Contactless Excel: Revolutionizing Data Interaction

In this article, we introduce the concept of Contactless Excel, a powerful methodology that simplifies user interaction with spreadsheets. By leveraging this approach, users can access information instantly and effortlessly, bypassing the cumbersome steps traditionally associated with data retrieval and reporting.

Simplifying Seat Lookup

Imagine needing to locate a passenger’s seat from a list. Traditional approaches, heavily influenced by popular social media tutorials, often require importing data into a spreadsheet via tools like Power Query or exporting from an enterprise system as a CSV file. From there, users typically manipulate the data using pivot tables or other methods to find the required information.

This process is cumbersome, requiring multiple steps, and often leaves users frustrated.

With Contactless Excel, the workflow is seamless. A user simply selects a cell, and the required information appears instantly—no imports, no pivot tables, and no extra effort.

The term “contactless” draws inspiration from contactless bank card transactions. Just as tapping a card on a terminal triggers a series of automated backend processes, selecting a cell in Contactless Excel initiates invisible automation, delivering the desired results effortlessly.

Example 1: Budgeting and Consolidation

Consider a group with 400 operating units spread across four levels: region, country, city, and shop. Traditionally, consolidating data from such a structure requires navigating through external links—a labor-intensive task prone to errors and difficult to audit.

With Contactless Excel, you can achieve the same result by simply selecting a cell. For instance:

• Selecting the total group-level cell instantly displays a breakdown by region.
• Clicking on a region reveals data by country.
• Drilling further provides city- and shop-level details, enabling full visibility and an audit trail without manual tracing or external links.

Example 2: Profit and Loss Statement

Now let’s examine a profit and loss (P&L) statement. Each figure in the report may represent dozens or hundreds of transactions. Budget holders tasked with reviewing these reports often face significant challenges:

• Logging into an ERP system.
• Navigating through accounts to locate relevant data.
• Requesting detailed transaction breakdowns from the finance team.

This laborious process discourages thorough reviews, often leaving errors unchecked.

With Contactless Excel, the solution is dramatically simpler. A budget holder can:

1. Select a cell in the P&L.
2. Instantly view the underlying transactions in a side panel.
3. Flag anomalies or add notes directly within the spreadsheet.

The finance team, upon refreshing their version of the spreadsheet, can see all flagged entries and address them collectively—streamlining collaboration and ensuring accuracy.

Popular Techniques vs. Professional Excellence

Popular Excel tutorials often demonstrate lengthy, complex workflows, particularly for importing and querying external data. While these processes may look impressive in social media demonstrations, they’re impractical for real-world enterprise environments.

For instance, consider retrieving transaction details for a single cell. Tutorials might showcase a multi-step Power Query process, involving wizard navigation and repeated manual adjustments. While this can be educational, it’s inefficient for day-to-day business processes.

In contrast, professional Excel developers prioritize simplicity and usability. Contactless Excel eliminates unnecessary complexity, creating solutions that clients find intuitive and elegant.

Imagine proposing a process to your client where the user needs to execute 20 or 30 steps just to find basic information. It’s unlikely they would accept it—let alone pay for it. On the other hand, showing a client how selecting a single cell can provide all the necessary information not only solves their problem but exceeds their expectations.

The Professional Edge

Contactless Excel bridges the gap between flashy social media demonstrations and practical enterprise solutions. While popular Excel content thrives on complexity for engagement, professionals focus on creating scalable, user-friendly processes that deliver real value.

This approach not only streamlines workflows but also demonstrates your expertise as a spreadsheet developer, making you an indispensable asset to your clients.

Thank you for exploring the concept of Contactless Excel—a practical, efficient, and user-focused methodology for modern business processes.