The Evolution That Stopped in 1985
Excel was born in 1985—a revolutionary tool for digitizing paper ledgers.
Yet 40 years later, we’re still “entering numbers into cells and calculating totals.”
This isn’t evolution. It’s stagnation.
Excel was meant to be a transitional tool from analog to digital. We should have evolved further toward database-centric workflows.
But because Excel was “easy,” evolution stopped there.
The Serious Problems Created by Excel Dependency
Data Never Becomes an Asset
Excel files are scattered across individual PCs. They’re neither accumulated nor leveraged as organizational assets.
Duplication and Inconsistency
The same data exists in multiple files. “Which is the latest version?” Nobody knows. Version control nightmare.
The Trap of Knowledge Silos
Complex Excel files created by individuals can only be understood by their creators. Handoffs are extremely difficult.
Non-Scalable Structure
Performance degrades as data grows, eventually becoming unopenable.
No matter how long we wait, data never becomes a database.
The True Transformation Enabled by Generative AI
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek—generative AI models developed worldwide are emerging.
These aren’t just chat tools or convenience enhancers. They fundamentally change how work is done.
Instant Spreadsheet Generation
Simply instruct “create a sales data management tool,” and you get a complete system with input fields, automatic calculations, and graphs.
Natural Language Data Operations
No need to learn SQL or complex functions. Just say “show me the top 10 sales from last month.”
Automatic Data Analysis
Load large datasets, and the AI automatically performs trend analysis, anomaly detection, and predictions.
Secure Organizational Use
Enterprise plans allow data to be safely contained within organizations.
These services have the power to fundamentally transform traditional Excel workflows.
Question the Assumption That “Spreadsheets Are Necessary”
Many companies say “Excel is necessary.”
But what’s actually needed isn’t Excel. They’re just assuming Excel-style workflows.
Need data analysis? Let AI handle it. Need graphs? Auto-generate them.
What humans should do is not data entry and aggregation, but decision-making and strategic planning.
When Excel Remains Necessary Becomes Limited
Of course, complete migration won’t happen immediately.
Compatibility with Existing Assets
Massive amounts of Excel files already exist.
Client Requirements
If a client says “please send in Excel format,” you must comply.
Final Adjustments and Distribution
Excel still has advantages for printing and PDF conversion.
However, these are “legacy system accommodations,” not “essential necessities.”
The New Standard for Work
Initial Creation with AI
Data collection, analysis, and document creation—delegate to AI.
Human Role: Judgment and Strategy
Evaluate AI outputs and apply them to decision-making.
Convert to Traditional Formats When Needed
Convert to Excel format only when necessary, such as for client submissions.
Conclusion: The Time for Evolution Has Come
Excel was a wonderful tool.
But that was in 1985.
In 2025, there should be a more evolved form. Data in databases, processing in programs, analysis by AI.
The time has come to change the Excel-centric workflow that has continued for over 40 years.
Whether you choose ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini—which AI doesn’t matter.
What matters is redesigning workflows leveraging AI.
The task of “manually entering and aggregating data” will become a thing of the past in the near future.
The bridge from analog to digital is complete. Are you ready for the next stage?