How to Use Zebra AI and Excel to Save Time, Draw Better Business Insight, and Promote a Culture of Collaboration 

So many spreadsheets, such little time! 

If you feel that sentence deep in your bones, you are in the right place. Because, let's face it: spending hours (upon hours, and hours) creating dashboards in Excel is so 2008 (not to mention time-consuming, frustrating, ineffective, and a real roadblock for the entire organization.) 

Thankfully, in 2025, you have a lot more options on hand (ahem, like AI for Excel, for example) -- and choosing one that helps you turn data into actionable insights is more important than ever. 

In this article, we're taking an in-depth look at how AI can put your Excel on steroids to help you be faster, more effective, and more efficient with your data analysis. 

First Things First: The Importance of Data Cleaning 

Before jumping into data visualization, your data needs to be clean. This is essential because the cleaner and more organized your data is, the more accurate and valuable insights you can extract from it. 

Here's why and how you can prep up your data: 

• Remove empty columns and rows 

• Keep it granular to make sure that each row in your file represents one specific item or action. For example, in a car sales report, every row should correspond to the sale of one car  

• Standardize column names use consistent and clear formatting 

Once your data is prepped, you’re ready to move forward. 

The Old Way of Drawing Insights Using Excel 

While Excel has long been the go-to tool for data analysis, it comes with significant challenges: 

• Manual Labor: Creating formulas, pivot tables, and charts can be painstaking. 

• Error Prone: Small mistakes in formulas or data structuring can skew results. 

• Repetitive Tasks: Every time new data is imported, you may need to redo setups and adjust charts. 

• Cumbersome Visualization: Advanced or interactive dashboards aren’t native to Excel, limiting clarity and efficiency.  

The New Way: Zebra AI and Excel for Data Analysis 

Zebra AI is the easiest way to turn raw data into actionable dashboards, in seconds, even if you have zero coding or Business Intelligence experience. 

All you have to do is: 

1. Import cleaned data 

If you're using Google Sheets, download your file as a Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) or CSV file. Zebra AI is compatible with these formats and can handle files up to 50Mb. 

Once uploaded, Zebra AI reviews the data structure and alerts you to issues like duplicate values. 

2. Customize dashboard instructions 

This is your chance to guide the AI to build a dashboard that fits your specific needs. For example, you can request KPIs based on categories like gender, car body type, transmission preference, and sales price. Providing targeted instructions ensures you get a dashboard that speaks directly to your business questions. 

Pro Tip: 

When referencing columns in your instructions, match their names exactly as they appear in the data (e.g., use "Price" with a dollar symbol if it’s formatted that way in your table). 

3. Analyze and visualize 

Zebra AI dives into your dataset and instantly creates a dashboard. While you can go with the initial results, fine-tuning the visualizations usually yields better outcomes. For example, with Zebra AI you can 

• Visualize growth trends. Charts can highlight how sales grew in 2023 versus the previous year, showcasing pivotal months or peaks.  

• Focus on specific categories. For example, SUVs and hardtops showed significant growth, while hatchbacks declined. This analysis helps you make informed decisions to target marketing efforts effectively. 

With Zebra AI, even details like axes formatting or chart types (e.g., line charts vs. waterfall charts) can be adjusted with a click. Our tool also allows you to refine, tweak, and share your dashboard. 

For instance, if any data needs adjusting, such as correcting an underreported September figure (see picture below), you can make the change directly in the AI platform, and your charts will update automatically. 

Once finalized, exporting your dashboard is straightforward. You can: 

• Export Excel spreadsheets packed with interactive Zebra visualizations (and be able to make a full presentation using a polished, actionable Excel document) 

• Create PowerPoint presentations tailored for meetings (exporting to PowerPoint is one button away in Zebra AI, starting with February 2025, by the way) 

• Share live dashboards via secure links, allowing team collaboration in real-time, on your stories, to maximize collaboration and obtain faster results. 

Interactive Features for Deeper Analysis 

Zebra AI doesn't just create static dashboards you can just look at (and maybe talk about in those big meetings you're attending). It enables you to interact with your data in real-time, to push for better understanding and insights: 

• Any time you see a figure on the chart or table, you can click on it to filter results based on your selection. For example, if you want to analyze the performance of a specific car type or price range, just select that segment within the dashboard to update all visuals accordingly. 

• Filtering data by different parameters (e.g., quarter) is also possible through Zebra AI's drop-down menus. You can also zoom in and out of charts for easier inspection or take snapshots of particular charts that stand out to add to presentations. 

• Clickable categories within charts allow you to explore further subcategories without reloading the file or writing new instructions. 

• Stakeholders can collaborate on the dashboards directly through shared links, exploring their own questions and hypotheses. 

This level of adaptability bridges the gap between data science professionals and everyday business users. With Zebra AI, you don't need to know how to code -- our AI is trained to understand natural language, so it will be like asking a coworker to help you out. You don't even need super-advanced Excel skills -- all you need is a clean data set and the curiosity to ask the right questions, so you can draw the most effective insight. 

Real-World Sales Applications with Zebra AI 

Transform your sales strategy with targeted, data-driven insights: 

• Regional Sales Analysis: Compare sales across different territories to identify high-performing markets and uncover growth opportunities. 

• Product Line Performance: Evaluate which products are driving revenue and which may need promotional support. 

• Sales Trend Analysis: Track month-over-month or year-over-year sales trends to understand seasonality and forecast future performance. 

• Promotional Impact: Measure the effectiveness of discounts and promotions by analyzing changes in sales figures before, during, and after campaigns. 

Zebra AI vs Copilot vs ChatGPT 

Zebra AI is not the only product that can do data analysis and visualization. 

But (without false modesty), we think it might just be the best. Less generalized than ChatGPT and less siloed than Copilot, Zebra AI was built by business analysts for business analysts. We have 10+ years of experience running Zebra BI (our Excel and Power BI tool for IBCS-compliant data visualization and data analysis.), and we know exactly what "business people" need when it comes to pulling their data together for better reporting and analysis. 

David Fortin from The Piggy Bank Accountant ran a comparison in the video below, you can take a look and see what we had to say, or keep reading for a quick rundown of his main points. 

ChatGPT: flexibility but limited visualization  

Strengths  

• Quick analysis provides rapid breakdowns of data, and it helps answer questions such as "Which products sell best?" or "What are the sales trends?"  

• Customization through prompts, users can guide the AI to dig deeper into specific areas of interest  

• Interactivity offers dynamic features, like interactive charts, to explore the data 

Weaknesses  

• Visual quality chart formatting and visual appeal are basic. Misleading design choices, like cut axes, can distort data interpretation  

• Limited insights though effective at compiling information, the tool often fails to provide actionable recommendations or business strategies  

• Consistency issues colors and chart layouts can vary unpredictably, making it harder to present cohesive visuals 

Overall 

ChatGPT works well for generating initial insights or a quick draft before a meeting. However, it falls short when it comes to creating polished and detailed dashboards.  

Excel AI Extensions (e.g., numerous.ai): familiar but very limited 

Strengths: 

• These tools work within Excel, allowing users to leverage familiar interfaces while benefiting from AI-driven insights. 

• Users can often generate formulas and do data cleaning and content generation by simply describing what they need. 

• Minimal configuration is required, making them ideal for rapid deployment. 

Weaknesses: 

• Do not offer the advanced customization options or deep analytics features found in more specialized platforms. 

• Do not offer interactive visualizations and dashboarding. 

• Can’t extract insights from your data or answer questions. 

• Can’t handle large datasets and pivot tables. 

Zebra AI: a comprehensive dashboard solution  

Strengths  

• Ease of use: Uploading data requires no prompts, and dashboards are generated within seconds  

• Detailed insights: Zebra AI highlights trends, growth drivers, and problem areas, offering actionable advice like focusing on poorly performing regions or products  

• Interactive dashboards: Users can drill down into specific metrics, rearrange visual components, and even export high-quality presentations or Excel files  

• Collaborative features: Dashboards are exportable to PowerPoint or securely shareable with teams, enabling easy collaboration 

Weaknesses  

• Specialized focus: While excellent for sales dashboards, it may not be as flexible for broader data analysis needs (yet! we are working on it, though!) 

Overall 

Zebra AI excels in both quality and usability. Its instantly functional dashboards make it ideal for businesses needing quick, actionable insights with polished visualizations.  

Microsoft Copilot: familiar but clunky  

Strengths  

• Native Excel integration works seamlessly within Excel, allowing users to enhance existing workflows  

• Basic visuals creates simple pivot charts and tables for exploring data trends  

• Acknowledges additional metrics includes analysis for less obvious metrics like customer satisfaction 

Weaknesses  

• Limited insight depth: Copilot focuses heavily on visuals but does not provide actionable advice or strategic recommendations  

• Subpar automation: Generating comprehensive dashboards often requires multiple prompts, and output quality can vary  

• Cluttered formatting: Output can include unnecessary charts or metrics, making the insights harder to distill 

Overall  

Microsoft Copilot is a decent option for those familiar with Excel who need basic visuals. However, it lacks the intuitive design and insightful depth seen in Zebra AI. 

Ready for the Future of Data Analysis? 

Excel remains a powerful tool, but its traditional methods can slow you down. With Zebra AI, you gain a faster, smarter, and more intuitive way to create dynamic dashboards that keep your insights always on point. 

Don’t just take our word for it – experience the power of Zebra AI today. 

Transform your quarterly financial analysis, sales monitoring, and marketing campaign reviews.