Key facts
| Replaces | Shared spreadsheets, WhatsApp follow-ups, copy-paste reports |
|---|---|
| Starting price | From ₹1.5L (Build). Typical single-workflow tool: ₹1.7L–₹2.5L |
| First version | 3–4 weeks, with a clickable prototype in week one |
| Your data | Imported from your existing Excel or Sheets files and checked with you |
| Ownership | Code, hosting and accounts are yours |
When should you stop using a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets are a good tool. The problem starts when a sheet becomes the system a business runs on. Watch for these signs:
- Two people edit at once and one overwrites the other.
- Someone asks which file is the latest one.
- Staff can see columns they should not, such as margins or salaries.
- A formula was broken months ago and nobody noticed.
- Approvals happen over WhatsApp and the sheet is updated later, if at all.
- One person built it, and the business stops when that person is away.
- Opening the file takes a minute.
Two or three of these means it is time. One of them means keep the sheet and tidy it up.
What does a web app do that a spreadsheet cannot?
| Need | Spreadsheet | Custom web app |
|---|---|---|
| Who can see what | Whole file or nothing | Roles: each person sees only their part |
| Approvals | A comment or a WhatsApp message | A step with a name, a time and a record |
| History | Version history, hard to read | Clear log of who changed what and when |
| Reminders | Manual | Automatic by email or WhatsApp |
| Data quality | Anything can be typed anywhere | Required fields, dropdowns, validation |
| Reports | Rebuilt by hand each month | Live dashboards from the same data |
| Clients and partners | Send a copy | A login where they check their own status |
A web app is not always better. A one-person calculation or a quick analysis belongs in a sheet.
How does the move from Excel to a web app work?
- Pick one workflow. Orders, leads, stock, site visits or invoices, whichever hurts most.
- Map the sheet: every column, formula and who touches it. We often find columns nobody uses.
- Prototype: you click through the screens in week one, before any code, and change what feels wrong.
- Build in slices with a live preview link that updates every few days.
- Import your real data, then run the sheet and the app side by side for a short period.
- Switch over, hand over the code and keep the sheet as an archive.
The method is described on how we build. The part that matters here is that you never see a reveal at the end. You see the app take shape.
What does it cost to replace a spreadsheet in India?
Neyven Build projects start at ₹1.5L for one workflow with one or two user roles. Cost grows with roles, integrations and reporting.
| What you replace | Typical scope | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| One tracker (leads, orders, stock) | 1–2 roles, dashboard, import | ₹1.5L–₹2.5L |
| Linked sheets with approvals | 3–4 roles, WhatsApp or email alerts, reports | ₹2.5L–₹3.5L |
| A dozen sheets that run the business | Multiple modules, many roles, integrations | ₹3.5L–₹8L |
Use the free cost estimator for a range based on your inputs, or read what you get at each Neyven price for what is and is not included at each level.
Is it better to use no-code instead?
Sometimes. Airtable-style tools can replace a simple tracker cheaply. They get awkward when you need granular permissions, a client-facing login, custom approvals, or a monthly fee that grows with every seat. Low-code versus custom software covers the trade-off in detail.
What stays outside the app?
Not everything should move. Ad hoc analysis, one-off calculations and finance models that an accountant owns can stay in Excel. A good build links to them, for example by exporting a clean report, instead of replacing them.
Frequently asked questions
Can you import my existing Excel data?
Yes. We import it, flag duplicates and bad rows, and agree the cleaned data with you before go-live.
Will my team need training?
A short walkthrough is usually enough, because the app keeps the columns and terms your team already uses.
What if we need changes after launch?
We stay on for fixes and improvements, per request or on a monthly plan. Everything is documented so another team can take over.
Do we keep Excel exports?
Yes. Any list or report can be exported to Excel or CSV.
Is Google Sheets different from Excel for this?
No. The process is the same for either. We read the file, map it and rebuild the workflow.