Calculate/Count without numbers

The file that is exported from our system contains words such as "submitted", "pending", "Past due", and this is in the form of an Excel file.  When I say template I mean that I simply add columns to the that file with IF/THEN formulas that convert the desired word, say "Submitted" in this example, to a 1 in a seperate column.  This then allows me to calculate the number of of items with "Submitted" in that column of interest.  I then add other IF/THEN formulas and seperate columns for all the other options in that column of interest, "Pending", "Past Due", etc.  I have built this "template" once and then everytime I export my data from our system I need to pass it through this template to make my calculations.  So I guess I am asking if there is a simple way in Power BI to have the system count a defined data element in a column that isn't a numerical value?