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I think that many customers have a large amount of Excel resources, but by starting to use Smartsheet, you will be able to utilize those resources and use smart functions that Excel does not have.
Smartsheet is a cloud-based project management and collaboration tool with some features that Microsoft Excel lacks. Here are some Smartsheet features that Excel doesn't have.
Collaboration function
Multiple users can work at the same time
Smartsheet is designed for collaboration, allowing multiple people to work on the same sheet at the same time.This is impossible in Excel where he can only work with one user at a time.
For example, the image below shows that in addition to the user at the bottom left (myself), three other users at the top right are logged in to view and edit the sheet on the sheet called Inquiry Management.
There are various automatic communication functions
In addition, there is a function to automatically notify and request information updates, and in order to do this more efficiently, columns of types such as "Contact", "Created by", and "Updated by" are prepared. You can automatically send notifications, update requests, and approval requests to that contact's email.
For example, the image below is an example of using a workflow to automatically notify the creator of the request that the request for participation in a training session has been approved.
Allows conversations at the row, sheet, and workspace level
Another big feature of Smartsheet is the ability to have conversations.For example, if a sheet has multiple rows and each row is assigned a task that constitutes a project or task, exchanges between stakeholders regarding a specific row (task, issue, etc.) can be carried out as a row conversation. and a record will be kept.
Conversations can occur not only at the row level, but also at the sheet level for groups of rows and for workspaces containing multiple sheets and reports.
If you are working with Excel, the communication between the people involved in Excel is often done by e-mail, for example, but it is difficult to refer to it later, and in the first place, the sender of the e-mail , no one other than the recipient can know its contents.
Smartsheet lets you organize relevant conversations at the row, sheet, and workspace level, so stakeholders can always see the transcript of the conversation they need, depending on their permissions.
The image below records the interaction between Mr. Kobayashi and Mr. Kato about the task "Determine budget" on row XNUMX in a project.
Automated workflow
Smartsheet has built-in workflow automation features that let you automate repetitive tasks, like sending email notifications or creating new tasks based on specific criteria. Excel does not have such functionality built-in, and similar automation would require programming or the use of third-party add-ons.
For example, the image below shows an example of a workflow that automatically assigns a person in charge according to the task hardware, network, etc. when a ticket is issued to the IT department and a line is added.
This workflow resembles a program flow chart, and allows users to create simple automation programming by setting triggers, conditions, and actions in an intuitive way.
Gantt chart
Smartsheet includes a built-in Gantt chart view for visualizing project schedules and dependencies. Although it is possible to create a Gantt chart in Excel, it requires manual setup and maintenance.Smartsheet's Gantt chart, on the other hand, is dynamic and automatically updates as tasks are added or changed.
Smartsheet's Gantt chart is extremely popular, and we have quite a few customers using Smartsheet because they want to use this feature.
The Gantt chart in the image below shows each task in a trade show store project with its dependencies indicated by arrows, and the % of progress for each task displayed as a percentage in a bar chart. In addition, unstarted and at-risk tasks are color-coded with conditional formatting to help you visually understand the status of your project.
For a specific example of a Gantt chart, see "Smartsheet experience corner"of"Project management experience, please refer to the sample.
Form
Smartsheet lets you create customizable forms to collect data externally and automatically add it to your sheet.This feature is not available in Excel.
Google Workspace forms are very convenient when it comes to forms, but with Smartsheet, when you create a table (sheet), you can automatically create a form based on the items in the table, which is overwhelmingly easy.
By using the form, you can collect information from external customers, vendors, etc. and record it on the sheet without sharing the sheet that may include confidential information or information of other customers.
The image below is an example of a training inquiry introduced in "Various automatic contact functions" of "Collaboration function" above, and an example of a visitor submitting a training inquiry form using this form.
When this form is submitted, a row is added to the sheet, and an automated workflow sends approval requests to HR, supervisors, and other relevant parties.
Dashboard
Smartsheet has built-in dashboard functionality that lets you visualize key metrics and data points in real time. Excel requires manual configuration and data entry to create similar dashboards.
A dashboard is like a homepage that users can easily create. Various parts are available, and the user department can create a dashboard that matches the purpose of the business or project without asking an outside expert. can do.A completed dashboard can be shared with stakeholders to access the information they need.
The image below is "Smartsheet experience corner"of"Dashboard experienceis an example of a multi-project dashboard in the construction and equipment sector.
Summary
Both Smartsheet and Excel are powerful tools, but Smartsheet's collaboration features, automation features, and built-in project management tools make it a great choice for team-based projects and large-scale initiatives.
By migrating various tasks and projects done in Excel to Smartsheet, you can achieve more advanced project management and collaboration.
Many of you who read this article are currently working mainly with Excel, and I think you are looking for a new tool to overcome its limitations. , of this siteSmartsheet experience cornerPlease visit and have a more concrete image of what you can do with Smartsheet.Getting Started with Smartsheet” (especially the firstSmartsheet overview) AndYoutube channel.
If you want to learn more about Smartsheet, click hereFormfeel free to fromInquiry.