←back to thread

413 points martinald | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.199s | source
Show context
debo_ ◴[] No.46196982[source]
> I'm sure every organisation has hundreds if not thousands of Excel sheets tracking important business processes that would be far better off as a SaaS app.

Far better off for who? People constantly dismiss spreadsheets, but in many cases, they are more powerful, more easily used by the people who have the domain knowledge required to properly implement calculations or workflow, and are more or less universally accessible.

replies(8): >>46197020 #>>46197023 #>>46197107 #>>46197199 #>>46203023 #>>46203336 #>>46203479 #>>46204591 #
jimbokun ◴[] No.46197199[source]
Better security. Better availability. Less chance of losing data.

Assuming the SaaS is implemented competently, of course. Otherwise there's not much advantage.

replies(1): >>46202089 #
1. frm88 ◴[] No.46202089[source]
I disagree. I have seen many such Excel applications in many companies, paticularly in the finance and controlling departments that were delivering key numbers to the C-class which would never have allowed the sheets, applications or calculations out of the house, let alone to a cloud service or an out-of-company consultant/programmer. There were always backups managed by the department themselves and in one case, even entry to the room with the relevant machine was restricted to authorised personnel only. If I have learned anything in my 30 years of consulting, it's that you always take Finance at its word when they tell you No to your SaaS or ERP solution.