In the “Handbook for Software Entrepreneurs”, the connectivity of a software product is paramount when bringing it to the global market.

Therefore, using the infoBoard synchronisation server, we have offered synchronisation from ERP data from day one. Here, we were looking at simplicity and comprehensibility, but also had to offer the full range of import possibilities. This makes it difficult. As a result, we send typical import data to interested parties as Excel files. With the infoBoard converter, we can offer to automatically read data from .csv files without ERP programs.

But on a basic level, most planners work with self-made Excel spreadsheets, lists, and matrices, both with and without macros. It’s amazing how much time is invested in planning. There is no other way to keep track of an order’s status in a comprehensible manner.

With so many different Excel spreadsheets used for planning, the focus is suddenly not on increased connectivity with ERP-Systems, but rather on managing a large number of Excel spreadsheets. This is a serious task for the software producer.

Over the past twelve months, our developers have done more than ever before with regards to Excel modules, add-ins, and uploads over web pages. This proves another aspect of the simplicity of working with infoBoard – easing the workload of the user.

Every month, we import around thirty new Excel “Example 5” spreadsheets for prospective customers and take screenshots of the generated planning boards. We offer these easy Excel imports to our prospective Internet customers almost immediately. Surprisingly, multi-dimensional thinking, and respectively the presentation of tasks in a two-dimensional manner seems to be difficult for a significant number of people. This is accompanied by an inability to imagine the necessary structures of an Excel spreadsheet in an abstract way.

We have programmed an Excel add-in, which is able to import (and remove) data from an Excel sheet to an existing infoBoard planning board. Here, the parts lists are copied from a CAD program and then the work is distributed to machines with an estimated time.

A great variant is an Excel plugin for the infoBoard client. In the sample orders, all items with the necessary work procedures are stored. The (weekly) production log is exported from SAP to Excel. This Excel file with the item numbers and the number of pieces produced is read by the plugin and automatically creates the item sample orders with SAP production order numbers.

Do you see the advantages that the idea of an ideal, automated interface presents? Simple Excel imports are like “Bread for the World”. They satisfy hunger.

We look forward to receiving your Excel spreadsheets.