Excel remains essential for payroll verification despite system adoption

A survey by LayerX reveals that 86.6% of payroll professionals in Japan still rely on Microsoft Excel alongside dedicated payroll systems. The primary reason for this continued use is the need for manual verification; 45% of respondents use Excel to cross-check calculation results, while 89.4% perform manual checks before finalizing payroll data. This reliance stems from system limitations, such as the inability to manage historical data or handle specific timing for employee changes like salary increases or address updates.

In response to the challenges of manual data management, new methodologies involving AI tools like Claude Cowork are being introduced to automate repetitive tasks. These methods focus on aggregating disparate Excel files with varying formats, visualizing KPIs, and generating reports. By using AI to consolidate data and interpret trends, businesses aim to reduce the time spent on manual transcription and formatting, allowing staff to focus on higher-level analysis.