ทำไมต้องเปลี่ยนจาก Excel มาใช้ Dashboard? แก้ปัญหาไฟล์หาย ข้อมูลทับ ด้วย Lark Base
67% of Thai SMEs still use Excel for critical business data - and 40% have experienced data loss or conflicts in the past year. If you are managing inventory, sales, or customer data with spreadsheets, this article will show you exactly why switching to a dashboard solution like Lark Base can save your business time, money, and headaches.
The Excel Problem by Numbers
67%
SMEs using Excel for critical data
40%
Experienced data loss/conflicts
3hrs
Daily time wasted on consolidation
฿30K
Average monthly loss from errors
Source: Thailand Digital Transformation Survey 2025
5 Major Excel Problems Thai Businesses Face Daily
Excel has been the go-to tool for business data for decades, but it was never designed for modern collaborative work. Here are the 5 biggest pain points:
1. Lost or Corrupted Files
Files stored on individual computers get lost, deleted, or corrupted. One hard drive failure can wipe out years of customer data.
Impact: 30 searches/month for "excel ข้อมูล หาย" (Excel data lost)
2. Data Conflicts from Multiple Editors
When multiple team members edit the same file, versions conflict. You end up with "Sales_Final.xlsx", "Sales_Final_v2.xlsx", "Sales_FINAL_REAL.xlsx"...
Impact: Hours wasted reconciling different versions
3. No Real-Time Updates
Sales data from yesterday is only available after someone manually consolidates and emails the file. By then, the data is already outdated.
Impact: Slow decision-making, missed opportunities
4. Difficult Data Entry
Excel is not designed for easy data entry on mobile. Field teams struggle to input data, leading to incomplete or delayed records.
Impact: Incomplete data, delayed reports
5. No Automated Alerts
Excel cannot automatically notify you when inventory is low or a deadline is approaching. You have to manually check everything.
Impact: Stockouts, missed deadlines, lost sales
What is a Dashboard? Why is it Better Than Excel?
A dashboard is a visual interface that displays your business data in real-time, automatically updated from multiple sources. Unlike Excel, dashboards are designed for collaboration and automation.
Dashboard vs Excel: Key Differences
| Feature | Excel | Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time Updates | ||
| Multi-user Editing | ||
| Auto-backup | ||
| Mobile-friendly | ||
| Automated Alerts | ||
| Visual Charts |
Visual Data = Faster Decisions
Dashboards show trends, comparisons, and anomalies at a glance. No more digging through rows of numbers to find insights.
No More Data Loss
Cloud-based dashboards automatically back up your data. Even if your computer crashes, your business data is safe.
Why Lark Base? (vs Google Sheets, Airtable)
There are many dashboard and database tools available, but Lark Base stands out for Thai SMEs. Here is why:
Lark Base Advantages
Free Tier: 2,000 Records
Enough for most small businesses to start without any cost
Full Thai Language Support
Interface, forms, and notifications all in Thai - no translation needed
LINE OA Integration
Connect with LINE Official Account for notifications - perfect for Thai businesses
No-Code Forms
Create data entry forms without any programming knowledge
Made for Asia/Thailand Market
Servers in Asia, local support, and features designed for regional business needs
Platform Comparison
| Feature | Lark Base | Google Sheets | Airtable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Records | 2,000 | Unlimited | 1,200 |
| Thai Language | |||
| LINE Integration | |||
| No-Code Forms | |||
| Mobile App |
Case Study: Thai Store That Quit Excel
A mid-sized retail business in Bangkok was struggling with Excel-based inventory management. Here is their transformation story:
Before: Excel Chaos
- 3 hours/day consolidating Excel files from 5 branches
- Weekly stockouts due to delayed data updates
- Lost orders worth ~฿30,000/month from data errors
- Manager had to be in office to check sales data
After: Lark Base Dashboard
- Real-time inventory view from any device
- 15 hours/week saved from automation
- Zero stockouts with automated low-stock alerts
- Manager checks sales on phone while traveling
ROI Summary
15
Hours saved/week
฿30K
Monthly loss prevented
100%
Data accuracy
Getting Started with Lark Base (Free)
Ready to switch from Excel? Follow these steps to get started with Lark Base for free:
Sign Up at lark.com
Go to larksuite.com and create a free account. Use your business email for better credibility.
Create Your First Base
Start with a template (Inventory, CRM, or Project Management) or create from scratch. Give it a clear name like "Sales Tracking 2026".
Import from Excel
Export your existing Excel data as CSV, then import into Lark Base. Map your columns to appropriate field types (Text, Number, Date, etc.).
Share with Your Team
Invite team members by email. Set permissions (Viewer, Editor, Admin) based on their roles. Everyone can access the same real-time data.
Connect LINE OA (Optional)
Set up automated notifications to your LINE Official Account for important events like low inventory or new orders.
Pro Tip: Start with one use case (like inventory tracking) rather than trying to migrate everything at once. Success with one base builds confidence for broader adoption.
When to Upgrade: Free vs Custom Dashboard
Lark Base's free tier is powerful enough for most SMEs. But when should you consider a custom solution?
Free Tier is Enough If:
- You have less than 2,000 records
- Basic dashboards meet your needs
- Standard forms are sufficient
- You have 1-5 team members
Consider Custom If:
- You need advanced analytics
- Multiple systems need integration
- You need branded client portals
- Complex workflows with automation
Need a Custom Dashboard?
When you outgrow the free tier, we can help. Our team builds custom database dashboards tailored to Thai business needs.
Explore Database Dashboard ServiceFAQ: Excel to Dashboard Migration
Is my Excel data safe during migration?
Yes. You export a copy of your Excel data to CSV and import it into Lark Base. Your original Excel files remain untouched as a backup.
Can I still use Excel with Lark Base?
Yes. Lark Base supports exporting to Excel/CSV anytime. Some teams use both - Lark Base for real-time collaboration, Excel for complex analysis.
What if the internet goes down?
Lark Base has offline mode for viewing data. For critical operations, we recommend keeping a local backup exported weekly.
How long does migration take?
A simple inventory base can be set up in 1-2 hours. Complex systems with multiple tables and automations may take 1-2 days.
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Last Updated: January 2026 | Written by Hypelive Research Team
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