Omnichannel

Do It Best stores replaces spreadsheets with no-code database and reaps rewards

Research shows as many as 95% of small retailers use spreadsheets to manage inventory. While spreadsheets are well suited for accounting and basic recordkeeping, they were never designed to function as databases.

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February 20, 2026 by Jeff Kuo — CEO, Ragic

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For many retailers, both large and small, spreadsheets are still the go-to tool for tracking orders, customers, inventory, and sales. In some cases, they're used alongside more advanced technologies like databases. After all, spreadsheets are familiar and accessible, like an old friend, and they're far more affordable than purchasing enterprise software or hiring developers or an in-house IT team to build custom systems.

But that familiarity comes at a cost. As businesses grow, spreadsheets quickly become unwieldy. These applications don't integrate well with other systems, and over time, retailers often find themselves juggling dozens of files, each tracking a different process, with little visibility into how the data connects.

Spreadsheets were the key way to track business for many years for the Do It Best Corp chain of stores, a home improvement chain found in many states throughout the U.S., as well as in 57 countries worldwide.

While the chain had an IT team, spreadsheets were developed to track nearly every aspect of the business. In fact, the entirety of data used in the store design project management was stored in Excel, which included member data, contact information, pivotal project dates, and more.

John Sargent, a long-time Do It Best manager, was in charge of the design and project team for the chain, understood this and knew that there needed to be a better way to digitize and automate processes.

He continuously wrestled with an unruly process as the entirety of data used in store design project management was stored in spreadsheets: member data, contact information, and pivotal project dates. To generate reports, Sargent and his team had to merge dozens of spreadsheets each mont h— a horrendously long and error-prone process.

Any minor changes Sargent and his team wanted to make in the system meant getting help from the IT team. This was not easy as it meant the store design team would need to secure help from them days prior, and the whole process was several days in the making.

Gradually, the IT team implemented a legacy CRM software system to track basic project data, as well as Microsoft Access for project expense tracking.

However, any minor changes in the system workflow would require help from their IT team, which was easier said than done. Often, the store design team would need to secure help from them days prior, and the whole process would take even longer to complete.

This made everything harder.

The problem when spreadsheets are used the wrong way

Research shows that as many as 95% of small businesses, including retailers, use spreadsheets to manage processes such as inventory. While spreadsheets are well suited for accounting and basic record keeping, they were never designed to function as databases. As a result, organizations often face data silos, inconsistencies, and degradation as information is copied, reworked, and stored across multiple files.

Critically, spreadsheets can't easily generate real-time inventory reports or connect customer data to purchasing behavior to deliver meaningful analytics. That lack of insight limits a retailer's ability to understand what's selling, who's buying, and where opportunities or risks may lie.

When different team members create spreadsheets based on their own formats and preferences, managers often spend significant time consolidating data, which can lead to manual errors and raise concerns about data accuracy. scalability issues, as spreadsheets are not designed to handle the amount of data that a database can host.

The turning point: Discovering a no code database solution

Sargent eventually learned from the IT team that the current system was going to be retired due to the software being phased out. This left John and his team no choice but to find a place to migrate their data in the shortest time possible.

Sargent looked extensively at many software program options. Eventually, he and his team landed on Ragic, a no-code, spreadsheet-like DIY online database builder. Using a no-code system checked off a lot of boxes, including having a good support system, the ability to back up data, and being affordably priced.

Most importantly, the platform would allow them to make any needed changes to the system without involving the IT team.

However, Sargent had only a minimal background in databases. Thanks to the platform being no-code, he was able to learn how to build a database application and developed the ideal workflow from scratch through the software's database design documents, tutorial videos, and webinars.

Any time he encountered difficulties, especially when implementing formulas, which can be tricky, he simply asked for assistance from the customer support team, and his questions were swiftly answered.

The flexibility to model and remodel the database without any help from the IT team

Initially, Sargent utilized the platform to house basic project tracking data, but soon Sargent's manager asked him to build a project expense tracking application and merge the two previously separate data sets into a single place.

By just creating new tabs and sheets in their database, Sargent and his team were able to add new sections and categories to store different sets of data, then link them together — all without the help of the IT team, which saved both time and budget.

Quick and precise data search

Store owners may have several design projects over a period of time. In the main project database, the team used Ragic's search and filter tools to quickly search for specific data of a particular member, no matter when the data was added to the database. John and his team just needed to add in certain criteria, such as the project number, the member's store name, and year of project commencement.

In addition, searching for information on expenses spent for specific projects was easy and efficient.

Centralized data management to promote collaborative work

The new database allowed the Do It Best design team members from all over the globe to collaborate on various store design projects. The database became a central location to keep the global team updated on all the latest project news, as well as the ability to manage and sync project data.

One set of data for multiple functionalities

Ragic sheets serve as the building blocks of the database, allowing users to customize and expand functionality by modifying or adding components to each sheet's design. As more sheets are created and linked together, the database naturally grows in both size and sophistication.

Using this approach, Sargent was able to create multiple versions of the same sheets and then duplicate the layouts while maintaining a single source of truth for the data. Each version could be configured to display different data sets or assigned unique access permissions for different users, all without altering the underlying data, since every view is pulled from the same centralized database.

The team leveraged this flexibility to quickly generate tailored reports. One sheet version might be used to produce a comprehensive monthly project performance report, while others would generate more focused views, such as monthly sales, billing, or market potential reports.

For the past five years, the Do it Best Stores team has continuously built and expanded this no-code database to support store operations and design efforts around the world. Now the critical data is integrated into one single database and easily modified and analyzed when needed.

Ultimately, the Do it Best Stores team was able to demonstrate how no-code technology can bridge the gap between rigid enterprise systems and the limitations of spreadsheets. By building a centralized, flexible database, the team gained the ability to scale operations, tailor reporting, and maintain a single source of truth, all without the complexity or cost of traditional software development. Five years in, with more than 30 users relying on the system daily, the database continues to evolve alongside the business, proving that no-code platforms can deliver both long-term durability and operational agility.

About Jeff Kuo

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