CONCATENATE and CONCAT in Excel - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a sales analyst at a retail company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a report that combines customer first and last names into full names and also creates a unique order ID by joining order number and customer ID.

📊 Data: You have a table with columns: Order Number, Customer ID, First Name, Last Name, and Product.

🎯 Deliverable: Create two new columns: Full Name (combining first and last names) and Unique Order ID (combining order number and customer ID).

Sample Data

Order Number	Customer ID	First Name	Last Name	Product
1001	C001	John	Doe	Shirt
1002	C002	Jane	Smith	Pants
1003	C003	Emily	Jones	Hat
1004	C004	Michael	Brown	Shoes
1005	C005	Linda	Wilson	Jacket
1006	C006	David	Lee	Gloves
1007	C007	Sarah	Kim	Scarf
1008	C008	Robert	Clark	Belt

1

Step 1: Create a new column named 'Full Name' next to the 'Last Name' column.

In the first cell under 'Full Name' (e.g., E2), enter the formula: =CONCATENATE(C2, " ", D2)

Expected Result

For row 2, the cell shows 'John Doe'

2

Step 2: Copy the 'Full Name' formula down for all rows to combine first and last names.

Drag the fill handle from E2 down to E9 to apply =CONCATENATE(C3, " ", D3) and so on.

Expected Result

Row 3 shows 'Jane Smith', row 4 shows 'Emily Jones', etc.

3

Step 3: Create another new column named 'Unique Order ID' after the 'Full Name' column.

In the first cell under 'Unique Order ID' (e.g., F2), enter the formula: =CONCAT(B2, A2)

Expected Result

For row 2, the cell shows 'C0011001'

4

Step 4: Copy the 'Unique Order ID' formula down for all rows to combine customer ID and order number.

Drag the fill handle from F2 down to F9 to apply =CONCAT(B3, A3) and so on.

Expected Result

Row 3 shows 'C0021002', row 4 shows 'C0031003', etc.

Final Result

Order Number | Customer ID | First Name | Last Name | Full Name    | Unique Order ID
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1001         | C001        | John       | Doe       | John Doe    | C0011001
1002         | C002        | Jane       | Smith     | Jane Smith  | C0021002
1003         | C003        | Emily      | Jones     | Emily Jones | C0031003
1004         | C004        | Michael    | Brown     | Michael Brown | C0041004
1005         | C005        | Linda      | Wilson    | Linda Wilson | C0051005
1006         | C006        | David      | Lee       | David Lee   | C0061006
1007         | C007        | Sarah      | Kim       | Sarah Kim   | C0071007
1008         | C008        | Robert     | Clark     | Robert Clark | C0081008

✓Full Name column correctly combines first and last names with a space.

✓Unique Order ID column combines Customer ID and Order Number without spaces.

✓CONCATENATE and CONCAT functions are both useful for joining text in Excel.

Bonus Challenge

Modify the Unique Order ID to include a dash between Customer ID and Order Number, like 'C001-1001'.

Show Hint

Use CONCAT or CONCATENATE with "-" between the two values, for example: =CONCAT(B2, "-", A2)