There is a recurring genre of social media posts, particularly on LinkedIn, that claim Excel is not suitable for enterprise-level work. These posts argue that superior tools exist—Power Query, Power Pivot, Power Automate, Power Apps—tools that supposedly complement Excel in enterprise environments.
This claim is both true and misleading. Yes, these tools exist, and yes, they can be useful in specific contexts. However, the prevailing narrative fails to acknowledge a fundamental, simpler, and more effective approach: a client-server architecture using Excel without the reliance on these so-called “power” features.
A Case in Point: The Global Budgeting Model
To prove this point, about 18 months ago, I created a global budgeting model using a straightforward hub-and-spoke client-server architecture—entirely within Excel. It does not rely on Power Query, Power Automate, or any other auxiliary tools.
What I find both absurd and alarming is the reaction (or lack thereof) from social media influencers when I post about this model. I created a 10-minute video demonstrating how it works and explaining its simplicity. When I share this in response to posts advocating for Power Automate or Power Query as “enterprise solutions,” I expect engagement. I expect counterarguments or discussions. But instead, I often get silence or outright dismissal.
One well-known figure in the space, Richard Nero, was offered a demonstration of the model. He did not engage. Instead, some influencers react with irritation, making dismissive comments like, “Not that video again.” This response, rather than a logical critique, reveals a discomfort—a resistance to engaging with an alternative approach that challenges the entrenched belief system surrounding Excel in the enterprise.
The Reality Behind “Low-Code” and “No-Code” Tools
The tools promoted as “low-code” or “no-code” are primarily marketing-driven. They cater to a demographic of Excel users who are either averse to coding or find complexity intimidating. These tools allow for the creation of engaging social media content, driving visibility and engagement for influencers.
However, the actual mission of improving enterprise processes should not be dictated by marketing trends. The goal is to transform messy, inefficient Excel-driven processes into scalable, globally accessible, and simplified systems. And this transformation is best achieved not through added complexity, but through the fundamental architectural shift of storing data outside the spreadsheets.
The Core Issue: Misunderstanding Client-Server Architecture
At its core, our message is simple: Excel, combined with an external data store, is the most powerful and scalable enterprise solution available. The resistance to this concept is baffling, especially given that client-server architecture has been a foundational computing principle since the 1990s. It is as fundamental to modern computing as the wheel is to transportation.
Yet, social media discourse on Excel largely ignores this reality. The status quo is that 75% of enterprise spreadsheet processes are poorly designed due to a lack of awareness about client-server capabilities. This leads to the widespread suffering of “Excel hell,” where organizations believe that escaping inefficiencies requires massive IT spending and multi-year digital transformation projects.
The Alternative: A Simple, Scalable Solution
Contrast this with my own consulting experience, where clients have paid me three times the typical Excel consulting rate—not for Power Query, not for Power Automate—but for implementing a simple, effective client-server approach. Unlike large-scale corporate IT projects, this approach is quickly deployable with minimal disruption or internal resistance. Why? Because it’s Excel. It operates within the boundaries of corporate governance policies without triggering bureaucratic roadblocks.
The Unrecognized Opportunity
The fact that Excel and client-server architecture remain largely overlooked as an enterprise solution is staggering. The failure to acknowledge this simple truth results in billions of dollars wasted on inefficiencies worldwide.
Decision-makers, conditioned to believe that Excel-driven inefficiencies require million-dollar IT overhauls, remain stuck in this mindset. However, many hesitate to greenlight such large initiatives due to past experiences with failed enterprise transformation projects that failed to deliver on their promises.
The Path Forward
At the heart of our approach is a two-step transformation process:
- Evaluate the problem in first principles—Strip away preconceptions, tools, and technologies. Approach the issue from a fundamental level, using only logic and a whiteboard.
- Implement the simplest, most effective solution—Once the problem is clearly understood, execute the solution using client-server architecture in Excel.
Both steps require background knowledge. The first requires the ability to detach from tool-specific thinking. The second requires an understanding of fundamental technological concepts, such as client-server architecture.
Conclusion
The real game-changer in enterprise Excel is not found in Power Query, Power Automate, or any other promoted “power” tool. It is found in understanding and applying a simple architectural shift: separating data from spreadsheets.
The resistance to this idea in social media circles is not due to its lack of effectiveness but due to the inertia of existing narratives and the vested interests of those promoting high-engagement content. But for those who recognize this shift, the opportunity is immense—both in terms of financial rewards and the ability to drive meaningful change within enterprises.
Excel, combined with client-server architecture, is the most powerful and scalable solution available today. And yet, few seem to realize it. That, in itself, presents the greatest opportunity for those willing to think beyond the noise of social media trends and embrace what truly works.
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