ForgeSuite Excel Add-ins

ForgeSuite is Prairie Forge's collection of customizable Excel Add-ins designed to streamline accounting, payroll, and financial operations workflows. Each ForgeSuite implementation is uniquely built based on customer requirements and business processes.

Unlike off-the-shelf software, ForgeSuite Add-ins are 100% customizable solutions developed by Prairie Forge in collaboration with our customers. While builds may share components or modules from our library, each implementation is tailored to your specific needs and workflows.

Excel Add-ins are software extensions that integrate directly into Microsoft Excel, adding custom functionality without requiring separate applications. They appear as additional tabs or task panes within Excel and can automate tasks, provide calculations, format data, and connect to external systems.

ForgeSuite Add-ins run within your Excel environment and work across Excel for Windows, Mac, and Excel Online (web browser). They enhance Excel's capabilities while maintaining compatibility with your existing workbooks and workflows.

Add-ins operate within Microsoft's security framework and can only access the specific workbook you're actively working in - they cannot access other files on your computer or cloud storage.

ForgeSuite Add-ins can be made available to you in two ways, depending on your organization's IT policies and preferences:

Centrally Deployed by Your Administrator: Your IT administrator can deploy the add-in directly to authorized users in your organization. The add-in will automatically appear in your Excel ribbon without requiring manual installation. This method is ideal for organizations that want to ensure consistent deployment and version control.

Microsoft AppSource (Add-in Store): Authorized users can install the add-in directly from Microsoft AppSource, Microsoft's official marketplace for Office Add-ins. You'll find the add-in by searching for 'ForgeSuite' or your custom implementation name in the Store tab within Excel.

Regardless of the deployment method, only authorized individuals will have the ability to access and use the add-in. Authorization is managed by Prairie Forge in collaboration with your organization.

Access to ForgeSuite Add-ins is restricted to authorized users only. An authorized user is someone who:

• Has been registered with Prairie Forge by their organization or through a direct engagement agreement

• Has provided their work email address during the authorization process

• Is listed in Prairie Forge's authorization database for the specific add-in installation

When you first open a ForgeSuite Add-in, you'll be prompted to enter your email address. The add-in will verify that your email is authorized before granting access. This email verification occurs each time you open the add-in to ensure continuous security.

If you believe you should have access but are unable to authenticate, please contact your organization's Prairie Forge administrator or reach out to connect@prairieforge.ai for assistance.

Prairie Forge is committed to data privacy and transparency. Here's what you need to know about data handling with ForgeSuite Add-ins:

Your Data Stays in Your Tenant: Unless otherwise agreed upon in a specific engagement, ForgeSuite Excel Add-ins provide structure, formatting, and calculations but do not collect or store your sensitive business data. All data you enter into Excel workbooks remains in your Microsoft 365 tenant and is subject to Microsoft's privacy policies, not ours.

What We May Retain (With Permission): To improve efficiency and user experience, ForgeSuite may retain the following types of non-sensitive information:

• Column Headers & Field Names: We may store column header mappings (e.g., 'Employee Name' maps to 'Full Name') to ensure consistency when you upload data in the future.

• Integration Links: We may store links to your third-party systems (such as your payroll provider URL or accounting software dashboard).

• AI Assistant Interactions: If you use Ada (our AI-powered assistant built on Claude by Anthropic), we may retain your questions and Ada's responses for product improvement, debugging, and auditability.

For complete details on data collection and usage, please refer to our Privacy Policy at prairieforge.ai/legal/privacy.

Many ForgeSuite Add-ins include archive or historical data functionality, allowing you to reference past periods or maintain a continuous record of your work. To take full advantage of these features and avoid data loss:

Continue Using the Same Workbook Each Period: Rather than creating a new workbook for each pay period, month, or reporting cycle, continue using the same workbook file. This ensures that historical data and archive functionality remain accessible.

Why This Matters: ForgeSuite Add-ins store archived data within the workbook file itself - not on Prairie Forge's servers. If you start a new workbook, the add-in will not have access to your previous data, and you'll lose historical context and archive functionality.

Workbook Naming Convention: Use clear, consistent naming for your workbooks (e.g., '2026_Payroll_Processing.xlsx' or 'Q1_2026_Expense_Tracking.xlsx') to help you identify which file contains your ongoing work.

Backup Your Workbooks: Since your data resides in your Excel files, follow your organization's standard backup practices. Store workbooks in OneDrive, SharePoint, or your organization's file server to ensure they're backed up and accessible across devices.

If you encounter issues or have questions about your ForgeSuite Add-in:

• Check the Troubleshooting section of this support center at prairieforge.ai/support/troubleshooting

• Review your organization's internal documentation (if provided by your IT team)

• Contact Prairie Forge directly at connect@prairieforge.ai - include your email address and a description of the issue

• Use Ada, the in-app AI assistant, for quick answers to common questions (if available in your add-in)

We aim to respond to all support inquiries within 24-48 business hours.