It seems like only yesterday that nobody had heard of Airtable, but now it's challenging Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. By combining spreadsheets, databases, project management systems, and other tools, the company democratizes software ++development for businesses++. I'd like to share a couple of impressive use cases and the benefits of Airtable with you today.
It was nothing more than a concept in Howie Liu, Andrew Ofstad, and ++Emmett Nicholas'++ minds before talk of Airtable benefits and use cases began. It took three years for them to build a prototype after they launched their company in 2013. In contrast to most startups, Airtable's team embraced the power of 'simmer' before launching and letting people sleep on the concept.
Even though this approach was unorthodox, it ultimately proved to be a great success. An investment round of $1.1 billion brought the company to unicorn status in 2018. The solution exploded in popularity from there. As a company with an impressive list of partners and customers, Airtable has certainly made an impact. This product is used by Time, Medium, Netflix, BuzzFeed, Expedia, and many more to increase efficiency, cut costs, and increase profits. To ensure that you go into adoption with a clear head, let's first consider the benefits and pitfalls of Airtable adoption.
As each block comes with a long list of potential benefits, this post cannot cover all Airtable benefits and features. My list of crucial benefits for any market or niche based on the most popular uses of this solution is as follows:
Easy-to-use interface. Many spreadsheets still lack advanced features, such as filters and formulas, even after decades. The interface of Airtable is visually appealing, resulting in an easy-to-use, easy-to-implement interface.
Designers' social platform Dribble is an excellent example of a clean interface. A consistent set of design elements is used throughout the website, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Views can be adjusted according to the situation. User reviews mention this as one of Airtable's most popular benefits. Depending on your goals and needs, you can browse and present data in different ways. A team member or client can share specific views with you, and you can switch between different views quickly and easily.
By leveraging Bases, you can add additional dimensions to your data. When you use Airtable as a CRM, Bases can be transformed into Kanban boards and calendars, unlike spreadsheets. You may not find all the standard Kanban management tools, like trackers and surveys, in Airtable, since it's primarily a database.
++Tracking system++ for extensive data. In order to ensure data integrity, Airtable tracks changes in individual tables and records. With the detailed log, you can identify who made each edit and follow their progress.
Additional functionality is provided by blocks. Their intuitive nature makes it easy to create extra solutions. For instance, you can create beautiful PDF reports, invoices, and other documents using a Page Designer Block. A block can visualize the timeline of a project or map the addresses in your table with a Ghantt diagram. If you would like to extend Airtable's functionality further, you can use the Scripting Block.
We'll talk about Airtable's downsides now that you know its benefits. Some of the biggest issues, based on my research and analysis of dozens of reviews, include:
Fewer features than competitors Airtable is relatively new and still lags behind some of the biggest names in the business. More features often equal more value, so Airtable has a ways to go when it comes to catching up with other spreadsheet programs.No mobile access for free usersIf you're using Airtable on a computer, it might not be able to keep up with your mobile lifestyle. Some of the top competitors offer this functionality without cost , which makes life easier for those who work on the go.