Spreadsheets vs. Stageholder

The Spreadsheet Problem

Most organizations start tracking assets in Excel or Google Sheets. It works at first, but as you grow, spreadsheets become a liability.

Common Spreadsheet Challenges

1. Multiple Versions of Truth

• Different people have different copies
• "Which spreadsheet is current?"
• Changes get lost or overwritten
• No single source of truth

2. Manual Everything

• Manual data entry = errors
• Manual depreciation calculations
• Manual report generation
• Manual inventory counts

3. No Collaboration

• File locked when someone's editing
• Email attachments flying around
• No audit trail of who changed what
• Merge conflicts and data loss

4. No Mobile Access

• Can't update from the field
• Can't scan barcodes
• Can't take photos of assets
• Tied to your desk

5. Scale Limits

• Slow with thousands of rows
• Complex formulas break
• No referential integrity
• Hard to maintain

6. Zero Automation

• No alerts when stock is low
• No maintenance reminders
• No automatic calculations
• Everything is manual

Side-by-Side Comparison

When Spreadsheets Are OK

Spreadsheets might still work if:

• You have fewer than 50 assets
• Only one person manages them
• You don't need depreciation
• No compliance requirements
• No need for mobile access

But if you're reading this, you've probably outgrown spreadsheets.

When to Switch to Stageholder

It's time to upgrade when:

• ✅ Multiple people need to update asset data
• ✅ You need accurate depreciation for accounting
• ✅ You're spending hours maintaining spreadsheets
• ✅ You can't find assets quickly
• ✅ You need audit trails for compliance
• ✅ You want mobile access
• ✅ You have more than 100 assets

The Migration is Easy

What We Import

Stageholder imports directly from your Excel or CSV files:

• Asset names and descriptions
• Categories and locations
• Purchase dates and costs
• Serial numbers
• Assigned users
• Custom fields

How It Works

1. Export your spreadsheet to Excel/CSV
2. Upload to Stageholder
3. Map your columns to our fields
4. Review and import
5. You're done!

Most migrations take less than an hour.

ROI of Switching

Time Savings

• No more maintaining complex formulas
• No more manual reports
• No more searching for the "right" spreadsheet
• No more manual data reconciliation

Accuracy Improvements

• Automatic depreciation (no formula errors)
• Single source of truth
• Built-in validation
• Audit trail for accountability

Productivity Gains

• Mobile access for field work
• Barcode scanning for faster data entry
• Automatic alerts and notifications
• Real-time collaboration

Risk Reduction

• Secure, backed-up data
• Access controls
• Compliance documentation
• No accidental deletions

Real Customer Story

"We had 15 different spreadsheets tracking assets across our locations. Nobody knew which one was current. After switching to Stageholder, we finally have one accurate asset register. Our annual audit went from 2 weeks to 2 days."
— Operations Manager, Manufacturing Company

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using spreadsheets for reports?

Yes! Stageholder exports to Excel anytime. Use it for ad-hoc analysis while Stageholder is your source of truth.

What about my formulas and macros?

Stageholder handles calculations automatically. No formulas needed. Custom requirements can use our API.

How hard is it to switch?

Most customers are up and running in a day. We import your existing data directly.

What if I want to go back to spreadsheets?

Export your data anytime — no lock-in. But we're confident you won't want to go back.

Is Stageholder more expensive than spreadsheets?

Spreadsheets have hidden costs: time spent maintaining them, errors, lost productivity. Stageholder typically saves more than it costs.

Ready to Upgrade?

Start a free 14-day trial — import your spreadsheet and see the difference.

No credit card required. Keep your spreadsheet as backup while you evaluate.

Questions? Chat with us anytime.

Updated on: 24/12/2025