With Jabatix, scenarios are now really fun
Transparent simulations and planning with fewer risks
Excel remains the central planning tool in many finance departments. However, especially in multi-year projects with complex spreadsheet structures, its susceptibility to errors becomes a serious problem. Formula errors often go undetected and are difficult to detect retrospectively. One well-known example is the calculation error in the debt brake, which doctoral student Thomas Herndorn identified in an Excel spreadsheet.
This is precisely where Jabatix comes in: The software extracts all formulas from Excel sheets and transforms them into a clear formula library. The entire calculation logic is thus freed from hidden cell references and is centrally visible, traceable, and verifiable.
The advantages are obvious:
The formula library is flexibly adaptable and expandable.
Instead of confusing cell references, meaningful names such as “Article * 19%” are used.
Changes take effect immediately - one command applies to all worksheets or columns
Without laborious navigation through complex references
The risk of errors is significantly reduced, especially in multi-year simulations and planning. While Excel formulas remain hidden in an opaque web of spreadsheets, Jabatix presents them openly and structured. The final Excel file contains only verified, validated results.
The result: more transparency, fewer sources of error, better traceability - and a clear separation between calculation logic and data representation.
Excel risk under control: How to secure your financial models
Excel is an indispensable part of the everyday work of controllers. It is flexible, powerful, and often the tool of choice for financial models, budgeting, and complex simulations. But this very flexibility also harbors enormous risks: Formula errors, hidden links, or missing data can creep in. Sometimes the consequences are fatal, as the famous case of Reinhart and Rogoff's growth study on national debt demonstrated. A small calculation error in an Excel spreadsheet , discovered years later by a doctoral student, had far-reaching political and economic consequences.
Especially with multi-year simulations, where each period is represented in a separate worksheet, the complexity and thus the risk of errors increases exponentially. Who hasn't experienced this? A formula is changed in one worksheet but not adopted in all the others. Searching for such errors is extremely time-consuming and frustrating.
This is where a new solution comes in: Jabatix . The program offers an innovative approach to eliminating Excel error sources while simultaneously increasing transparency. Jabatix extracts all formulas from an Excel spreadsheet and stores them in a readable formula library. This removes the calculation paths and simulation commands from the "hidden" interior of the spreadsheets and presents them in a transparent, easily understandable format.
The advantages are obvious:
Transparency and traceability: Instead of laboriously checking the formulas in each individual worksheet, all commands are centrally and clearly visible in the error library.
Error prevention: Changes to simulation commands only need to be made once in the formula library. Jabatix then consistently propagates the logic to all relevant periods.
Easy simulations: New commands can be entered directly into the formula library, just like in Excel, making iterative simulations and "what-if" scenarios much easier and faster.
Improved readability: In the formula library, you can use meaningful account names like "Item * 19%" instead of cryptic cell references like "A1*B2." This makes them more intuitive and easier to understand.
With Jabatix, the Excel spreadsheet serves only as a visual interface that displays the results. The actual logic and commands are transparent and immediately visible to any auditor or colleague. This not only builds confidence in your own financial models but also protects against serious errors like those that occurred in the debt brake study. It's time to proactively manage the risks of using Excel and regain control over complex financial models.