Excel is a good tool. Most distributors start with it, and many should stay with it for a while. The question is not “Is software better?” but “Is Excel now costing us more than it saves?” Here are the signs we look for.
1. Nobody knows today's outstanding without asking someone
If the true total due from dealers is only known at month end, or only one person can produce it, your cash collection depends on that person's time.
2. Orders arrive in too many places
Orders on WhatsApp, phone calls, photos of handwritten slips and counter sales. When orders live in several places, some get missed and some get entered twice.
3. The godown and the books disagree
If you discover shortages only when a customer calls, stock is being tracked after the fact rather than as it moves.
4. Reports take a day
Sales by area, by salesman or by product should take seconds. If it takes hours of copying between sheets, the report is usually late and rarely used.
5. Several people edit the same file
Shared spreadsheets break quietly: a formula overwritten, a row deleted, two versions on two computers. There is no record of who changed what.
What to check before you switch
- Will the software work with your existing Tally or accounting process?
- Can you see a working sample with items and dealers like yours before you commit?
- Is the scope and price fixed in writing?
- Who owns the source code and data at the end?
- What support is available after go-live, and at what response time?
Not sure yet? Book a free 30-minute review. We look at your current process and tell you plainly whether software will save you time and money.