How to Use Quick Analysis for Better Spreadsheet Data Insights

When did you last open a spreadsheet and just sigh upon seeing the expanse of data points, with a sigh that comes from the deepest depths of your soul? It’s a fair reaction to have… especially when you know how much value there is to be found within these data sets.

Let’s walk through how you can extract this data by using Microsoft Excel’s Quick Analysis features… and don’t worry if you tend to use Google Sheets. The processes are essentially the same for everything we’re covering.

What is Quick Analysis?

When you have a bit of data selected in Excel, you may notice a small menu pop up at the bottom-right corner of your selection. This is the Quick Analysis menu, which provides you with simple data processes that may be applicable to your business needs. You can also pull up Quick Analysis by pressing Ctrl+Q with your data selected.

What Can Quick Analysis Do?

The Quick Analysis menu is broken into a few tabs, which help organize what can be done to contextualize your data:

Formatting
Through a variety of conditional formatting shortcuts, you can quickly transform your cells into contextual mini-graphs that provide high-level information at a glance, using added icons, cell-specific heat mapping, recoloring cells, or converting cells into miniature bar graphs. 

Charts
Similarly, the charts option allows you to quickly and conveniently generate various graphs, including scatter plots and different forms of bar graphs, based on the data presented, and add them to your spreadsheet.

Totals
These rules can conveniently generate different mathematical conclusions, including averages and running totals, populating your spreadsheet with these calculations.

Tables
These options enable you to quickly transform your existing data into organized formats, thereby minimizing the risk of clerical errors and preserving the utility of your data.

Sparklines
Using the sparklines feature, you can condense various different data points and trends into single-cell graphs that communicate basic information.

How a Business Can Use Quick Analyses

In short, making your data more easily accessible and comprehensible helps you and your team understand it better, which in turn benefits your operational efficiency and enables you to put your data to better use.

We Can Help Implement Additional Tools to Emphasize Your Data and Overall Operations

While Quick Analysis can make a significant difference in how productively you can utilize your data, it is just one small example compared to the benefits that partnering with a professional business IT provider can have for your organization. From proactive support to meticulous IT planning and implementation, our modern approach to technology management can deliver these benefits across the board. Don’t hesitate to reach out at 407-478-6600 to learn more.

In the meantime, try out some of the Quick Analysis features that your spreadsheet editing software of choice has to offer!