My first small build: an automated expiry tracker for compliance deadlines

I work in a legal/compliance role where missing a filing deadline can create real headaches. For years, I watched teams juggle UCC filings, PPSA/PPSR registrations, trademarks, insurance certificates, and domain renewals using a mix of spreadsheets, calendar reminders, and hope. It always felt brittle. If one person was on vacation or updated the wrong tab, something slipped.

A few months ago, I finally tried building a lightweight fix instead of complaining about it. The result was a simple Excel-based expiry tracker that monitors filings across multiple entities and sends email alerts as deadlines approach. It calculates renewal windows, handles overrides, and keeps everything in one place. Nothing fancy. Just practical.

I originally built it for myself at work, but the more I used it, the more I wondered if others had run into the same issues: juggling important dates across scattered systems, dealing with alert fatigue, and trying to keep the logic transparent so people actually trust the tool.

Here’s what I’m trying to figure out now:

• When you design a workflow meant for non-technical users, how do you keep things simple without hiding the logic they need to trust the output?

• Have you hit pitfalls when building automated alerts, like people tuning them out?

• If you’ve built internal tools before, how did you validate the problem beyond your own experience?

I put together a quick demo video here if you want to see how it works:
https://youtu.be/5f1uXenbq7o

I’m still iterating, still learning Excel’s quirks, and trying to understand whether something like this is useful beyond my own niche. Any perspective or critique is welcome.