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The Enduring Popularity of Excel Software

Organisations are making efforts to transition employees away from relying on Excel spreadsheets, with the goal of consolidating data management.

During the 1990s, certain computer games featured a "boss key" that enabled users to quickly access an Excel spreadsheet, giving the appearance of being engaged in work-related activities.

A man sips a cup of coffee while looking a large computer screen showing a spreadsheet. — Excel remains popular despite being 40-years-old

Today, being caught using a spreadsheet might raise eyebrows among supervisors, as some tech leaders view Excel, which is owned by Microsoft and has been around for 40 years, as an obstacle to more efficient digital workflows and AI integration.

Excel remains widely used in the business world, with research by Acuity Training indicating that approximately two-thirds of office workers use the program at least once every hour.

According to Tom Wilkie, chief technology officer of data visualization firm Grafana, Excel's persistence can be attributed to its continued presence in technology education, alongside Word and PowerPoint.

Wilkie praises Excel, stating that it is an excellent tool for quickly analyzing small datasets, testing ideas, or creating charts for presentations, making it ideal for rapid and straightforward analysis.

However, Prof Mark Whitehorn, emeritus professor of analytics at Dundee University, notes that individuals and businesses often fail to distinguish between data processing and data analysis and visualization.

Whitehorn describes a common scenario in which data is entered into a spreadsheet, processed using macros, and then output, often without proper documentation or maintenance.

A macro is essentially a shortcut that automates a series of steps within a spreadsheet, allowing users to perform tasks such as data formatting or calculations with a single click.

Whitehorn highlights the issue of poorly documented and maintained spreadsheets, where the original creator of the macros may no longer be available to explain their functionality, leaving others without the knowledge to operate them.

This lack of central control over data within an organization can lead to difficulties in securing, moving, and extracting data for broader analysis and AI applications.

As a result, critical operations may rely on fragile and potentially error-prone spreadsheets.

In 2022, it was reported that Health New Zealand used an Excel spreadsheet as its primary data file for managing and analyzing financial performance.

This approach led to challenges in collecting and consolidating data, resulting in discrepancies, errors, and difficulties in obtaining a real-time overview.

In the UK, issues with spreadsheets have caused problems, including disruptions to the recruitment process for anesthetists in 2023 and the Afghan data scandal, which resulted from the sharing of an Excel spreadsheet.

Encouraging teams and individuals to move away from Excel can be a significant challenge.

Bearded, Professor Mark Whitehorn, wears a black denim shirt. — Organisations should have central control of their data says Prof Whitehorn

Moutie Wali, director of digital transformation and planning at Canadian telecoms firm Telus, notes that it is difficult for external vendors to provide a solution that can be used across multiple teams within an organization.

Wali has overseen an initiative to transition hundreds of staff members from Excel to a custom planning system, aiming to improve data integration and management, increase automation, and incorporate AI.

The goal is to create a more streamlined and efficient system, but Wali encountered resistance from staff who wanted to continue using their existing Excel setups and simply download information from the new system.

Wali insisted that this approach was not acceptable, stating that the old spreadsheets could not coexist with the new applications.

In response to criticism, a Microsoft spokesperson emphasized that Excel has evolved significantly over its 40-year history, becoming a versatile platform used by people across various industries.

The spokesperson highlighted that Excel's usage has continued to grow, with monthly usage increasing consistently over the past six years, and remains the default tool for data analysis, modeling, and reporting.

Even small businesses can benefit from reevaluating their reliance on Excel, as seen in the case of Kate Corden, who operates a bike fitting business and manages two data streams – customer information and bike data.

Wearing a red jumper and glasses, Kate Corden, stands in front of bicycles hanging on a wall. — Kate Corden says it's too easy to lose data in Excel

As an experienced Excel user, Corden found that the program was prone to data loss and alteration, prompting her to switch to LinkSpace, a case management tool that can be adapted for complex workflows.

Corden believes that having a comprehensive data management system will greatly benefit her business as it grows, providing a more organized and efficient way to manage data.

The advantages of moving away from Excel can extend beyond improved data management, as seen in the case of Julian Tanner, a PR executive who also serves as treasurer for a local charity.

Tanner switched the charity's accounts from Excel to an online accounting package that extracts information from invoices, which includes built-in AI for generating customized reports.

This change allowed the charity to dispense with the services of a bookkeeper, resulting in annual savings of over £6000.

For larger enterprises, the benefits of transitioning away from Excel include smoother workflows, aggregated and standardized data, and the ability to integrate with AI and machine learning systems.

Moutie Wali expects to save C$42m ($30m; £23m) per year by eliminating misaligned capital, and other teams within Telus are now considering following suit.

However, this requires users to be willing to relinquish some control over their data, recognizing that it belongs to the company rather than the individual.

As Prof Mark Whitehorn explains, users often feel a sense of ownership over their data, but it is essential to understand that the data belongs to the organization.

Whitehorn suggests that completely eliminating Excel may not be realistic, and instead, the "boss key" may need to be reimagined to accommodate spreadsheet use in the future.

This could involve finding ways to balance the need for individual control with the need for centralized data management and security.

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DP World CEO departs amid fallout over Epstein connections

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s departure follows the revelation of hundreds of emails allegedly exchanged between him and Epstein, as revealed in recently disclosed documents.

DP World's global ports operator has undergone a change in leadership, with the previous head stepping down amidst scrutiny surrounding their association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, wearing white, gestures during the World Government Summit in Dubai in 2017.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's departure as chairman and chief executive follows the release of newly uncovered files, which indicate he exchanged numerous emails with Epstein over the course of a decade.

The mention of an individual in these files does not imply any wrongdoing, and the BBC has reached out to Sulayem for a statement regarding the matter.

On Friday, DP World announced the appointments of Essa Kazim as chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as chief executive, without making any reference to Sulayem, whose photograph appears to have been removed from the company's website.

DP World, a Dubai-owned logistics company with a significant presence in global trade infrastructure, operating port terminals across six continents, has faced increasing pressure from its business partners in recent days.

Earlier in the week, the UK development finance agency and La Caisse, Canada's second-largest pension fund, announced that they would be suspending new investments in the firm.

Additionally, the Prince of Wales' Earthshot project, which received funding from DP World, was reported to the UK Charity Commission following Sulayem's appearance in the recently released files.

The documents suggest a close and extensive relationship between Sulayem, a prominent Gulf business figure, and Epstein, spanning multiple areas of interaction.

US lawmakers Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have accused Sulayem of being one of several influential individuals associated with Epstein, citing him as one of "six powerful men" linked to the disgraced financier.

The lawmakers, who co-sponsored the legislation that led to the release of the Epstein files last year, claim that certain information was improperly redacted from the documents.

On 9 February, Thomas Massie highlighted a redacted document that appeared to contain an email from Epstein in 2009, referencing a "torture video"; the recipient responded that they would be traveling between China and the US, although the context of the exchange is unclear.

US officials have confirmed that Sulayem was the recipient of the email in question, which was sent by Epstein.

News

Ireland Seeks Redemption in Match Without Spectators

Ireland’s Captain Caelan Doris has emphasized that the team must have all players contributing in order to move past their loss to France and secure a win against Italy.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris is urging his team to deliver a strong performance against Italy, following their disappointing loss to France last week.

Historically, Ireland have dominated Italy in their home Six Nations matches, winning their last five encounters by at least 30 points, including a 2024 match where they held Italy scoreless, but a similar outcome is not expected this time around.

Italy's confidence is high after their 18-15 victory over Scotland in Rome, where they excelled in the set-piece and defended well in the closing stages.

Gonzalo Quesada's team put in an impressive display despite the challenging weather conditions, and their win has given them momentum ahead of their trip to Dublin.

In contrast, Ireland's camp has been introspective after their 16-year-low Six Nations loss to France, with head coach Andy Farrell expressing his disappointment and the need for improvement.

Farrell was critical of his team's performance, particularly in the first half, and has made several changes to the lineup for the Italy match, including the exclusion of Josh van der Flier, Jacob Stockdale, Tommy O'Brien, and Cian Prendergast.

The Irish coach has also spoken about the need for his team to "simplify things" and understand their identity, following a clear-the-air meeting with the squad.

Farrell has emphasized the importance of players not overthinking their roles and instead focusing on their strengths, as they prepare to face Italy.

The Irish coach's message to his players is to trust their instincts and not overcomplicate their game plan against Italy.

Ireland's review of their loss to France was a candid and honest assessment, with players and coaches alike acknowledging the need for improvement.

Ireland has made six changes to their team for the Italy match, with newcomers Cormac Izuchukwu and Rob Baloucoune, as well as uncapped lock Edwin Edogbo, set to feature.

Captain Caelan Doris believes that the new players must take ownership of their roles and contribute to the team's overall performance.

Doris expressed his enthusiasm for the team's lineup, despite the changes, and emphasized the importance of cohesion and trust among the players.

The Irish captain's message to the new players is to have faith in their abilities and enjoy the experience, while also focusing on the team's core strengths.

Doris stressed that every player must be fully committed and take responsibility for their actions on the field, in order to achieve a positive outcome.

He added that creating a sense of unity and purpose through their actions can have a profound impact on the team's performance.

Doris reiterated that every player must be fully invested and take ownership of their role, in order to achieve success against Italy.

Edwin Edogbo, the towering Munster lock, is set to make his Test debut for Ireland on Saturday.

Ireland's loss to France was marked by a lack of intent, and head coach Andy Farrell has responded by making changes to the team, including the inclusion of wingers James Lowe and Rob Baloucoune.

The hope is that these changes will help Ireland to rediscover their sense of purpose and direction against Italy.

Lowe, a experienced player, was dropped for the France match, but returns to the lineup, while Baloucoune makes his first appearance for Ireland since November 2022.

The inclusion of Cormac Izuchukwu in the back row is expected to add dynamism and ball-carrying ability to Ireland's attack.

There is also excitement about the potential of Edwin Edogbo, who has impressed for Munster despite struggling with injuries earlier in his career.

Caelan Doris will switch back to open-side flanker, a position he has played before against Italy, and where he has scored tries in the past.

Regardless of his position, Doris is focused on helping Ireland to move past their loss to France and deliver a strong performance against Italy.

The Irish captain reflected on the team's discussions throughout the week, which have centered on accountability, simplicity, and a renewed focus on their core values.

Doris emphasized the importance of the team holding each other accountable and taking ownership of their actions, in order to drive improvement.

The Irish captain acknowledged that the loss to France has served as a reference point, but expressed confidence that the team can learn from the experience and move forward.

Doris believes that Ireland has the potential to improve, but must focus on executing their game plan effectively and trusting their strengths.

The match between Ireland and Italy is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 14 February, at 14:10 GMT.

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin will host the encounter.

Fans can listen to live commentary of the match on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Ulster, and the BBC Sport website and app, as well as follow live text commentary.

Italy has a chance to cause a major upset in the Six Nations, and will be looking to build on their win over Scotland last week.

The Italians pushed Ireland close last year, losing 22-17, and will be hoping to go one better this time around.

Despite the absence of Juan Ignacio Brex, Italy has a number of threats, including Tommaso Menoncello, one of the most exciting young talents in European rugby.

The Italian forwards have shown their ability to compete with top teams, having dominated Scotland and caused problems for South Africa's pack in November.

Caelan Doris acknowledged that Italy is no longer just a passionate team, but a side with a well-rounded attack and strong defense.

The Irish captain noted that Italy's attack is now a significant threat, and that their ability to play with width and depth makes them a challenging opponent.

Doris also highlighted the improvement in Italy's scrum, as well as the quality of their back three and the physicality of their forwards.

The Ireland team to face Italy is: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; S Prendergast, Casey; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Izuchukwu, Doris (capt), Conan.

Ireland's substitutes for the match include Kelleher, O'Toole, Furlong, Edogbo, Beirne, Timoney, Gibson-Park, and Crowley.

The Italian team features Pani, Lynagh, Marin, Menoncello, and Ioane in the backline, with P Garbisi and Fusco in the half-back positions, and a forward pack consisting of Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Zambonin, Lamaro as captain, Zuliani, and L Cannone.

Italy's replacement players are Di Bartolomeo, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, A Garbisi, and Odogwu.

On Saturday, Hollie Davidson of Scotland will make history by becoming the first female referee to officiate a men's Six Nations match, with the fixture being Ireland's home game against Italy.