Spreadsheet and database upsizing
Excel and MS Access are cheap and effective tools that allow subject matter experts
to quickly model solutions in their domain of expertise.
However, useful applications created in Excel and Access typically
become basic building blocks for successive spreadsheet applications.
Almost inevitably, this process gives rise to fragile ecosystems of interlinked
documents. "Fragile" because something as simple as inserting a row might
silently break dependent spreadsheets in a way that doesn't show up for months.
In worst case, reporting structures based on Excel often depend on
individual people knowing "how the system works". At reporting time, spreadsheets
are emailed around and the contents copied and pasted. This complex and undocumented
algorithm is as much a part of getting the right results as the spreadsheet formulae
themselves
Thus, in addition to locking up valuable information, inconsistent or missing data
and ineffective re-use of logic, spreadsheets can expose companies to considerable
emergency remediation if certain individuals leave or retire.
"Spreadsheet remediation" refers to a class of software
projects where key data is moved or "upsized" from a spreadsheet into a relational
database. This is usually an opportunity to add a web-based user interface, to secure
and expose the data to the wider organisation.
KSC has a variety of proven approaches to this class of problem as there is no one-size-fits-all
solution. We can handle dependency-tracking, data-cleansing, database re-design
and application implementation.
The driver behind spreadsheet-upsizing projects is often regulatory compliance,
accountability or reputational risk.
However, management who initiate such projects on these grounds are often
pleasantly surprised when the end result has standalone business value - when reports can be reliably generated, and
management decisions can be based on complete, unambiguous and definitive data