Excel is the go-to tool for everyone. However, for logistics data analysis, Excel is only the "starting point," not the "destination." When handling large-scale data (tens of thousands of rows or more), I strongly recommend migrating to a database like Microsoft Access.
The Limits of Excel
- Structural Fragility: Data can easily be corrupted by simple row swaps or deletions.
- Performance Drop: Processing speed slows significantly as data volume increases.
- Decentralization: Management becomes person-dependent due to scattered file copies.
Comment: Excel is "spreadsheet" software. It is not designed to be a "database" for secure storage and high-speed retrieval of massive records.
The Power of Access (DB)
- Data Integrity: Table structures protect the consistency of your data.
- SQL Processing: Analyze over 1 million rows instantly using SQL queries.
- Career Growth: Skills translate directly to enterprise systems like Oracle or SQL Server.
Comment: Learning SQL is a "lifetime skill." It connects your local tasks to core company infrastructure.
Mastering complex Excel functions like DAX can actually be harder than learning Access. While Excel is easy to start, it has a "steep cliff" ahead. Knowledge gained in Access is much more valuable for your professional career.
Stop "Cooking" the Analysis, Start Using Results
Building an analysis system is like cooking a meal. What truly matters to a company is not the "cooking" (aggregation work) but the "eating" (utilizing the results).
If you have Excel data, let specialized software handle it and output the results in Excel format. This efficiency is what logistics fields truly need.