Excel is everywhere. From finance teams tracking budgets to salespeople building reports, most employees use spreadsheets weekly. But here’s the issue: many users only scratch the surface. They waste time with manual work, make critical formula errors, or don’t know how to use built-in features like PivotTables, conditional formatting, or data validation.
That creates inefficiencies for clients—and an opportunity for MSPs. Instead of waiting for tickets about Excel mishaps, MSPs can offer Microsoft Excel training as a built-in service. The right kind of training makes end users faster, more confident, and less dependent on support desks.
Why Excel Training Still Matters
Even with automation and AI on the rise, Excel is a core skill in business. But training hasn’t kept pace. Most users either:
- Never had proper training at all
- Rely on outdated knowledge
- Use time-consuming workarounds
This leads to slow workflows, broken files, and unnecessary IT requests. According to Forrester, 81% of workers say they rely on spreadsheets, yet only 12% consider themselves advanced users. For MSPs, that gap translates to support tickets and time wasted.
What Free Excel Training Gets You (and What It Doesn’t)
A lot of free Microsoft Excel online training exists. YouTube, LinkedIn Learning trials, and even Microsoft’s own support site offer helpful tutorials. But free training has major limitations:
- No tracking or progress data
- No consistency across teams
- No role-specific or industry-specific content
- No easy way to verify completion
Free courses are fine for self-starters. But most employees need structured, repeatable, and managed training—especially when they’re using Excel for business-critical tasks.
Is Excel training worth it for small businesses?
Yes. A single formula error can throw off an entire report or decision. With the right training, small teams get more done with fewer mistakes—and MSPs get fewer support calls.
Can Excel training reduce IT support workload?
Definitely. Common support tickets like “my spreadsheet won’t calculate” or “I lost all my data” often stem from user mistakes. Training cuts these down significantly.
Excel Training That MSPs Can Offer Through ClipTraining
ClipTraining gives MSPs a platform to deliver structured Excel training at scale. It works as a client-facing solution with built-in:
- Self-paced video lessons (short, focused, no fluff)
- Excel content from beginner to advanced
- Quizzes to reinforce learning
- Reporting dashboards to track progress
- Optional certifications for users
Training isn’t just about what’s taught—it’s about proving it happened. ClipTraining lets MSPs show their clients:
- Which users completed Excel courses
- What skills were covered
- Where more help may be needed
This makes training a deliverable, not just a suggestion.
What About On-Site Excel Training?
In-person Excel workshops can work—but they’re expensive, hard to scale, and tough to schedule. A remote or hybrid team makes in-person sessions even harder. Instead of fighting calendars, ClipTraining lets every employee access Excel lessons anytime, anywhere.
You can still supplement ClipTraining with live Q&A sessions or office hours if needed. But for day-to-day skill building, digital delivery is more practical and scalable.
How to Position Excel Training in Your MSP Offering
Training doesn’t need to be a separate SKU. Instead, include it in your managed services package. Here’s how:
- Bundle Excel training into onboarding: Every new hire gets immediate access to Excel fundamentals.
- Run a quarterly training report: Show your client which departments are improving and where to focus next.
- Offer certifications: Some clients may want basic user certifications to ensure internal consistency.
- Tie training to outcomes: Show how reducing Excel-related tickets saves money or time.
Offering Excel training isn’t just a nice-to-have. It saves time, reduces support tickets, and makes your MSP service more valuable. Free training has its place, but structured, trackable training through ClipTraining gives your clients what they actually need: better-skilled employees and fewer problems.
Want to add Excel training to your service stack without extra work? Schedule a demo with ClipTraining and see how you can roll out high-impact training across your entire client base in minutes.