The real magic is how quickly innovation begets innovation, as decision makers are given an "awesome" new tool that allows thinking outside the box. Then the focus turns squarely toward improving the flow of information, outside of classic Information Technology constraints.
The question is no longer "how to input xx into a spreadsheet". It is how best to track the number of bolts in bin 21.
DRY
The old database mantra of DRY, Don't Repeat Yourself, comes to mind immediately.
The current, soon to be classic way, repeat yourself. Buy everyone a spreadsheet, teach everyone how to use a spreadsheet. Try to figure out a way they can all collaborate with their spreadsheets.
The new way, real time updates of just the critical piece of information needed.
Information transfer can now be in the simplest formats for provider and consumer. Use email or a lightweight Web form. Fill it out just in time. Post it wherever needed on the network. The information is immediately available, has traveled the shortest path to get there, and is not duplicated elsewhere.
From that point, with all info digital, data is easily archived, searched, and transferred as needed. Data management finally gets simpler than pen and paper, instead of so complex that nobody knows for sure what the heck is going on.
Data as data.
Use plain text, an email, a video chat, whatever works for the worker .
Some of the financially oriented types may still want to put some of this data into a spreadsheet. Nothing wrong with that.
But there is no longer a need to force everyone into learning and using spreadsheets just because that is the only thing the financial types understand.
There is no longer a need for archaic duplications of user interfaces, softwares, training. Productivity gains should be noticeable, as the burden of artificially imposed data management practices is lifted from the shoulders of people who just want to do their jobs.
We will look back on these days and wonder how people ever got anything done. All the time wasted working on computers, when all that was needed was the right devices and some architectural information management.