Excel vs IDA: from spreadsheet to professional tree management

Error-prone due to manual data entry

Every time data is manually typed, there are risks of typos, wrong columns, or missing values. With thousands of trees, errors accumulate.

No GPS integration or map view

Excel has no map functionality. You can see addresses or coordinates in cells, but visualizing where that tree is located requires external GIS software.

No history or mutation tracking

When a value changes in Excel, the old value is gone. There's no built-in log of who changed what when — essential for legal accountability.

Difficult collaboration with field workers

Field workers cannot directly input data into Excel. They take notes on paper or in separate apps, after which office staff manually transfers everything — time-consuming and error-prone.

No validation or approval system

Excel offers no workflow where proposed changes are reviewed first. New trees or removals go directly into the file without verification.

Choose Excel if...

You manage fewer than 500 trees. You don't have external parties working in your data. You don't need legal accountability for mutations. You don't need to see trees on a map. You don't have collaboration projects with contractors. In these scenarios, the simplicity and familiarity of Excel may be sufficient.

Choose IDA if...

You manage 500+ trees or expect to reach this. Multiple people work simultaneously in the same tree inventory. You want to know who changed what when (audit trail). You want contractors or field workers to input directly. You want to see trees on a map and filter by location. You want to automate risk prioritization. You want to export data to GIS systems (Shapefile, GeoPackage). IDA transforms your tree management from a data entry task into a strategic asset.