Airtable is a powerful visual project management platform that synergizes data, workflows, and execution teams on a unified dashboard. Streamlining work streams, the platform provides a synced and up-to-date information database that can be accessed by all stakeholders across different departments. Customization is at the heart of Airtable, allowing teams to create personalized apps and a tailored interface allowing easy access to relevant information and giving clear sightlines to the next steps. While customization is a key benefit, it also offers ready-to-use and pre-loaded industry-agnostic templates while extensive integrations and expandability make it scalable and agile.
Capabilities |
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Segment |
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Deployment | Cloud / SaaS / Web-Based, Mobile Android, Mobile iPad, Mobile iPhone |
Support | 24/7 (Live rep), Chat, Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support |
Training | Documentation |
Languages | English |
Workflow management is a critical part of any job. It’s what keeps a project moving, and a team motivated to see it through. But, how do you support effective workflow management?
You start with understanding better what tools, platforms, and software are out there that can support your team’s ability to effectively manage workflow and collaborate within their teams and beyond.
To that end, we’ve identified Airtable as a strong market leader in workflow management software. So, let’s dive into Airtable’s features, capabilities, and price points to help you better understand your options.
Airtable is a workflow management application with highly customizable database management tools used predominantly for collaborative project management.
The focus on having accessible, easy-to-use software to help with project management is increasing, and Airtable is a top choice. It features a familiar spreadsheet interface, but unlike traditional spreadsheet software that only records data, Airtable can also help you organize, sync, and manage your data and customize exactly how you need it.
For example, let’s say you’re using Airtable to manage vendor management workflow for an event. This would entail designing the database to include fields for:
The option to invite collaborators to this database is also critical so individual users can easily update data in real-time. Having all these features in a single platform means users can clearly follow the progression of a particular project and keep everyone in the team up-to-date on their tasks and next steps.
Airtable’s interface is very flexible and is ideal for numerous industries. While it has been marketed to larger corporations, most users who have had hands-on experience with the platform say that it is just as useful for smaller businesses.
This is reflected in Airtable’s pricing, which follows a monthly subscription model. This subscription cost increases depending on the number of features and ‘seats’ you choose to purchase, making it highly scalable depending on your organization’s needs.
Airtable’s features are grouped into four levels, and the price per seat rises accordingly. A breakdown of each level can be found below:
$10 per seat – Billed annually
$12 per seat – Billed monthly
$20 per seat – Billed annually
$24 per seat – Billed monthly
Airtable was built to be as customizable as possible, giving users the ability to display their data in a way that meets their specific needs—whether that means a simple presentation or a more complex one.
Getting started is simple.
You start with an empty Airtable, which is essentially your ‘base.’ From here, you just fill it with your data. You can either use a template and bring in data from another source or construct a database from scratch. Whatever the case, you can leverage Airtable’s features to tailor the platform to meet your needs. For example, you can use the Interface Design feature to visually present data in a way that makes the most sense to you and your team.
Familiarizing and understanding all of Airtable’s features and capabilities may require some effort, but the payoff is worth it. Taking the time to learn the platform will ensure users have full control over their data and workflow management.
Access to Airtable’s numerous features will depend on your subscription and, subsequently, the scalability of your projects. However, all subscription options should include:
With a click of a button, this feature gives users the flexibility to switch between different data views. Users can view project timelines via the Timeline View, and easily switch to managing team tasks on the collaborative Kanban View. Other viewing options are also available ensuring that you can customize your viewing experience so you can maximize the platform.
Airtable Automations lets users streamline their work processes and boost team efficiency by providing customization options for notifications and creating multi-step workflows. The feature is helpful in terms of tracking project timelines and helping eliminate manual, repetitive tasks. Additionally, it can also minimize the risk of user error.
Airtable’s ability to synchronize data means users have a central repository of information that is updated in real-time across all users and departments. It’s a useful tool that promotes seamless collaboration and data integrations, allowing everyone to enjoy a comprehensive understanding of project status or workflows at the speed of need.
To enhance your project’s reporting capabilities, Airtable’s powerful reporting tools and extensions let users create highly customized reports that visualize your data in a simple understandable way. You can choose from a variety of charts, graphs, and tables to ensure that information is presented in a way that is easy to understand.
Airtable offers robust integration that lets you connect the platform to a wide range of software; ensuring that all the project management tools that you use operate seamlessly. Airtable’s integrations mean multiple applications can be streamlined to automatically sync data, share information between different platforms, and automate tasks so workflows can be further improved.
Airtable’s templates can be used to effectively organize every aspect of your project’s workflows. Their pre-designed databases can be used as a great starting point for your projects. Conveniently, Airtable templates are also organized into several categories and industries, which helps you save time and effort from creating a new one from scratch. As always, these pre-populated grids are highly customizable.
A great way to decide whether Airtable is the right software for you is to compare it to other options in the workflow management space.
Eliminate the hassle of comparing options by choosing from your top choices below. With the ability to review features and relevant information in one place, you can utilize our comprehensive product reviews to gather the necessary data you need to make well-informed decisions.
An all-in-one project management application, Clickup is designed to be used across any industry. From solo users to larger organizations, Clickup focuses on task management to help teams streamline their workflow.
ClickUp offers numerous workflow features and data views, including a built-in Table View to ensure your team always has access to a condensed, actionable snapshot of your projects.
Designed for smaller teams or individuals, Notion is an all-in-one SaaS note-taking app and database for streamlined project management. Some features include:
With a focus on automation tools, Hive aims to simplify overly complicated work processes through email and task automation. Boasting a user-friendly dashboard, Hive aims to help teams of all sizes automate time-consuming work tasks to give time back to a project’s creation and growth.
Overall, Airtable is a highly comprehensive and customizable workflow management application.
Airtable’s app offers flexibility by allowing you to switch views and integrate reporting extensions, ensuring your data is suitable for various applications. Additionally, its extensive list of integrations enables you to consolidate all your preferred tools and their data in one convenient location.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that these features are only useful for those willing to take the time to learn them. Airtable’s interface can be quite overwhelming for new users so our advice is to scale to higher subscription packages only after you’ve taken the time to learn the app’s features and familiarize yourself with them.
With little or no-code knowledge I´ve created cloud based solution using relational data, such as CRM, project management tracker, event tracker, general ledger, among others. Easy to set up automations and they are in continuous improvement.
Multilingual support could be useful, sepecially in spanish
Eliminates the need of more people involved in my compañy solutions, I can customize my data and processes in hours. Competitive pricing
L'étendue des possibilités qu'offre cet outil, notamment avec les formulas
To go further, you still have to know how to code
The link between data. Airtable also allowed me to easily automate part of my activity.
Being web-based, it's available to all my staff on whatever device they are using. We love the barcode scanning capability to keep track of IT Assets and their serial numbers. API access also allows for automation through email triggers and services like Zapier.
I've noticed that the iOS app isn't able to use the full camera features - like macro mode - which would be really useful for scanning tiny barcodes from product boxes!
We use Airtable as our IT Asset register to track what assets we have, where they are and who is using them. Since multiple users can be editing the register at the same time, this allows us to be more productive.
I use Airtable to maintain my customer list, inventory, sales records, shipping, and expenses for my small business. I love that I can tailor it specifically to my needs - for example, tracking vendor events and linking sales and inventory for a specific event, or tracking customer order history, patterns, and likes/dislikes. I also love that I can create grid views for a variety of conditions so I can view the current state of my business from different perspectives, from sales to inventory to cash flow to frequency of purchases from individual customers. Lastly, I love that I can access Airtable on my computer where I do most of my work, but also on mobile devices when I'm on the go and need access to information.
There's a bit of a learning curve when it comes to customizing it to suit your needs. That's just the nature of something that is so infinitely customizable, but it's good to recognize that it will take a little bit of time to learn how to get it set up specifically to your needs. It's not difficult, but does take some time and practice. However, if you know someone that is in a similar situation using Airtable, you can share bases with others and get a head start that way. There are also starter examples that are very helpful.
Airtable allows me to run my business from anywhere. I particularly like that even when I am on the go, if I get a message from a customer asking if they'd ordered a specific item in the past, or if I can remind them of their tracking number, and I'm away from the office, I can look it up easily on the mobile app and get back to that customer right away. It helps me to be more efficient and gives me more flexibility in how and where I work my business.
Regardless of what your team does, Airtable is flexible where it can adjust to your needs. The addition of extensions and automations make it an even stronger tool, but I recommend the free version to many teams inside and outside my organization.
The downsides are that you can't edit files that are attached and the gantt features are a bit weak, but these problems can be remedied with functions or external file systems.
I use Airtable for project management of multi-year projects. I track budgets, timelines, tasks, and needs, all while keeping everything visible to my large team.
It was very intuitive how to set up my database. I love that I could share it with others.
I would've loved to have been able to make a master database that others couldn't pull information into their own databases from.
Her table was a great way for me to manage teaching ESL. I have also used it personally for tracking media.
When I first started using Air Table, I was looking for an easy way to add images to the data I was collecting. I had been previously been using a spreadsheet program that didn't handle images well. I gave Air Table a shot and it's changed the way I work in so many ways! I can not only add images but also link data in different tables allowing me to see connections in a completely different way. I love that they have a free plan, but honestly once you start using it you'll find more and more uses.
One of the frustrations I have is when I share a table with someone it's way too easy to accidentally set them us as a creator and get charged for an extra using on the account. They should add a pop up that asks if you want to add a new user and that it will incur additional charges.
I use Air Table for many different purposes. It's great at handling images and document attachments. I also like that the app lets me use it on the go. I've actually used it at events, adding records, taking pics, and including notes. It works great!
You can amicably visualize your data, optimize processes, create interactive databases, work simultaneously with your colleagues, and much more
I would like to be able to use formulas in rows too
I have not had any problem
I appreciate all of the views Airtable provides. It helps our team move projects through our workflow and catalog all the information we need for our many steps.
We benefit from Airtable's functionalities so much, that there isn't anything I dislike about the platform. Airtable has continued to grow as our team's activities have grown.
Airtable is a highly advanced and visual spreadsheet. It organizes all of our information, keeps us aware of important dates, and helps us determine the status of small and large scale projects.
Airtable is a rare tool where its flexibility is matched by reliability. There are so many different ways to use Airtable, and each is incredibly effective. I use Airtable for any project I can to track progress, catalog content, and so much more.
To be honest, any small issues I've had with Airtable have been resolved in recent updates. I used to be weary about share functionality and users accidentally being added to a paid plan, but Airtable now allows admins to lock this permission. Additionally I was disappointed with the inability to share interfaces with non-users, but that is much easier now as well.
Airtable provides my team with a home base. Unlike navigating a complex organization of Drive folders, Airtable bases and tables allow data, content, and tasks to live in one central area.
With Airtable and Make.com, I believe you have the core of what you need to automate just about everything for your organizational needs. Depending on your specific needs, you may need other things like Tally, Calendly, Hubspot, etc... But they all have to feed into some central repository, which is where Airtable shines. Inside Airtable, you'll not only get to organize all your information but also do things in response to them. The "Automation" feature is a godsend in this regard. It can send emails, update other records, and even call out to other webhooks provided by make.com or similar no-code software based on a trigger. If you have other people who have to view, edit, and enter information Airtable now has what's called an "Interface" on top of what they have always had called "forms." They're not perfect, but they've come a very, very long way. They should be able to get most of your needs met. Granted, you may still need some custom coding here and there to get your company organized and managed through airtable. If you want in-depth control over your information and how things happen in response to changes in the information, starting with Airtable is the way to go. If you want to put UI first, you may find Airtable lacking.
Having used Airtable from the very beginning, I have a lot of stuff I have to clean up because new features in Airtable have made much of my earlier hacks unncessary. I also want the "Interface" feature to improve to the degree that it can at least do everything the "form" feature can do (i.e. conditional visibility, etc) Finally, the various automations are hard to track. There has to eventually be a better way to organize this. This may be on me now with the new "section" feature, but there may also be an opportuntiy to innovate here in some way to make it easy for people to see at a high-level when automations are triggered, what they do, and how they interact, etc...
Problem 1: Unorganized information -> Solution: Table Problem 2: Time wasted doing routine work & feeling like I've forgotten to do something -> Solution: Automation Problem 3: You want what other people do to be fed into the same place so you can see how everything is going -> Solution: by forms (quite a bit clunky) but much more improved with interface (although not as mature as forms in its features) Problem 4: Need for variety of reports from same data -> Solution: Extension Problem 1 & 2 is mostly solved Problem 3 is still in progress as interface needs more improvement Problem 4 is mostly solved, but could use the help of the "page designer" being more improved.
I love the ability of Airtable to make data more consumable for users with the help of layouts, filters, and views.
Pricing can be a bit steep when more users are required. Rolling up of data to a summary sheet.
Making error-free databases that were earlier made in Excel or Google Sheets.
I like being able to filter the data into useful views that help me understand the business and make decisions. I love the share views function which helps me communicate transparently with my customers.
The desktop software is Airtable's main priority, and the mobile app for iPhone needs work. It glitches out from time to time and doesn't show enough rows of data.
The key problems that Airtable helps solve are 1. organization and attention to detail (keeping all my business expenses in one place). 2. time savings having everything in one central hub saves us a lot of time probably 5-6 hours per week.
Easy to use database and spreadsheet features which link to third party services for powerful analytics and reporting.
Record limit, which they did recently increase to 50,000 records on my plan.
Keeping data in one place in an easy to view manner.
The power and flexibility, that allows me to build solutions and proof of concepts faster
API Keys cannot be set as read only, for integrating with external clients such as a React application it involves a security risk
Airtable is helping me solve my own management issues. From home projects to task management for my freelance endeavors to simple Pokemon tracking
Versatility/range of projects that can be optimized by using Airtable, customer support/community forums, clean and easy-to-navigate user interface
The page designer extension is not the easiest to use, but that's a small thing
Airtable implementing the sync table feature enabled me to use Airtable as a relational database that is so much more user-friendly and intuitive than typical software solutions.
Interface, built in commands to perform task and no need to write formulas.
Little bit limited in building relation to other sheets
I use it as my CRM for client tracking and team tracking. For me it works great
Airtable gives me a one-stop shop to organize and aggregate findings from my win/loss interviews. I can upload transcripts and recordings into the tool I created and easily share with clients via a unique URL.
I wish I could rename the URL, like 'FY 2022 Win/Loss Results" that would be easier for clients to remember.
Airtable gives me a centralized place to report data and share results with my clients at no additional charge to them. Most win/loss providers charge users a fee to look at their own data.
It improved the way we organized the sales process in our company. Having the tool itself, made it more sophisticated.
It is very easy to use and has all the relevant funcionalities needed.
We want to have more sales and keep track of the work of the sales reps
Interface and ease of use makes data readable
Would like more intergratiobs for ecommerce
Controlling product data and collecting that data making it easily accessible