Opinions/Thoughts: Executable Program or Spreadsheet?

[waveman]

Hi,

I'm designing a simplified business performance/reporting system aimed at small to medium businesses. I've got a solid prototype for this currently in Microsoft Excel. But my question is this:

Is it better to keep it in Excel or make it an Executable/standalone desktop application? Since there are many business owners etc on here- what would you prefer? I'd personally prefer excel slightly more since it'd keep things more bug free and mostly safe from being broken. It also plays nice with MS Office, which makes achieving app objectives easier. But, would a separate application feel more exclusive and make you feel at ease justifying the price? Assuming it looked good and was friendly to use.

I'm not sure what to do, since either an app or Excel will ultimately both complete the same task. Coding would be less advantageous since I want to keep things safe from breaking and future proof, and then there's the issue of how to get data if things aren't in excel. Any and all feedback is welcome!

 

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[ZCP]

When you tried it out in a test with small businesses, what was the feedback?

 

[waveman]

When you tried it out in a test with small businesses, what was the feedback?

I haven't really received much actionable/in depth feedback on the topic. Most people seem to remain stuck on excel but I have received the usual issues with macro compatibility. With regards to an actual executable I've only really heard practical concerns about integration, maintenance etc, not really pricing justification and user experience. Excel gets the job done but I'm considering the people out there who may not have it or hesitate to spend time learning it, or those who wouldn't want to spend a lot on a spreadsheet.

 

[inputchip]

Make a clickable mockup of the program and take it to some of your potential clients and see what they would prefer, Excel or the program.

If user experience is important (which it should be), I would bet most people would lean away from using Excel. Also, it's much harder to market an office add-on rather than a standalone software product. It is difficult to build a brand around an add-on that is tied to office programs.

Also, remember the C in CENTS: Control. What if Microsoft completely changes the backend of Excel and your product no longer works and you lose all your customers. Unlikely to happen, but you never know. There is no coming back from that.

 

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