The 6 Benefits of Using a Pivot Table in Excel

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April 06, 2022
Author: Lorman Education

A pivot table is a feature in Microsoft Excel which is used to summarize and store data in a single table.

It consists of rows, columns, data fields, and pages, which can be moved around to help the user to expand, isolate, sum, and group the particular data in real time.

This table enables the user to view the differences in a very big set of information, making it crucial for organizing large amounts of data quickly.

How Does it Work?

A pivot table takes a user-specified data field and converts the header of each column into a data option which can be easily manipulated by the user.

Columns containing data can be removed from, added to, or moved around the table quite easily. Here, user-friendly and informative summaries can be created from long spreadsheets of raw data.

The data can be summarized in various ways including frequencies and averages.

6 Benefits of Using Pivot Tables

1. Simplicity

An important advantage of a pivot table is that it is easy to use. You can easily summarize data by dragging the columns to different sections of the table. The columns can also be re-arranged with the click of a mouse.

2. Data Analysis

With the help of excel pivot tables, you can handle large quantities of data in a single go. These tables allow you cut through thousands of data points and consolidate the information into straightforward, quantitative results. Don't get intimidated by a bulky spreadsheet again.

3. Data Summaries

Sometimes data can be difficult to find among the many rows and columns. Pivot tables allow you to summarize the data in an easily digestible snapshot. Users can arrange rows and columns of the data according to their needs and label and sort it to suit their needs.

4. Pattern Recognition

Manipulating data in a pivot table is an excellent way to expose any possible patterns. This will help in accurate data forecasting.

5. Quick Reports

Reporting is much easier and more efficient using pivot tables. It can save you hours of manual reporting work. It also provides links to external sources for easy reference.

6. Decision Making

Pivot tables are critical for making quick decisions without sacrificing the precision of quantitative certainty. 

In conclusion

Pivot tables are a must for any business analyst, financial pro, marketer, sales manager, or senior leader interested in making an impact on their company's bottom line. To learn more about pivot tables, including basic, intermediate, or advanced utilization and techniques, browse relevant courses now.

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