Excel as a Language for Business: Insights from Uppsala University.
In a world where education and business increasingly overlap, it’s not enough to just understand theory — students need tools that help them apply it.
We recently had the privilege of spending a full session with the students of Strategic Management Control and Digitalization at Uppsala University.
A big thank you to Einar Iveroth, Associate Professor at Uppsala University, for the invitation and for facilitating such an engaging and thoughtful environment.
Why Excel Still Matters
During our time with the students, we explored a simple but important idea:
Excel is not just a tool, it’s a language.
It’s the language through which many organizations:
- Understand financial performance
- Structure business logic
- Model decisions and scenarios
For students preparing to enter the workforce, mastering Excel is not just about formulas—it’s about learning how businesses think.
Putting It to the Test
To move from theory to practice, we conducted a structured self-assessment exercise.
The group was split into two:
- One half used Calkin to assist their work
- The other half used only Excel, with access to Google and ChatGPT
The tasks focused on three key capabilities:
- Understanding a new Excel file (comprehension)
- Completing everyday Excel tasks
- Checking and validating their own work
The Results
The outcomes highlighted clear differences in both speed and accuracy.
Understanding New Excel Files
- 60% time saving
- 10× higher accuracy
Checking Your Own Work
- 92% time saving
- 7× higher accuracy
Beyond the Numbers
While the quantitative results were compelling, what stood out even more was the level of reflection and discussion.
The students delivered thoughtful presentations on what they had learned—demonstrating not only strong analytical skills, but also curiosity and a willingness to challenge how work is typically done.
(And perhaps with a bit of bias—we have a soft spot for Uppsala University—the students were both bright and highly driven.)
Why This Matters
Experiences like this reinforce why we continue to build Calkin.
As Excel remains deeply embedded in how organizations operate, improving how people understand, validate, and collaborate on spreadsheets has a direct impact on decision-making and business performance.
Looking Ahead
We’re grateful to Einar and the students for an inspiring session and we will be back in September for another session!
