Connect Excel directly to your database. No more manual exports.
If your team is exporting CSV files and importing them into Excel every time they need fresh data, there is a better way. We connect Excel directly to SQL databases — SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle and more — so your reports always reflect live data with a single click refresh.
Book a free consultationData access problems we solve
Manual data extraction issues common across NZ businesses.
Exporting data from the database to CSV and importing into Excel manually each time
Reports that are always one step behind because the data refresh is a manual process
Data analysts writing reports from stale extracts rather than live data
Multiple teams pulling the same data separately and getting different numbers
No way for Excel to write processed results back to a database for other systems to use
IT requests needed every time someone wants a new data extract
Excel SQL integration projects
Live database connections built for New Zealand businesses.
Live GL Reporting in Excel
Excel connects directly to the general ledger database via Power Query — finance team refreshes reports in one click without IT involvement.
Production Dashboard from ERP Database
VBA queries the ERP SQL database, pulls current production data and updates a formatted Excel dashboard that refreshes every morning automatically.
Claims Analysis Tool
Excel connected to the claims database via ADO — analysts can run custom queries from dropdown filters in Excel without writing SQL.
Stock and Sales Reporting
Power Query connects to the retail management SQL database, joins stock and sales tables and loads a pivot-ready dataset — replaces daily manual CSV extraction.
How we work
From database access to live connected reports.
Database and requirements review
- Understand the database structure, version and access method
- Identify tables, views and queries required
- Agree connection method: Power Query, VBA/ADO or linked tables
Deliverable: Connection spec with query design, access approach and refresh mechanism.
Build and optimise
- Connection built and queries written — parameterised and efficient
- Tested for performance with production data volumes
- Error handling for connection failures and permission issues
Security, documentation and handover
- Connection credentials secured appropriately
- User guide for the refresh process
- IT documentation for network and firewall configuration
Excel SQL integration across New Zealand
We build Excel to SQL integrations for businesses throughout New Zealand — Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and beyond. We work with on-premise and cloud SQL environments and coordinate with your IT team on access, firewall and ODBC configuration. Our integrations are used in finance, insurance, energy, retail, logistics and government organisations across New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Which databases can Excel connect to?
Excel can connect to SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, Azure SQL, Amazon RDS, Google BigQuery and others via Power Query, ODBC, OLE DB or ADO connections. We advise on the right connection method for your specific database and environment.
Is it secure to connect Excel directly to a database?
Yes, when configured correctly. We use connection strings with least-privilege database accounts, recommend read-only access for reporting connections, and can configure connections to use Windows Authentication rather than stored passwords. We document the security approach for your IT team.
Can Excel write data back to a SQL database?
Yes. Using VBA with ADO connections, Excel can insert, update or delete records in a database. This is useful for data entry tools where validated data needs to flow back into a central system.
Will a live database connection slow Excel down?
A well-designed connection uses parameterised queries that return only the data needed — this is generally faster than loading a full CSV export. We optimise queries for performance and test on your data volumes before delivery.
Our database is on-premise — can we still connect?
Yes. On-premise SQL connections are standard. We confirm the network path, firewall rules and ODBC driver requirements with your IT team during scoping.
Ready to connect Excel to your database?
Tell us about your database environment and reporting needs — we will scope the connection approach.
Book a free consultationLet's talk about what you need
Big or small, we are happy to discuss it. Send us a message or book a free discovery call — we typically respond same business day.
What happens next
- 1
We review your enquiry and reach out to discuss your requirements — no commitment needed.
- 2
We provide a no-obligation quote and estimated delivery timeframe.
- 3
Once agreed, we build in stages and keep you updated throughout.