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Software solution for those who don't know how to use excel

by Joe Ray
24 replies
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I am thinking about developing something like that. Something that's very easy to use without any coding or excel knowledge.

Is there a market for something like this? I looked around on Google but didn't find any obvious software solutions for this problem.
#excel #software #solution
  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    How big a problem is it? Excel and other spreadsheets are pretty easy to use, so I can't really see much of a market for it. It might turn out that your solution to this non-problem is actually harder to use than Excel is.

    The fact that no-one has really offered a solution to the non-problem probably tells you all you need to know about how big the market for it is.

    My advice is to focus instead on something that actually is a problem, and develop a solution for that.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
      Thanks for your reply. I can see your point. You may be right, but maybe not. That's the issue! There is no data that I can analyze to know for sure how many people have intermediate to advanced skill level with excel.

      I think most people know how to do basic stuff with excel, but I wonder if most people can use pivot tables, group rows or columns and do complex data analytics.
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      • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
        Originally Posted by Joe Ray View Post

        I think most people know how to do basic stuff with excel, but I wonder if most people can use pivot tables, group rows or columns and do complex data analytics.
        People who need that type of functionality would probably be involved in some sort of analysis role, and are probably using Excel already.

        Perhaps if you found some specific type of analysis that is quite complex to set up and actually designed a spreadsheet that took most of the work out of the process, there could very well be a market for it, however it might only be a small niche. On the other hand, small niches may be prepared to pay a premium for what they need.

        Anyway, before you get started you'll need to do a bit of research to find such a niche. You might also need some sort of expertise in whatever type of analysis is being done, such as financial.
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        • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
          Perhaps if you found some specific type of analysis that is quite complex to set up and actually designed a spreadsheet that took most of the work out of the process, there could very well be a market for it, however it might only be a small niche. On the other hand, small niches may be prepared to pay a premium for what they need.
          Yes, very good point.

          I already developed something like that. It's a very complex machine learning model and solves a specific problem for a small niche. I just have no idea how to price it and how to market it to that niche.

          Because this software solution is so complex, the potential customers don't understand what it actually does. They don't even understand why they need this solution. Thus, the marketing in this case is a real challenge.
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      • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
        Originally Posted by Joe Ray View Post

        I think most people know how to do basic stuff with excel, but I wonder if most people can use pivot tables, group rows or columns and do complex data analytics.
        Shouldn't the question be more related to how many people need to accomplish those tasks? I've owned a computer since the beginning of computers and have never needed to do any of those tasks. Additionally, on the rare occurrence when I need to learn how to do something above my pay grade, I was able to find help on a wide range of forums with a simple Google search.

        Excel is much like Photoshop. People learn what they need to know and look to forums or tutorials for special requirements, which they might only need only a very few times in their online career.

        Personally, I wouldn't spend a nickel to learn anything in Excel that I don't need on a daily basis, but that's just me.

        One last thing. It's 2017. Have you entertain the thought that if there actually was a market for this, that someone would have already developed it? I've never looked, but I'd be willing to bet that Microsoft has extensive training on their site and that there are many sites for math nuts to spread their joy.

        Just somethings to consider. Nothing worse than spending our precious time developing something that we believe is important or useful, only to discover that the thought was ours alone? (Or should that be our's alone? Can someone build me a grammar tool?) :-)

        Life is short. Find a viable need for your product before possibly wasting your precious time, that you can never get back.

        Thank you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
      Btw you're suggesting to "focus instead on something that actually is a problem, and develop a solution for that". That is a very logical advise, except that all obvious problems that can be solved by software are already solved.

      Honestly, can you think of a problem that's not solved yet? If you can't think of one, you probably shouldn't give this advise.
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      • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
        Originally Posted by Joe Ray View Post

        Btw you're suggesting to "focus instead on something that actually is a problem, and develop a solution for that". That is a very logical advise, except that all obvious problems that can be solved by software are already solved.

        Honestly, can you think of a problem that's not solved yet? If you can't think of one, you probably shouldn't give this advise.
        Yes, l have just finished a business course, that dealt with excel spreadsheets, and then some.

        And if there was another option that turned all of the gobbly gooh into simple easier l would consider it.

        But l don't use it that much, so unless it was free, probably not.

        But people who use it regularly for business, there is probably a demand for it.

        Just make sure that it isn't a B grade version of the original, they did that with Photoshop, (Gimp) and it turned out a bit of a mess.

        Good luck.

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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    Read the transcript (link below).
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Originally Posted by Joe Ray View Post

    I am thinking about developing something like that. Something that's very easy to use without any coding or excel knowledge.

    Is there a market for something like this? I looked around on Google but didn't find any obvious software solutions for this problem.
    My questions are, who exactly is your market and more importantly exactly how do you reach them? IMO, the answers to these questions are the most important in marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
      Very good questions Kurt. Thanks.

      While defining the market might be possible, coming up with a strategy for reaching them could be a hard problem.

      To oversimplify it, the market could be anyone who wants to analyze their data but don't have the skills to do it.

      At this moment, I have no idea how to approach the marketing problem of reaching them.

      I would be happy to hear your suggestions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    Are you talking about a competitor to Excel? Or do you mean a script/automated Excel spreadsheet where I put in the numbers and your thing does all the hard work in Excel? Or do you mean tutorials on how to do these things in Excel?

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
      Here is how it works:

      Let's say you have some data on an Excel file. You need to solve some problems, so you need to analyze or manipulate this data. To do this, you would have to apply some simple or very complex functions to the dataset, depending on what you need. But, you don't know how to use excel.

      The desktop software I want to develop will apply these functions for you. This software will be simple enough for an average 12 year old to operate.

      All you have to do is to type in the location path to the file on your PC and the data will be loaded into the software. Then, from a drop-down menu you can chose the function you want to apply to the data. Click on the function you need and the software will output the desired result. That's it.

      This is the basic description in a nutshell.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
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        Originally Posted by Joe Ray View Post

        Here is how it works:

        Let's say you have some data on an Excel file. You need to solve some problems, so you need to analyze or manipulate this data. To do this, you would have to apply some simple or very complex functions to the dataset, depending on what you need. But, you don't know how to use excel.

        The desktop software I want to develop will apply these functions for you. This software will be simple enough for an average 12 year old to operate.

        All you have to do is to type in the location path to the file on your PC and the data will be loaded into the software. Then, from a drop-down menu you can chose the function you want to apply to the data. Click on the function you need and the software will output the desired result. That's it.

        This is the basic description in a nutshell.




        My advice is just do it, build the app. You have to start somewhere.

        You already know excel can get complicated so there's obviously frustrated people out there, traffic exist.

        You can always tweak as needed along the way.
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Banned
    I know a canadian bank who hired 20 k a day consultants to teach mid level managers how to do basic A/B testing and high school statistics.

    So why not?

    There`s a reason why Apple have one button mice.
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by socialentry View Post

      I know a canadian bank who hired 20 k a day consultants to teach mid level managers how to do basic A/B testing and high school statistics.
      Hopefully, whomever was responsible for that hire is no longer employed at the bank.

      Thank you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    Many people find Google Sheets to be easier and it is already developed and it is free.
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    • Profile picture of the author socialentry
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      Originally Posted by Janice Sperry View Post

      Many people find Google Sheets to be easier and it is already developed and it is free.
      Yes, but can you do fast fourier transforms with Google sheets.

      HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM??? Have you thought of that Janice?????
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  • Profile picture of the author Leadsupply
    The market for anything excel related is huge. I'm an avid excel user and I have to look up probably 20 different things each month. I'm always shocked by the number of different sites out there that are solely dedicated to excel, not to mention the number of forum posts and video tutorials. I have bought excel courses for employees and I know that's a good market, but I'm sure that it's quite flooded. If you have some type of an idea that could guide people through learning excel in a step-by-step manner, not just via video, but through a guided application, then I think there would definitely be a market. The second challenge you'd face though would be on the marketing end. There are so many great programs out there that were the cream of the crop, but now lay dormant because they could never win the marketing battle.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
      Thanks very much for your comment. It's really encouraging. Sounds like if I built the software I am thinking about, it would solve a real problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    The basics of what a spreadsheet is form the basis for a plethora of Apps, like Quick Books for example, and other book keeping software , All dressed up and pretty for specific tasks. Self contained and no excel required.

    You would be better served writing specific stand alone apps that solve specific problems. Much more money in that.

    People who really want to learn excel will buy a book or take a course on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author morris12
    I guess Excel is quite easy for anyone to use. And most important you can get the solution of any problem with one search. From small business to successful business.

    You can easily get various free templates and spreadsheets is the great feature and I personally love it.

    I think you should search for it and make your own software and definitely, you will get what you want because maybe we never face any kind of difficulties by using excel. So, If you get your answer please share with us too because technology never ends.
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