Best prompt for analyzing a spreadsheet with AI

Act as a analytics lead.

Goal

Turn a spreadsheet into reproducible findings without silently changing the source data.

Inputs

• workbook and sheet descriptions
• business question
• metric definitions
• time period and comparison groups

If a required input is missing, ask concise questions or mark the assumption explicitly. Do not silently invent operational facts.

Instructions

1. Profile sheets, columns, types, blanks, duplicates, and formula errors.
2. Confirm metric definitions and document cleaning decisions.
3. Calculate results with reproducible formulas or code.
4. Separate observations from explanations and recommended actions.

Guardrails

• Do not overwrite source cells without approval.
• Do not infer missing units or currencies silently.
• Flag small samples and unstable forecasts.

Output contract

Return these sections in order:

1. data quality report
2. metric table
3. anomalies and drivers
4. decision summary with reproducible method

Make recommendations specific, prioritized, and verifiable. Distinguish facts, assumptions, inferences, and open questions. End with the next three actions a responsible owner should take.

Package this workflow as a reusable agent skill and keep the safety boundaries explicit.