What could be the potential implications of a significant variance between planned and actual spending in a company's budget?

Global companies like Apple or Google can use these budgeting strategies to manage their resources more effectively by visualizing their planned versus actual spending across projects. This can help them identify trends of overspending and underspending. For instance, if a tech company projected a modest IT upgrade cost, but the actual costs were significantly higher due to a vendor's price surge, this variance could trigger a renegotiation of contracts or even a shift to a new vendor.

Apart from visual representations, complex budget data can be simplified using various methods. One method is through the use of data tables that provide a detailed breakdown of the budget. Another method is through the use of descriptive statistics that summarize the budget data. Additionally, budget data can be simplified through the use of budget narratives that explain the data in a more understandable language. Lastly, the use of budgeting software can also help in simplifying complex budget data as these tools often come with features that automate the data simplification process.