The "Daily Struggle" is Optional: Why It’s Time to Break Our Spreadsheet Addiction

By David Landau

My daughter is a sophomore at university right now. She’s a supply chain major taking a supply chain planning class this semester, and she loves it. But she’s also taking another class that she was told is essential to be effective in this industry: Microsoft Excel Certification.  

Now don’t get me wrong - Excel is awesome. I use it nearly every day for all sorts of purposes. But . . . it’s 2026. We’re in the era of AI.  

Transportation software has existed for more than 30 years. Digital connections have linked systems for nearly 40. So why is the next generation of logistics professionals still being guided towards becoming spreadsheet experts before they even turn 21? Why are they being trained to manage complexity manually instead of being taught how to eliminate it? 

The Rise of "SDD" (Spreadsheet Dependency Disorder) 

For transportation analysts and managers, the root cause of SDD (Spreadsheet Dependency Disorder) is the “Chase Economy.” Let’s take a moment to look at the reality of moving goods today. Companies put a massive amount of energy into building their shipping plans—deciding exactly who to hire, how much to pay, and who the backups are. When an order comes in, they should be ready to roll. 

But they aren't. Instead, the "chasing" begins. 

1. First, they send an email to a carrier to book the slot. 
2. They wait for a response, then manually update a spreadsheet. 
3. They get a phone call to schedule the pickup. They update the spreadsheet again. 
4. Then, the truck is delayed. They update the spreadsheet yet again. 

Now, multiply this by thousands of shipments a week across dozens of companies. The "Spreadsheet Dependency" is very real, and it is exhausting. This isn't fun for the carriers, either. Their dispatchers are flooded with emails and forced to log into dozens of different websites just to say "yes" to a job or give a location update. 

Breaking the Cycle 

As an industry, we can do better. Fortunately, the tools are there. It’s not software in the traditional sense; it’s a network. 
Imagine one platform where shippers, carriers, and forwarders come to transact and collaborate. As a shipper, imagine one place that connects to all of your carriers, instead of scattered across multiple interfaces. Think of this as your “universal connector” - one place to book loads, request spot rates, schedule appointments, and get status updates. Sure, you could export the results into a spreadsheet if your SDD is really severe, but why bother when the data is right there in front of you?  

A Happier Supply Chain 

The biggest win here is the human element. When carriers get consistency, they don't need 25 browser tabs open just to do their jobs. 
It’s really not that complicated. When everyone works in the same place and in the same way, we gain visibility and responsiveness. But most importantly, the teams are happier, and the supply chain simply moves faster.