Skip to Content

Modeling software for business analysts.

Build explainable and reliable models in Excel

The only professional modeling tool designed for business analysts

  1. Fully integrated in Excel, no need to use a separate tool
  2. Build your model using the visual map, making it easy to explain
  3. Use Excel's capability to visualize data in your model
  4. Configure each operation with a user interface, no more formula errors
  5. Automated data quality checks, detects data errors


Why business analysts?

man standing in front of people sitting beside table with laptop computers

Business models underpin all key decisions made in organizations.

two women in suits standing beside wall
 

Business analysts are entrusted by leaders and clients to develop these models.

red white and black round wheel

As a result, they assume responsibilities that exceed their title and strive for excellence.

Building models is more challenging than people think

It's hard to fully trust a model

Complexity grows with the number of cells and Excel formulas are tricky, making it difficult to fully audit a model. 

Your worst nightmare is your boss or client discovering an error during final decision meeting.

More sophistication, more errors

Every request to add a refinement to the model gives you cold sweat when you think of the effort to re-check everything

You frequently push back since it would take too much time and add too much risk.

Validation and handover are illusions

Fully explaining the model to a colleague would require to verify every formula, which is impossible when the model is large. 

Despite their best efforts, most models are abandoned when their creator hands them over.

We believe models should be easy to buildexplainable and reliable

Centered on the business professional 

Many domains have their specialized modeling software, but not corporate decision-making. How many times have we collectively recreated a valuation model or a project ROI model? 

A business-oriented approach is needed to program our models using a more concise and efficient language.

Transparency at the core

The logic of a sophisticated model is highly non-linear, with many branches that split and merge. 

This needs to be represented visually with information that can be understood fast. Formulas do not offer that type of transparency, so this requires an innovative approach.

Errors minimized at the source

Typical errors in data processing have been known for decades. A formula not properly dragged to the bottom of the column, duplicate records in a table joined using VLOOKUP, all these have led to catastrophic consequences.

We believe the software should prevent these errors or at least warn the user if they're at risk.

person holding pencil near laptop computer

Designed by former McKinsey consultants

Based on decades of observing the same problems, we've built River to help business analysts, modeling experts and consultants have a more satisfying modeling experience and elevate the quality level in the profession.

McKinsey article on modeling in the Covid-19 context

How does River work?

River focuses on making building models efficient, transparent and safe.

Integrated in Excel

Do everything from Excel, and leverage its great data manipulation and visualization features for the finishing touches.

River models are fully embedded in Excel workbooks, ensuring your colleagues and clients can open them.

Visually explainable models

Models are designed as a  visual map, allowing to easily validate the methodology with experts or your manager. 

The model map business language, making the model easily readable for non-modelers.

Error prevention and detection

Each operation is easy to configure and prevents you to make mistakes, contrary to traditional Excel formulas. 

In addition, quality checks can be added with a simple click and will warn you of issues when you refresh the data.

How do I start using River?

River is fully contain​ed in an Excel Add-In, making installation easy

1

Get a licence

See the pricing page for our plans.

2

Install the Excel Add-In

Download the installer and follow the instructions.

3

Start modeling

Open Excel and start building models right there!

4

Share your models

River models are saved inside your Excel workbook, so you can share them with your colleagues the way you want.

Frequently asked questions


Of course! It is strongly encouraged. River models are saved inside the Excel workbook together with the data it uses, making sharing very easy.

Anybody can install River, open the Excel file, and explore the input data, model map and parameters.

Users with a paid license can edit and run the model without any restrictions.

Users on the Consulting plan can issue a File-based license for a specific file, which allows recipients to change the data and run the model, just not edit it. See pricing plans for more details.

If you have built a model with River, you will always be able to open it, even without a paid license. River allows you to open and explore the model map and the model parameters. The data is also accessible since it's just part of the Excel file.

If you want to recreate your model using plain Excel (or another tool), you can use it as a guide during your rebuild.

We come from the consulting industry, where protection of client data is a top priority. 

Therefore we designed River so that it runs entirely on your computer, and no data from your workbook is ever leaving.

The only data that River can send is application usage data, to help us build the product. And you can decline this option.

River has been carefully designed to have the smallest possible footprint. 

It is packaged in a single Excel Add-In, doesn't send data outside your computer and can be deployed using corporate IT tools. 

If you already use think-cell (another popular Add-In), chances are your IT will easily approve it. Otherwise feel free to contact us at info@river-software.com.

We provide support via our forum, and for Consulting customers, via email. Over time we will build our support offering.

Become a highly-efficient professional modeler with River.

black background with yellow text overaly

Fast-track your career

 Impress your leaders and clients with the quality of your decision models

 Increase your organization's performance by coaching junior colleagues

 Increase your value on the job market with a highly valued and transferrable skill.

four people watching on white MacBook on top of glass-top table

A happier modeling experience

 Stop having nightmares about errors in your models.

 Efficiently validate and hand over your models with experts and clients.

 Build models up to 50% faster than today.

person writing on brown wooden table near white ceramic mug

Grow your skills 

 Learn and apply modeling best practices.

 Become a reference for modeling in your company.

 Focus on building your domain knowledge, not writing formulas.

Download your free trial version today

30 days on us!

Supported by 
Fondation Genevoise pour l'Innovation Technologique

River has been awarded Innovation Initiation Support by FONGIT