How to Calculate SLA Date in Excel with Writing Patterns Using
In today’s fast-paced business environment, meeting service level agreements (SLAs) is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and keeping your business running smoothly. An SLA typically specifies the timeframe within which a service request must be completed, and failing to meet this deadline can result in penalties or even the loss of a customer.
In this article, we will guide you on how to calculate SLA date in Excel with writing patterns using Excel functions and formulas. By following these steps, you can ensure that your service requests are completed within the agreed-upon timeframe and avoid any potential penalties.
Determining the Start Date and Required Timeframe
The first step in calculating SLA date in Excel is to determine the start date of your SLA. This is typically the date when the service request was received. Once you have determined the start date, you need to determine the number of business days required to complete the task. This is typically defined in the SLA agreement.
Using the WORKDAY Function
To calculate the SLA date, you can use the WORKDAY function in Excel. This function returns a date that is a specified number of working days (excluding weekends and holidays) before or after a given start date. To use the WORKDAY function, you need to specify the start date, the number of working days, and any holidays that should be excluded.
For example, if you want to calculate the SLA date for a task that takes 3 business days and you want to exclude the holidays on July 4th and December 25th, you can use the following formula:
=WORKDAY(start_date, 3, {{“7/4/2022”,“12/25/2022”}}).
Using the WORKDAY.INTL Function
If your SLA requires you to complete the task in a certain number of hours instead of days, you can use the WORKDAY.INTL function instead. This function allows you to specify the number of working hours per day and any days of the week that should be treated as weekends.
To use the WORKDAY.INTL function, you need to specify the start date, the number of working hours, and any weekends or holidays that should be excluded.
For example, if you want to calculate the SLA date for a task that takes 16 working hours and you want to exclude Saturdays and Sundays, you can use the following formula:
=WORKDAY.INTL(start_date, 16/24, 1, {“Saturday”,“Sunday”}, {{“7/4/2022”,“12/25/2022”}}).
Using the NETWORKDAYS Function
Another way to calculate SLA date in Excel is by using the NETWORKDAYS function. This function calculates the number of working days between two dates (excluding weekends and any holidays that you specify).
To use the NETWORKDAYS function to calculate the SLA date, you need to first determine the end date of the SLA (which is the start date plus the number of working days required to complete the task). Then, you can use the NETWORKDAYS function to calculate the number of working days between the start date and the end date, excluding any weekends or holidays.
For example, if you want to calculate the SLA date for a task that takes 3 business days and you want to exclude the holidays on July 4th and December 25th, you can use the following formula:
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, {{“7/4/2022”,“12/25/2022”}}).
Calculating SLA Date for a Specified Number of Hours
If your SLA requires you to complete the task in a certain number of hours instead of days, you can use a combination of the NETWORKDAYS function and the TIME function to calculate the SLA date.
First, you need to calculate the end date and time of the SLA (which is the start date plus the number of working hours required to complete the task). Then, you can use the NETWORKDAYS function to calculate the number of working days between the start date and the end date, excluding any weekends or holidays. Finally, you can use the TIME function to calculate the time of day when the task should be completed.
For example, if you want to calculate the SLA date for a task that takes 16 working hours and you want to exclude Saturdays and Sundays, you can use the following formula:
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date-1/24, {{“Saturday”,“Sunday”},{holidays}})+IF(NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date-1/24, {{“Saturday”,“Sunday”},{holidays}})=0,0,IF(TIME(hour(end_date),minute(end_date),second(end_date))<TIME(16,0,0),TIME(hour(end_date),minute(end_date),second(end_date)),TIME(16,0,0))).
Using Conditional Formatting to Highlight Overdue Tasks
Once you have calculated the SLA date using one of the above functions, you can use Excel’s conditional formatting feature to highlight any overdue tasks. For example, you can set a rule to highlight any cells where the SLA date is earlier than the current date.
To create a conditional formatting rule in Excel, select the cells that you want to format, then go to the Home tab and click on the Conditional Formatting button. Choose the Highlight Cell Rules option and then select Less Than from the dropdown menu. In the value box, enter TODAY() to reference the current date. Choose the format that you want to apply to the cells and then click OK.
Tracking SLAs in Excel
In addition to calculating the SLA date, you can also use Excel to track the status of your SLAs. For example, you can create a table that lists all of your service requests and their corresponding SLAs. You can then use Excel’s filters and sorting capabilities to view and manage your SLAs based on various criteria (such as status, priority, or due date).
To create a table in Excel, select your data range and go to the Insert tab. Click on the Table button and choose the table style that you want to use. Make sure that the My table has headers option is selected and then click OK.
Once you have created your table, you can use Excel’s filtering feature to display only the data that you want to see. To apply a filter in Excel, click on the filter dropdown arrow in the column header and select the criteria that you want to use. You can also use the sort feature to arrange your data in ascending or descending order based on a specific column.
In conclusion, calculating SLA date in Excel can be done using several functions and formulas. By tracking your SLAs in Excel, you can easily manage your service requests and ensure that they are completed within the agreed-upon timeframe. You can also use Excel’s conditional formatting, filtering, and sorting features to monitor the status of your SLAs and prioritize your tasks accordingly.
