Excel today is much more than just spreadsheets. It’s a multifunctional tool that, when used properly, can cut routine work in half. We’ve selected the most effective workflows and features that, according to Microsoft’s official documentation, can save you dozens of minutes every day (Microsoft Support).
Keyboard shortcuts: the first step to saving 50% of your time
The fastest route to productivity is through the keyboard. The most commonly used include:
- Ctrl + Shift + Arrow – instantly selects blocks of data.
- Ctrl + E – launches Flash Fill.
- Alt + = – AutoSum without the mouse.
According to Microsoft Support, experienced users can eliminate up to a third of all clicks by using shortcuts (support.microsoft.com).
Flash Fill: a “magnet” for repetitive tasks
Flash Fill automatically completes patterns in text—for example, it can split a first and last name into two columns or reformat phone numbers. It’s activated with Ctrl + E and, according to Microsoft tests, reduces time spent on bulk data cleanup by 20–30% (Microsoft Support).
Dynamic tables (Excel Tables)
Convert a range into a Table (Ctrl + T) and you get:
- automatic formula expansion,
- one-click filtering,
- renamable column headers you can use in formulas.
The result? Fewer errors and faster analysis.
Power Query: import and clean data with a single command
Power Query (Get & Transform) lets you pull, combine, and clean external sources without macros. In practice, it replaces dozens of steps you’d otherwise do manually (learn.microsoft.com).
Tip: once you’ve built a query, you only need to Refresh it, and new data will flow in with all transformations preserved.
PivotTables
Creating a PivotTable (Alt + N V) summarizes thousands of rows into a clear overview. Combined with Quick Analysis (Ctrl + Q), you can compare data in seconds.
Modern functions: XLOOKUP, FILTER, UNIQUE
- XLOOKUP searches both left and right, returns exact matches, and doesn’t require absolute references (support.microsoft.com).
- FILTER displays only records that meet a condition—dynamically.
- UNIQUE removes duplicates without needing add-ins.
These functions can save an additional 10–15% of time on complex lookups or reports.
The combined power: shortcuts + functions + Power Query
The biggest impact comes when you use shortcuts, Flash Fill, dynamic tables, and Power Query together. During a routine monthly close, you can easily save an hour a day on data prep—which, at an average wage of €12/hour, equals savings of €240 per month.
Video: the 30 best Excel tips in one package
If you prefer a visual guide, we recommend this 30-minute overview of the most commonly used tricks:
(Video in English; with captions enabled, the steps are easy to follow even for beginners.)
Sources
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/keyboard-shortcuts-in-excel-1798d9d5-842a-42b8-9c99-9b7213f0040f
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/xlookup-function-b7fd680e-6d10-43e6-84f9-88eae8bf5929
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/power-query-what-is-power-query
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/about-power-query-in-excel-7104fbee-9e62-4cb9-a02e-5bfb1a6c536a
Jana
I like turning curiosity into words, and writing articles is my way of capturing ideas before they slip away — and sharing them with anyone who feels like reading.
