Excel: The comfort blanket that’s smothering your business

It’s time to break up with spreadsheets (before they break you)

It’s like a bad habit you just can’t shake.

Despite its flaws, Excel is still the go-to for resource management. Why? Because it’s cheap, familiar, and easy to hack together. But just because something is comfortable doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

Spreadsheets had a good run, but in today’s world, it’s holding back your team, your projects, and your profitability. The truth? Excel can’t keep up with modern resource management demands. And if you’re still relying on it, you’re probably feeling the strain.

Here’s why—and what to use instead.

It’s all fun and games until someone messes up a formula.

✅ Low cost, high flexibility? Sure. ❌ Scalability? Nope. ❌ Real-time collaboration? Not a chance. ❌ Automated insights? LOL.

Excel’s biggest problem? It doesn't update in real time or sync with your other tools. That leads to duplicate files, version mix-ups, and teams making decisions with outdated info.

42% of professional services firms still rely on Excel for project scheduling, despite its limitations

(Source: Capterra Survey)

Step away from the spreadsheet… slowly.

There are better options. The right tool depends on your needs:

Generic PM tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com) – Good for tracking tasks, but weak on resource planning and forecasting
PSA software (e.g., Scoro, Kantata) – Robust but expensive, complex, and hard to use
Specialist RM tools (e.g., Float, ResourceGuru) – Strong on scheduling but might lack full project management capabilities

Teamwork.com is the best of all possible worlds: Project + resource management, all in one place. It's a client work platform and so much more.

When plans change. But your resourcing is on point.

Manage workloads better

From spreadsheet storms to smooth sailing

Picture this: A client services team juggling multiple projects and supporting resourcing data in Excel. When new work comes in, managers have to hunt across a maze of spreadsheets to find someone free. It's slow, messy, and full of mistakes.

The Problem:
Overbooked teams and hidden conflicts

Here’s where things fall apart. Without a clear and connected view of everyone’s workload, managers double-book people, miss capacity gaps, and scramble to fix problems after they happen. Meanwhile, deadlines are slipping, and team members are either overwhelmed or straight-up confused.

The Fix:
Smarter resource management with Teamwork.com

Enter Teamwork.com. No more hunting through spreadsheets. Managers get a real-time, centralized view of the team’s workload.

Result? Balanced teams, deadlines met, and no more detective work when new tasks pop up or future work is sold. Just smooth, stress-free resource management.

Tips for making a clean break.

If you’re ready to move on from Excel, here’s how to make the transition painless:

Step 1:
Define your needs: What challenges matter most to your team? What impact do they have?

Step 2:
Start small: Test a new tool with one project before going all in.

Step 3:
Migrate carefully: Bring over your data without losing track of things.

Step 4:
Train your team: Make sure everyone’s on board (or risk falling back into old habits).

“Oh, and one more thing…”

That new project I called you about last night? I want it done by next week. You can find the capacity somewhere, right? Good luck with your spreadsheet…”

The Client

Last-minute requests? Not his problem. Ditch spreadsheets to rein-in The Client's chaos