People who know me know that I have a love/hate relationship with Excel. Excel is a great tool but it is often misused causing more work than less work.
Pivot tables is one of those areas where it "Excels". If you don't know pivot tables, they are well worth the time to learn.
Why? A pivot table will give you insights into your data in seconds versus building hard copy reports for days/weeks/months. Combine a pivot table with a pivot chart and your analysis can be "off the charts" with insight, speed and accuracy.
The key to using pivots is the data format used as a feed to the pivot table. This data format can be better and more reliably done using a database. The database, unlike Excel, keeps a much tighter control around the creation of the data format. The data format is much more consistent and reliable versus the sometimes excessive flexibility of Excel.
I often refer to spreadsheets as "spreadsheet art". Many users express their creative self when they construct their spreadsheets. It is a Rembrandt! But this is often problematic, especially if someone has to decipher how the thing works. I have looked at many and it is often a Rube Goldberg design!
Use the strength of each tool for their most advantageous use. The database is great at processing and structuring data. Excel is perfect for analyzing data. Don't confuse the two!
Look, I often fix things around my house, but I don't use a screwdriver (Excel) for everything. Sometimes, I need a wrench or a saw.
Follow me and I will make you fishers of data! Amen brother!
