Ultimately, it all adds up to one thing: lack of control. You need more control over the amount of time it takes to put the budget together, more control over how long it takes to make a change in the budget whenever it's needed, more control over the accuracy of the data, and more control over who can access that data.

This article will introduce alternatives to spreadsheet budgeting. It will also outline budgeting solutions that free finance managers and budget analysts from tedious, time-consuming tasks like collecting data, verifying that all of the spreadsheets are linked and that formulas are pristine. Ultimately by adopting a budgeting application, financial professionals actually have the time they need to do their jobs and add value, performing activities like analyzing discrepancies, conducting what-if scenarios, and planning.