Venturis vs Excel/Legacy
From Spreadsheets to an Allocator Grade System
Spreadsheets are flexible and familiar—but they struggle when allocator teams need audit linked data, commitment pacing, liquidity scenarios, and repeatable board reporting across many entities. Here's a practical comparison to decide when to level up.
When to move beyond Excel
- You maintain multiple versions of the truth across email/OneDrive.
- Quarter end closes gate forecasts for weeks; mid quarter updates aren't feasible.
- Board/IC packs take days, and exposure/mandate breaches are found late.
- You ingest documents from LP portals and rekey data manually.
Side by Side Comparison
| Capability | Venturis | Excel / Legacy Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Data lineage & auditability | End to end lineage from document - data - forecast; immutable audit links | Cell level changes not attributable; comments & track changes are manual and lossy |
| Version control | Single source with roles & history | File sprawl (v1 v9 FINAL), links break, hard to reconcile |
| Commitment pacing & portfolio construction | Native engine (commitment plans, J curve, Monte Carlo, policy limits) | Custom formulas & tabs; high maintenance; fragile when adding scenarios |
| Liquidity & cash flow modeling | Calls/dists runway, LOC vs cash, stress tests | Possible but manual and error prone; difficult for multi entity rollups |
| Mid quarter LP portal ingestion | Automated capture/normalization - forecasts auto update; NAV variance checks | Manual download/rekey; updates lag until quarter end |
| Exposures & mandate alerts | Strategy/sector/geo exposures; drift/breach alerts | Manual pivots/conditional formats; breaches often detected late |
| Reporting (IC/Board) | One click packs; consistent entity rollups (investor, fund, portfolio) | Copy/paste to decks; inconsistent, time consuming, error risk |
| Collaboration & permissions | Role based access, review flows, segregation by client/entity | Ad hoc sharing; risk of overexposure/overwrite |
| Security & compliance | Bank grade permissions, audit logs | Workbook passwords & share links; hard to evidence controls |
| Time to value | Prebuilt allocator models; quick pilots | Fast for one off analysis; slow/fragile at scale |
| Total cost of ownership | Predictable SaaS + time saved; fewer errors | License is cheap; people time (ops, FP&A) expensive |
What spreadsheets are still great for
- Ad hoc analysis and quick prototypes
- Small, low frequency programs with limited entities
- Exploratory modeling before operationalizing in Venturis
Typical migration path (4–8 weeks)
- 1Scope: choose 1–2 portfolios and 3–4 critical reports (pacing, liquidity, exposures, IC pack).
- 2Map: import current Excel logic; reconcile results.
- 3Automate: connect LP portal ingestion and standard data packs.
- 4Roll out: publish role based dashboards and board reports; retire redundant sheets.
FAQs
Q1. Can we keep some models in Excel?
Yes—Venturis coexists with Excel. Keep your sandbox models in excel; operational forecasts and reporting live in Venturis.
Q2. How do we ensure numbers match our legacy workbooks?
During onboarding, we run side by side reconciliations and lock methods; audit links confirm sources.
Q3. Can Venturis export back to Excel/PowerPoint?
Yes—scheduled extracts and one click board decks; analysts can still slice in Excel and paste visuals into IC packs.
Q4. Do we need to change the GL?
No. Venturis sits alongside existing accounting systems; it references source documents and operational data.
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