Spreadsheets are a very powerful tool for analysing numerical data. Custom-written spreadsheets are available to process and analyse data. One advantage of spreadsheets is that they can show numerical information graphically. Humans are much better at absorbing information presented graphically than they are at absorbing text information. To demonstrate, which of the following two overhead transparencies is easier to interpret.
Most spreadsheets incorporate powerful statistical tools enabling statistical analysis of data.
Spreadsheets can also be used to store data but they are not as powerful as relational databases. Other forms of decision support systems are expert systems. These are powerful but expensive tools. They are especially useful when it is necessary to document the judgmental processes. In accounting, expert systems are used in auditing to help make judgment decisions on the level of substantive testing required.