or modifies your excel files automatically after a certain condition is satisfied.

Application of business intelligence

Excel enhances your business intelligence skills. It helps you create insightful dashboards and reports that the management can make use of when making important decisions. It also allows you to create robust and shareable reports using Power BI. Knowledge of SQL also helps you in building important databases in your organization.

Inventory management

MS Excel is very powerful in inventory management. It helps inventory managers in tracking the movement of goods in and out of the warehouses based on sales. They can make use of the Sort and the Rank functions which are pre-loaded into the Excel user interface to know the fastest and the slowest moving items. The USB barcode scanners used in busy supermarkets and chain stores also use the MS Excel program to track inventory.

One way of keeping your job secure is honing your data analysis and presentation skills. Top level managers of any organization use analyzed data reports to make important management decisions. If you can provide these reports, you are an asset to the organization. You are indispensable. This is has been said. I hope you can see how important excel training is. Don’t wait to be told to learn Microsoft Excel. Move out of your comfort zone and learn this program. It will never disappoint you.