Smarter Data with Excel: Key Features You Should Be Using
Excel has evolved far beyond basic spreadsheets. Today, it’s packed with powerful tools that make data analysis faster, smarter, and more intuitive. In our recent webinar, we explored features that can transform how you work with data.
View the full webinar and get the recap below:
1. Analyze Data (Powered by Copilot)
- Found on the Home tab, this feature lets you ask natural language questions about your dataset.
- It suggests insights, creates pivot tables, and even generates charts with a single click.
- Tip: Ensure your data has clear headers and no blank rows for best results.
2. PivotTables & PivotCharts
- PivotTables remain one of Excel’s most powerful tools for summarizing and drilling into data.
- Recommended PivotTables (Insert tab) provide instant suggestions.
- Combine PivotTables with PivotCharts for dynamic visualizations that update as you filter data.
3. Slicers & Timelines
- Add interactive filters to your PivotTables:
- Slicers for quick filtering by fields like country or salesperson.
- Timelines for date-based filtering by month, quarter, or year.
- Perfect for building dashboards that allow real-time data exploration.
4. Forecast Sheet
- Predict future trends using historical data with just a few clicks.
- Found under Data > Forecast, this tool creates a forecast chart and table using built-in forecasting functions.
- Great for sales projections, inventory planning, and trend analysis.
5. Data Validation
- Create dropdown lists or restrict input to specific values.
- Useful for maintaining clean, consistent data entry.
- Found under Data > Data Tools > Data Validation.
6. XLOOKUP
- The modern replacement for VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP.
- Handles vertical and horizontal lookups, supports error handling, and can return multiple columns in one formula.
- Simplifies complex lookups and saves time.
7. Maps & Geography Data Types
- Visualize geographic data with Filled Maps (Insert tab).
- Use Geography data types to pull in details like population or largest city directly into your sheet.
- Also supports stock and currency data types for financial analysis.
Bonus Tip: Explore New Features
- Check out Excel Labs and Copilot integrations for AI-powered insights.
- Experiment with new chart types and interactive elements like checkboxes for smarter dashboards.
Why These Features Matter
These tools help you move from manual formatting and formulas to automated insights and interactive analysis. Whether you’re building reports, forecasting trends, or creating dashboards, Excel has everything you need to work smarter.