The spreadsheet knows the date.
It just never calls.
Excel is the most widely used CRM in the world. But it only takes one forgotten customer to realize that spreadsheets aren't enough. Here's how to recognize that turning point—and how to switch without losing any data.
This is how a spreadsheet dies.
From spreadsheet to Lemnio in an afternoon.
One row = one person or company. Standardize your columns, then save as CSV UTF-8 using "Save As" in the file menu.
Leave dead contacts and duplicates in the spreadsheet. Only active clients and promising inquiries belong in the system.
Assign your 20 most important customers a date and a reason for the next step. From that moment on, your data starts reaching out to you.
CRM instead of spreadsheets
Why every spreadsheet eventually stops being enough
Three warning signs: you’ve stopped opening it (the data is there, but nobody looks at it), multiple versions exist at once (two versions of the truth), and you need the data to alert you automatically—something a spreadsheet simply cannot do by design. Read our step-by-step guide covering the most common mistakes: [How to Switch from Excel to CRM Without Losing Data].
What You Gain Beyond a Spreadsheet
Reminders that trigger automatically. History that a colleague can access even while you're on vacation. A single source of truth for the whole team. And the rule still stands: your data is yours—export it back to CSV anytime.
Questions when leaving the spreadsheet.
Does my sheet have to be perfectly clean?+
No—just align your column headings and save the file as a CSV. You can tidy things up once your data is inside; trying to do a massive cleanup beforehand is the #1 reason migrations never get off the ground.
How much will it cost me to start?+
Our free plan covers 100 companies and 200 contacts forever—more than enough for your initial migration. You only start paying when your business outgrows those limits.
Can I get my data back out?+
Yes, anytime, as a complete CSV export. If Lemnio turns out not to be the right fit, you leave with everything you brought in—plus all the new history you’ve built.
What should I do with my old spreadsheet?+
Stop updating it. Having two sources of truth is worse than having one bad system—commit to the new tool and keep the old spreadsheet purely as a read-only archive.
Trade the spreadsheet for memory.
CSV import in an afternoon. Free plan: 100 companies and 200 contacts forever.