Why Food Businesses Need to Ditch Spreadsheets (Before It Gets Messy)

Every time we sit down with a new food company, we ask the same question: What’s driving you up the wall right now? And without fail, someone says “spreadsheets.”

Excel might be familiar, but it’s also a ticking time bomb. A 2024 study found that 94% of business spreadsheets used in decision-making contain errors (Phys). Excel is prone to duplication and human error, which is a recipe for disaster in any department.

These aren’t just theoretical problems. JP Morgan lost $6 billion due to a copy-paste error, and TransAlta’s infamous row misalignment cost them $24 million (Enable). Even if your business isn’t playing with billions, a single spreadsheet slip-up could still blow your expense budget for the quarter.  

Imagine your Excel template has spending limits built in, but someone accidentally shifts a row. Suddenly, your team’s claiming way more than planned, and you’re left wondering where all the money went. 

Keeping your data safe, secure and useful

If Excel is risky, paper is downright prehistoric. There’s no excuse for paper trails in a modern supply chain, especially when they’re bad for the planet and your sanity.

We’ve all been there: digging through filing cabinets, squinting at someone’s questionable handwriting, and hearing the dreaded phrase, “I think it says…” It’s not just annoying, it’s a breeding ground for mistakes.

So, what’s the alternative?

Say hello to Dynamics Food, our end-to-end ERP solution built specifically for Food & Beverage manufacturers, processors, and distributors, and powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Dynamics Food is already helping food manufacturers like Bernard Matthews, Bounce Foods, Faccenda Foods, Laila’s Fine Foods, and Norebo Europe thrive.

Getting one version of the truth with Dynamics Food

Dynamics Food gives you complete confidence when it matters most. Whether it’s a customer audit or a product recall, you can trace every raw material batch, packaging component, and piece of equipment used to manufacture and distribute your products.

And thanks to tailored dashboards, Dynamics Food lets you drill down into trends, performance, and insights without getting lost in a sea of disconnected spreadsheets -  no more data chaos and time wasted getting lost among endless spreadsheets.

Ready to ditch the spreadsheets?

If your finance team is spending more time fixing Excel errors than focusing on strategy, it’s time for a change. Let’s talk about how Dynamics Food can help you reduce risk and finally say goodbye to spreadsheet stress.