Excel is where almost every matchmaking business starts. It's free, familiar, and fine for the first handful of clients. Here's exactly where it starts to break down — and what changes with dedicated software.
| Feature | Matchdiary | Spreadsheets & Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Client privacy | Private by default, never shared with other matchmakers | Just a file — as private or as exposed as wherever it's stored/shared |
| Sharing profiles with families | One curated album link per family | Manually forwarding photos and PDFs one at a time |
| Tracking who's seen what | Built-in status per profile, per family | A tab, a colour code, or a note you have to remember to update |
| Automatic match suggestions | Two-way compatible suggestions surfaced automatically | Manual cross-referencing, entirely by hand |
| Catching enquiries | Centralised leads inbox | Scattered across calls, messages, and memory |
| Letting someone else help | Staff access with permission controls | They need your entire mental map first |
| A second spreadsheet doesn't fix this — the knowledge still lives in your head. | ||
| What happens if the file is lost or shared by mistake | Encrypted, access-controlled, backed up | Gone, or exposed — however it was saved |
Isn't Excel free, though?
It is — and for two or three clients, that's a perfectly reasonable place to start. The cost shows up later, in mixed-up biodata, missed follow-ups, and hours spent manually cross-checking who's seen what.
Can I import my existing spreadsheet into Matchdiary?
Yes — matchmakers commonly bring their existing client list over when they switch. Reach out and we'll help with the move.