Excel ‘a Starting Point, Not the Destination’ – Rethinking Data Management

Why It Matters

Persisting spreadsheet use hampers data integrity, risking costly errors and delayed handovers, while client‑driven standards demand reliable, auditable information. Addressing cultural and process gaps is essential for the construction sector to meet modern data‑quality expectations.

Key Takeaways

• 45% of surveyed firms still rely on Excel for project data
• ISO 19650 is becoming a client‑driven requirement globally
• People and culture ranked as the top improvement opportunity
• Accountability for data quality drives better project outcomes

Pulse Analysis

Construction teams are still gravitating toward Excel because it offers immediate, familiar functionality amid mounting project complexity. While spreadsheets provide flexibility, they lack the rigor needed for coordinated, multi‑disciplinary data, leading to version‑control chaos and hand‑over delays. The webinar’s poll underscored this paradox: almost half of the participants admitted their data lives in Excel, highlighting a sector‑wide gap between awareness of risk and adoption of robust solutions.

Industry standards such as ISO 19650 are reshaping client expectations, especially in the UK and increasingly worldwide. Clients now demand structured, auditable data packages at hand‑over, forcing firms to confront fragmented information silos. Experts from EviFile and AtkinsRéalis emphasized that clear data ownership and accountability are pivotal; when a single party is responsible for data quality, teams align around shared goals, reducing errors and improving compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.

However, technology alone won’t close the gap. The webinar identified people—behaviour, culture, and leadership buy‑in—as the most significant lever for change, outpacing tools and processes. Successful projects showcase senior endorsement and individual responsibility for data stewardship. To transition from Excel as a “starting point” to integrated data platforms, firms must invest in training, redefine workflows, and embed data governance into project DNA, ensuring they meet evolving client demands and avoid the hidden costs of spreadsheet‑driven mishaps.