Solutions / Excel overload

The 14-spreadsheet problem, solved.

"Finance_FINAL.xlsx", "Finance copy.xlsx", a draft nobody approved. gridmap replaces the pile with one governed registry, with version history and access control.

Today
With gridmap
The real cost

Excel as your system of record is a risk you're carrying

Reports depend on the right file

When a report or pipeline reads from a mapping file, one wrong cell can spread to every report that uses it. Changes should be validated and tracked automatically.

Finding the right version takes time

"Budget_Codes_FINAL_v3_UPDATED.xlsx". When reference data lives in several places, finding the latest version takes more effort than it should.

Access is hard to manage with files

Shared folders make it hard to control who can edit what. A purpose-built system gives you granular access and an audit trail from the start.

Change history would save time

When something looks off, seeing exactly what changed, when and by whom turns a long hunt into a quick check.

The gridmap solution

Replace spreadsheets with a purpose-built platform

Structured registries replace spreadsheets

Typed columns (text, numbers, dates, true/false, dropdowns) and required fields, so a date column only holds dates.

Import your existing Excel files

Upload CSV or Excel directly. Primary-key upsert merges updates without creating duplicates.

Full version history on every row

Every change is tracked: who, when, and the previous value. Deleted rows can be restored until an admin removes them for good.

Row-level access control

Finance sees finance codes, operations sees operations codes, enforced automatically.

Sync from your data warehouse

Connect to Snowflake, SQL Server, BigQuery or another supported database, and keep reference data in sync on a schedule.

API for downstream systems

Your BI tools, ETL pipelines and applications read the current mappings over a REST API.

One current version

No more "FINAL_v3". There is one registry, and it is the source of truth.

Import what you have

Bring your existing spreadsheets in as they are, then govern them from there.

Export anytime

Your data is never locked in: export to Excel or read it from the API.

The time you get back

Where the time goes today

Consider the time your team spends today: searching shared drives for the right file, checking hardcoded values in SQL, restarting reports that failed on a mapping issue, or tracing a wrong number back through sheets, rows and cells. Even a few hours a month adds up fast. Structured data, automatic version tracking and clear access control give that time back from day one.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Why should we move away from Excel for reference data? ⌄

Excel works for personal analysis, but breaks down as a shared, governed registry. There is no change history, access control stops at who has the file, there is no API for downstream systems, and one bad edit can break every report that depends on it. gridmap keeps the familiar table and adds typed columns, version history, access control and an API.

Can we import our existing Excel files? ⌄

Yes. Upload CSV or Excel files directly into gridmap. Rows are matched on the primary key, so updates merge into existing rows instead of creating duplicates.

How does version history work? Can we roll back a bad change? ⌄

Every change to a registry row is tracked automatically: who made the change, when, and what the previous value was. You can view the full history of any row and restore an earlier version. Deleted rows are kept and can be restored, unless an admin deletes them permanently.

What if someone deletes data by mistake? ⌄

Deleting a row is a soft delete: the row is marked as deleted but kept, and can be restored from the "Show deleted" filter. Only an admin can delete rows permanently, which also removes their history. The audit log shows who deleted a row and when.

How do different teams share access without seeing each other's data? ⌄

Row-level security lets you restrict which rows each user or group can see and edit within the same registry. Finance sees finance cost center codes, operations sees product codes. Access is enforced automatically, so there are no separate files or tabs to fall out of sync.

Does gridmap replace our data warehouse? ⌄

No. gridmap works alongside your data warehouse. It connects to PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery and Microsoft Fabric to read source values and pick up changes. Mappings and reference data are served over a REST API to your BI tools, ETL pipelines and applications.

How long does migration from Excel take? ⌄

One file is one import: upload it, match the columns, and the rows are in a registry with version history from then on. Larger migrations with many files can be done one file at a time. Registries are included from the Basic plan; contact us and we will set you up.

Give your mapping data a real home.

gridmap is live. Ask for a free license that never expires, or talk to us about a plan with registries.

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