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tablet computers and even smartphones supporting spreadsheet programs. You can

also share multiple copies with numerous people simultaneously without printing or
producing multiple copies.

Gaining lnsight

Once you have your data set stored within a spreadsheet program and optionally
displayed within a chart, you can use it to gain insight into your business operation. A
visualised data set is often easier to understand than a table full of numbers. You can

use spreadsheets to give you very specific data sets, filtering the information you are
most interested in. Spreadsheets allow a high level of control over the data you
present. So they are often used as presentations and reports.

Planning

Within a spreadsheet, you can also carry out tests to estimate the impact of particular
decisions on your business, using the existing data together with variable data items
representing your potential choices.

Storing Data

A spreadsheet can store a small or large set of data within a system of cells,
organised into rows and columns. A cell can contain a data value, or a calculation,
such as sums or percentages. This means that within a spreadsheet, you may find
multiple data values as well as various types of calculation on those values.

Spreadsheets can also process and manipulate data, with sorting and filtering among
the most common tasks.

Chart Creation

Charts and graphs create better depictions of trends and percentages than raw
numbers. As they say, “A picture’s worth a thousand words.” Spreadsheet programs
can automatically convert your data into the visual depiction of your choice, whether
it’s a pie chart, bar chart or line graph.

Backup

The data can be saved and backed up. If the original becomes lost or corrupted,
there will be a spare copy.

Hypothetical Scenarios

Spreadsheets can also be used to investigate hypothetical scenarios without risking

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