Customer review: Connect Spreadsheets, available in Microsoft AppSource, has been transformative

CData Software's standards-based connectors streamline data access. The company’s Connect Spreadsheets, available in Microsoft AppSource, simplifies how teams connect to live data — from more than 250 sources — directly in Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft AppSource interviewed Nathan Thompson, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Scorpion, to learn why he recommends Connect Spreadsheets.

What do you like best about Connect Spreadsheets?

Connect Spreadsheets makes it incredibly easy to pull live, accurate data directly into Excel. As finance professionals, Excel is where we do our deepest analysis, and Connect Spreadsheets eliminates the hassle of exporting static reports from multiple systems. It integrates seamlessly with our existing tools, like ADP and Sage Intacct, meaning we spend less time wrangling data and more time making informed decisions.

The solution’s real-time updates are a game changer. Instead of relying on outdated snapshots of data, we now have a live connection to our systems of record. This ensures that our financial models and analyses always reflect the latest information. The intuitive query interface also makes it accessible — even for team members without SQL experience.

How has the product helped your organization?

It has been transformative. Before Connect Spreadsheets, pulling data into Excel was a time-intensive manual process involving multiple exports and reconciliations. Now, we’ve automated data refreshes for crucial workflows, saving our team countless hours each week.

For instance, we recently streamlined how we track hours and expenses for high-value video production projects. By connecting directly to Monday.com data, we created an Excel-based analysis that updates in real time, ensuring our reports are accurate and actionable.

Beyond efficiency, it has improved our collaboration. With virtual datasets, we can grant specific teams access to tailored views of the data they need, all while maintaining governance and control. This has helped us foster a more data-driven culture across the organization.

How are customer service and support?

The CData team has been phenomenal. Setting up the initial connection was straightforward, and their support team was always ready to assist with any questions we had along the way. They’ve been instrumental in helping us maximize the potential of the platform.

Any recommendations to other users considering Connect Spreadsheets?

If you rely heavily on Excel for analysis, CData Connect Spreadsheets is a must-have. It’s especially valuable for teams that work across multiple systems and need a unified, real-time data view. The live connection to data sources ensures that your insights are always up to date, which is critical for informed decision-making.

What is your overall rating for this product?

I would rate CData Connect Spreadsheets a 5 out of 5. It’s saved us time, improved our data workflows, and empowered us to make better decisions faster.

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