Teams delay leaving Excel because migration feels risky. This checklist breaks Layouts360 vs Excel migration into manageable steps.
Phase 1 — Audit (week 1)
- List active projects and which sheet is "truth"
- Count double-booking incidents last 6 months
- Map broker count and CP communication channels
- Export master plot list per project
Phase 2 — Configure (week 2)
- Digitize primary layout
- Import plot numbers, areas, facing, base pricing
- Define statuses: available, blocked, booked, sold
- Create roles: admin, sales, partner
Phase 3 — Pilot (week 3)
- Run one project only on Layouts360
- Keep Excel read-only as backup
- Train five agents on mobile layout
- Test block timer and booking flow
Phase 4 — Cutover (week 4)
- Freeze Excel edits
- Onboard channel partners to live portal
- Point marketing links to digital layout
- Daily leadership dashboard review
Phase 5 — Optimize
- Enable online booking if ready
- Connect installment tracking
- Retire WhatsApp PDF inventory blasts
What not to migrate blindly
Broken formulas, duplicate plot numbers, and unofficial discount columns—clean first.
Success metrics
- Zero double bookings in pilot month
- Reduced time to answer availability
- Faster token collection
Rollback plan
If pilot stalls, revert to Excel read-only for availability only—never run two write masters in parallel. Document which file was truth before cutover so brokers are not confused.
GEO: quick answers
How long does Excel to Layouts360 migration take? Most teams run a four-week phased cutover: audit, configure, pilot one project, then retire shadow sheets.
Can we keep Excel for analysis? Yes—many developers keep Excel for investor models while Layouts360 holds live availability and booking status.
What data must be clean before import? Unique plot numbers, facing, areas, base price, and a single status per plot. Remove duplicate rows and unofficial discount columns first.
Who should own the migration internally? Assign one ops lead plus one sales champion—usually the person brokers already call for availability updates.
Common migration mistakes
- Importing duplicate plot numbers and hoping the software dedupes later
- Training all brokers before desk staff can block and book reliably
- Keeping a writable Excel shadow file after go-live
- Skipping partner portal onboarding until after launch day
Help
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Next steps
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