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We have a scary stat to share with you: 88% of all spreadsheets have errors.
We’ll say it again: 88% of all spreadsheets, including those used to build the budget, have errors.
So, if your organization relies on Excel to build, track, and report on your budget, there’s a really good chance it contains a mistake. Not to mention, all of the other ways it holds a forward-thinking government back when it comes to agile, effective, and collaborative budgeting. Luckily, there is a way to ditch the spreadsheets and improve processes with a modern solution.
Let’s take a deeper dive into what efficiencies can be gained by saying “it’s over” to Excel and enhancing your budgeting process with a modern budgeting technology.
Where Solutions Purpose-Built for Local Government Beat Excel
Here’s where Excel could use some help. Believe it or not, this list is far from exhaustive.
Strategic Impact
Spend more time on conversations and less time on crunching numbers. Using a budgeting tool purpose-built for government allows you to shift your focus to strategic direction and impact.
Collaboration
Encourage participation from departmental experts with easy, built-in collaboration tools. Communicate within proposals with commenting and real-time notifications. The government budgeting process involves numerous stakeholders and inputs, so the ideal process is collaborative throughout.
Version Control
Never have to worry about whether or not you are working on the correct copy.
Activity Feed
You have the ability to see who is working on what – so changes aren’t occurring anonymously.
Single Source of Truth
OpenGov provides on-demand access to all of your data. Improve understanding by aggregating information from across your organization. You can aggregate your data from legacy ERP, public records, 311, permitting, public safety, HRIS, and other mission-critical tools into our cloud to accelerate data-driven decisions. Once you centrally modify cost drivers, you can then distribute changes to all sources automatically.
Error-Free
Formulas are embedded within the product, and are reflected throughout your budget so you don’t have to constantly double and triple-check that you have the correct formula in the correct place within your file. OpenGov provides the core equation each piece of the budget and we then provide flexibility so you can adjust the formulas as needed. No more drying out your eyes looking at the formula each time you make an update and worrying whether it is pulling exactly the right number or table that you are needing.
Performance-Focused
Easily align financial and non-financial data and put information in context with customizable dashboards. Monitor spending and operations, track progress towards agency goals and discover new insights. Tie government spend to strategic objectives. Establish targets and KPIs to improve accountability and performance. Build alignment around goals and track progress to build accountability and encourage improvement. See how the City of Tampa, Florida has transformed their budgeting process into a performance-focused one.
Tells a Story
Interactive dashboards allow you to view key metrics easily and put information in context with customizable dashboards. Monitor spending and operations, track progress towards agency goals and discover new insights.