I'm juggling a 40-location audit and my Excel spreadsheet is falling apart. Too many tabs, too many formulas breaking. Is anyone using actual software to manage multi-site audits? Not looking for a full energy management platform — just something to track accounts, findings, and claim status across multiple locations.
Software for tracking multi-site audits?
I built my own Access database years ago and it still works fine for tracking. Tables for clients, locations, meters, findings, and claims. But I know I'm in the minority. Most people I know use Excel with a very disciplined structure — one master workbook with a summary tab that pulls from individual location tabs. The key is building it right from the start. If your spreadsheet is breaking, you probably need to restructure rather than switch tools.
This comes up a lot. The honest answer is that most successful auditors I know use Excel, but they use it very deliberately. A well-structured workbook with a location index, standardized finding categories, and a claims tracking sheet handles 90% of what you need. The 10% that Excel can't do well — like automated status updates and client-facing dashboards — is where you might look at something like Smartsheet or even a simple Airtable base. I would not recommend investing in expensive energy management software unless you're consistently doing 100+ location portfolios.
OK fair enough. I think my problem is structural, not tool-related. Going to rebuild my workbook this weekend using the approach you described. Appreciate it.