In the final analysis, business is all about numbers. Profits and losses, sales, budgets, projections and balance sheets, to name just a few examples, are all expressed in numbers. It is these numbers that dictate business decisions in general. In order to properly manipulate numerical data, no business can hope to operate without advanced computer technology. By opting for MS Excel consulting Sacramento businesses manage their numerical data to their advantage in order to improve their profits.

Spreadsheets are not modern inventions. Even in ancient times businessmen and many others used grids to perform complex calculations. Computer based spreadsheets, however, are extremely sophisticated tools that can manipulate data in many different ways. Sadly, too many people think that it requires expert mathematical and statistical proficiency and experience in order to use these programs. This is not true. Anyone can learn to use spreadsheets.

Even people that struggle with very basic mathematical calculations can use spreadsheets productively. They can use templates, which are ready made business forms. All the user has to do is to fill in the relevant information in the spaces provided and all the calculations are performed automatically. In this way it is possible to produce professional invoices, budgets, sales orders and a host of other useful documents.

But spreadsheets are also very powerful mathematical and statistical tools in the hands of programmers, mathematicians and engineers, for example. They can create extremely complex formulae that are used to create complicated business models. These, in turn, are of great value when business decisions must be made. Using these advanced functions require a high level of skill and that is why companies often hire a spreadsheet consultant or programmer.

Spreadsheet consultants do not come cheap. In return for their high fees they offer years of experience in providing their clients with valuable solutions that enable them to make sound decisions, to increase their profits and productivity and to minimize expenses. They are highly qualified individuals with a sound background in mathematics, statistics and business practices. They need to be excellent computer programmers and problem solvers as well.

Businesses are generally not even aware of the fact that they have vast amounts of valuable data that can be used to help run their businesses more efficiently. Invoices, client records, quotations, balance sheets and many other documents that are kept for years contain valuable data. Spreadsheet consultants can help them to make use of their data by consolidating all the various sources and by manipulating them in different formats and models.

When appointing a consultant, care should be taken to make sure that he is discreet. He will, after all, have access to sensitive business information. It is vital to insist upon references and to actually follow up on them. The consultant should also be able to submit a detailed proposal in which he stipulates the results that he will deliver and the time schedule within which these results will be produced.

Spreadsheet consultant can be of great value to their clients. It is important to remember, however, that they cannot produce valid and useful results without correct and up to date data. It may be best to first ask the consultant to perform a data audit.