Excel - OpenText File 360 Integration and Automation

Common Integration Use Cases Between Microsoft Excel and OpenText File 360

1. Secure external distribution of Excel-based reports and templates

Business teams can generate financial reports, pricing sheets, inventory summaries, or product templates in Microsoft Excel and publish them through OpenText File 360 for controlled sharing with suppliers, distributors, auditors, or regional teams. File 360 provides secure access, expiration controls, and audit trails, reducing the risk of sending sensitive spreadsheets through email or consumer file-sharing tools.

• Data flow: Microsoft Excel to OpenText File 360
• Business value: safer external collaboration and better governance over sensitive spreadsheets

2. Controlled collection of bulk update files from business users

Teams responsible for product data, pricing, or master data can distribute standardized Excel templates through OpenText File 360, allowing internal or external contributors to download, complete, and upload files in a governed workspace. This supports structured bulk updates while maintaining version control and access restrictions.

• Data flow: OpenText File 360 to Microsoft Excel and back to OpenText File 360
• Business value: faster data collection with fewer template errors and less manual chasing of files

3. Secure collaboration on reconciliations and exception analysis

Finance, operations, and supply chain teams often use Excel to reconcile data from multiple systems, identify exceptions, and annotate findings. Storing these working files in OpenText File 360 enables controlled collaboration across departments and with external partners while preserving file history and auditability.

• Data flow: Bi-directional
• Business value: improved cross-team coordination and traceability during review cycles

4. Governed sharing of product catalog and PIM support files

Merchandising, product operations, and suppliers can use Excel to prepare product attributes, pricing updates, and catalog enrichment files before sharing them through OpenText File 360. This is especially useful when multiple stakeholders need to review or approve spreadsheet-based product data before it is loaded into downstream systems.

• Data flow: Microsoft Excel to OpenText File 360
• Business value: more secure product data exchange and reduced risk of unauthorized edits

5. Version-controlled review of planning and forecasting workbooks

Planning teams frequently maintain complex Excel workbooks for budgeting, demand forecasting, and inventory planning. OpenText File 360 can serve as the controlled repository for these files, allowing reviewers to access the latest version, compare revisions, and collaborate without relying on uncontrolled email attachments.

• Data flow: Bi-directional
• Business value: fewer version conflicts and better governance over planning artifacts

6. Secure partner delivery of operational spreadsheets

Organizations can use Excel to produce operational files such as shipment schedules, service reports, or compliance checklists and share them with partners through OpenText File 360. This supports recurring business processes where external parties need access to spreadsheet outputs but should not receive open-ended file access.

• Data flow: Microsoft Excel to OpenText File 360
• Business value: reliable partner communication with stronger access control and audit logging

7. Centralized storage for Excel-based audit and compliance evidence

Compliance, internal audit, and legal teams often rely on Excel to compile evidence, control logs, and review trackers. OpenText File 360 can store these workbooks in a secure, searchable, and auditable environment, making it easier to support regulatory reviews and internal control testing.

• Data flow: Microsoft Excel to OpenText File 360
• Business value: improved evidence management and reduced compliance risk

8. Secure exchange of analytical workbooks between headquarters and regional teams

Headquarters teams can distribute Excel dashboards, KPI trackers, and analysis files to regional offices through OpenText File 360, while regional teams return updated workbooks using the same governed channel. This creates a consistent process for sharing sensitive business data across locations and organizational boundaries.

• Data flow: Bi-directional
• Business value: standardized reporting exchange and stronger control over distributed analytics