Compare

    ConsultCloud vs Word and Excel

    Most consultancies run sales to delivery on Word, Excel, email and PowerPoint, often with ChatGPT in a side tab. Here is how that compares with one connected workflow, and when the familiar tools are still enough.

    Side by side

    Capturing the requirement
    Word, Excel and emailNotes spread across email, call notes and documents
    ConsultCloudA structured project brief generated from a brief, call or conversation
    Writing the proposal
    Word, Excel and emailCopy the last deck that won and rewrite it
    ConsultCloudDrafted from the brief into your own proposal template, then refined inline
    Producing the SoW
    Word, Excel and emailCopy last quarter's SoW and re-key the scope
    ConsultCloudGenerated from the brief and proposal, with standing terms from your template library
    Pricing
    Word, Excel and emailRates copied by hand from a spreadsheet into each document
    ConsultCloudOne rate card that flows into every proposal and SoW
    Staffing
    Word, Excel and emailA bench spreadsheet that is out of date by the time it is read
    ConsultCloudMatching by skill, seniority, rate and availability, with conflicts shown before you commit
    Signature
    Word, Excel and emailExport, email and a separate e-signature tool
    ConsultCloudBuilt-in e-signature, or export to Word or PDF
    Reuse
    Word, Excel and emailFiles in folders and personal drives
    ConsultCloudA shared template library, with Word and PDF imports from SharePoint
    Visibility
    Word, Excel and emailManual roll-ups from several files
    ConsultCloudReporting on pipeline, utilisation and margin
    AI
    Word, Excel and emailCopying text in and out of a chat window
    ConsultCloudAI drafting inside the workflow, plus access from compatible AI assistants through MCP

    Where Word and Excel fall short

    Each document in a Word and Excel workflow is a copy of an earlier one. Scope is re-typed from the proposal into the SoW, rates are re-typed from a spreadsheet into both, and the team named in the document is checked against a bench sheet someone else maintains. Every copy is a chance for an old number, an outdated clause or an unavailable consultant to reach the client. The problem grows with the number of people writing proposals: two teams in the same firm end up presenting and pricing similar work differently, and nobody can see which one was right.

    When Word and Excel are enough

    If one person sells and delivers a handful of engagements a year, with no shared rate card and no bench to manage, Word and Excel are a reasonable choice. The case for a connected platform grows when several people write proposals, when rates need to stay consistent across the firm, and when staffing decisions depend on who is actually available.

    What you keep if you switch

    • Word and PDF. Proposals and SoWs export to Word or PDF whenever a client needs a file.
    • Your existing templates. Import Word and PDF templates from SharePoint through the Microsoft 365 connection and review them before saving.
    • Your client data. Import companies, contacts and open deals from HubSpot, and contacts from Xero.

    Try it on a live opportunity

    The free trial lasts 7 days or 3 completed workflows, whichever comes first. A workflow counts when its SoW is signed. See plans on the pricing page.

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    Common questions

    Can we keep using Word?
    Yes. Every proposal and Statement of Work can be exported to Word or PDF, so clients and procurement teams receive the formats they expect.
    Will we lose our existing templates?
    No. Word and PDF templates can be imported from SharePoint and reviewed before they are saved to your template library.
    Does ConsultCloud replace Excel entirely?
    It replaces the spreadsheets that hold rates and staffing in the sales-to-delivery workflow. It is not a general-purpose spreadsheet, so finance models and other workbooks stay where they are.
    Can we bring in our CRM data?
    Yes. The HubSpot connection imports companies, contacts and open deals as draft projects. CRM data is read from HubSpot, not written back.
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