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If you’re a planner, you know just how much rests on your shoulders to keep everything running smoothly. You’re the person who makes sure resources are in the right place at the right time, deliveries are scheduled, that every team knows what they need to do, and more. Making sure everything is as efficient as possible is your job, so it’s important that you’re using the right tools to support you.
For years, many of us have turned to Excel for this job because it’s familiar and flexible. But as businesses grow, operations becoming increasingly more digital and more complex, Excel’s limitations have started to show. With this in mind, we’re going to be talking about why Excel might not be the best tool for scheduling anymore and why Opcenter Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
The downfalls of Excel for scheduling
It gets complicated fast
Excel spreadsheets can start simple, but they often turn into huge, complicated monsters as your business grows. What was once an easy-to-manage sheet can become a maze of tabs, formulas, and data. This complexity can make your job much harder than it needs to be.
Errors are a nightmare
We all make mistakes, and in Excel, even a small one can cause big problems, and more than a few headaches. A typo or a wrong formula can mess up your entire schedule. Finding and fixing these errors can take hours, time that you could spend doing more important things.
Limited automation
Excel doesn’t have the advanced automation that dedicated scheduling tools offer. You can use macros and some basic automation, but it’s not the same as having a system that can automatically evaluate different scenarios and improve your schedule. This means you’re missing out on a lot of efficiency.
No “what if” scenarios
One of the biggest limitations of Excel is that it’s tough to explore different scheduling scenarios. If you want to see how a different plan might work, you have to manually create a new sheet and start from scratch. This isn’t practical for a busy planner who needs to test multiple options quickly.
Poor team visibility
Excel works in silos. Each planner might have their own version of the schedule, making it hard to share and collaborate. This can lead to miscommunications and errors. A centralised scheduling system keeps everyone on the same page – literally!
Why Opcenter APS is a better choice than Excel
Grows with your business
Opcenter APS is designed to grow with you. Unlike Excel, which gets harder to manage as your business expands, Opcenter APS scales smoothly. It can handle small teams and large, complex operations with ease.
Smart automation
Opcenter APS offers advanced automation that Excel simply can’t match. It uses smart algorithms to analyse the data planners provide it with in order to meet your scheduling needs and automatically creates the best plan. This saves you time and ensures your resources are used efficiently. Plus, it provides real-time alerts, so you can quickly respond to any changes.
Easy scenario planning
With Opcenter APS, you can easily create and compare multiple scheduling scenarios. This flexibility lets you test different strategies to find the best one for your business. You can make data-driven decisions without all the manual work.
Centralised data
Opcenter APS centralises all your scheduling data, so everyone on your team can access the same information. This reduces miscommunications and ensures everyone is working with the latest data. Better visibility leads to better collaboration and decision-making.
Industry-specific compliance
For industries with specific regulations, like managing allergens in food production, Opcenter APS has you covered. It helps you stay compliant with industry rules and standards, something Excel struggles to do. This is crucial for maintaining quality and safety, as well as protecting your reputation.
Continuous improvement
Opcenter APS supports continuous feedback and improvement, meaning the software evolves based on user input and industry trends. This ensures it stays cutting-edge and meets your business’s changing needs.
Final thoughts
While Excel has been a reliable tool for many years, its limitations are becoming more apparent as scheduling needs become more complex. Opcenter APS now provides a better solution, thanks to being scalable, efficient, and packed with features that have been specifically designed with planning and scheduling in mind.
Ready to see how we can help your business? Contact us today. With our years of expertise and skills, we’re able to help give tailored solutions for your business. We even have experience working with big brands, so you can be confident that you’re in safe hands.