Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify tasks that are suitable for automation. 
• Record, run, and manage macros confidently. 
• Automate repetitive formatting and reporting tasks. 
• Use Power Query to streamline recurring reports. 
• Create one-click reporting systems. 
• Understand basic VBA logic and make simple edits. 
• Build reusable templates and workflow structures. 
• Apply AI tools within Excel to improve productivity. 

Session Agenda

Module 1: The Automation Mindset

Key principle:

If a task is performed more than twice, it should be reviewed for possible automation.

Topics Covered:

• Why professionals lose time on repetitive tasks 
• Identifying automation opportunities in daily work 
• Understanding which Excel tasks can and cannot be automated 
• Shifting from manual processing to structured workflows 

Module 2: Macros for Non-Programmers

Topics Covered:

• What a macro is and how it works 
• Practical business uses of macros 
• Recording simple macros 
• Running macros safely 
• Automating repetitive formatting tasks 
• Assigning macros to buttons for easier use 

Module 3: Practical VBA Essentials

Topics Covered:

• Understanding VBA without fear 
• Navigating the VBA editor 
• Making simple practical edits to recorded macros 
• Understanding basic VBA logic 
• Useful commands for common Excel automation tasks 
• Avoiding common macro and VBA errors 

Module 4: Power Query for Automation

Why Power Query is a game changer:

Power Query allows users to automate data cleaning, consolidation, and transformation tasks that are often repeated manually.

Core skills covered:

• Importing data from a folder 
• Combining multiple files 
• Cleaning columns automatically 
• Removing blank rows and unnecessary data 
• Appending monthly reports 
• Refreshing reports with one click 

Module 5: One-Click Reporting Systems

Topics Covered:

• Building a structured reporting flow 
• Automating report outputs 
• Creating repeatable reporting processes 
• Linking cleaned data to summaries and dashboards 
• Designing reports that refresh with minimal manual intervention 
• Applying standard operating logic to Excel reporting 

Module 6: Smart Templates and Controls

Topics covered:

• Creating locked formula cells 
• Designing input-only areas 
• Using drop-down forms and data validation 
• Building error-prevention sheets 
• Creating reusable business templates 
• Protecting template structure while allowing user input

Module 7: AI and Excel Future Productivity

New era skills covered:

• Overview of Copilot in Excel 
• AI-assisted formula writing 
• Using AI for pattern detection 
• Generating natural language insights from data 
• Faster chart and visualisation suggestions 
• Understanding how AI can support, but not replace, good Excel structure 

Module 8: Final Challenge and Wrap-Up

Participants will apply the techniques learned during the session by selecting one recurring workplace task and redesigning it using automation principles.

Final Practical Challenge:

Participants will redesign a recurring Excel task using one or more of the following:

• Macro 
• Power Query 
• Smart template 
• Dashboard 
• Automation logic