Why Shared Google Sheets Break as Client Portals

The simplest way many agencies and trades share progress is by sharing a Google Sheet with 'Viewer' permissions. On paper, it seems practical: it is free, easy to update, and familiar to everyone.

In reality, Google Sheets fail miserably on mobile devices. When a client opens a sheet on their phone, they are greeted by microscopic cells, horizontal scrollbars, and broken wrap-text. They cannot quickly tell what changed since Tuesday or whether any action is expected from them.

Furthermore, permission accidents are rampant. One incorrect sharing toggle and a client gets edit access, accidentally deleting milestone formulas or viewing hidden tabs containing supplier pricing or subcontractor rates.

With Orbit Signal, you can actually keep your master tracker in Google Sheets if your team prefers it. Signal reads the sheet, sanitizes the data, holds date changes for human approval, and renders a gorgeous, responsive customer view that looks like bespoke software.