Airtable is a relational database engine that is also an online collaboration tool and project management software. Before calling it boring because of the word database, know that Airtable is easy to use and extremely flexible. You can use it to manage tasks, track and organize your inventory, plan an event, and more. It differs from other legacy database management systems because it looks like an application that anyone can learn to use, with its simple language, user-friendly color scheme, and features. Useful icons. It is also extremely customizable. Because of its versatility and ease of use, it's editors' choice among collaboration apps.
What is Airtable? How Airtable Helps Organizations Attract More Sales?
Airtable is an online system where a group of collaborators can collaborate to store, share, and edit information. Information can be ideas, inventory, tasks, or something else. This all sounds vague, but it's hard to describe an application without giving examples or comparisons, so let's do it.
You probably already know that you can put information in an online spreadsheet, such as Google Sheets, and invite people to view or edit it with you. This sheet can contain very simple information, such as a list of names and addresses. Or it can be quite complex, like a financial accounting system linked with other sheets and so on.
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| ImageSource: Airtable |
Airtable has a lot in common with online collaborative spreadsheets, except for two key differences: first, Airtable allows you to manage databases instead of sheets and doesn't go into detail about the differences. difference between a spreadsheet and a database (opens in a new window), let's just say databases are more complex. Second, Airtable is much more user-friendly, so you don't have to be an Excel expert to use it.
At its core, Airtable is an online system for creating and modifying databases among a group of people. A database is nothing more than a bunch of things put together. For example, you can use Airtable to manage tasks, like updating articles on a website.
You can start by creating a database of all the articles on your website that need to be updated. You design database records to contain fields for article name, article URL, original author, publication date, last updated date, and so on. You can then invite editors and writers to the database to assign tasks themselves and can tick a box in each database record to indicate when they are done updating.
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| Image Source: Airtable |
Airtable comes with a collection of useful templates, which can give you more ideas on how you can use it. For example, there are templates called Social Media Calendar, Wedding Planner, Nonprofit Sponsorship Tracker, Employee Referrals, Bug Tracker, Product Launch, and many more.
Note-Worthy Features of Airtable
- Flexible database structure
- Collaborative workspace
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Customizable views and layouts
- Data linking and relationships
- Form creation and data collection
- File attachments and storage
- Automated workflows and notifications
- Integration with other apps and services
- Real-time collaboration
- Mobile Accessibility
- Data filtering and sorting
- Data import and export capabilities
- API for custom integrations
- Version control and revision history
Unsupported Features of Airtable
Here are some features that some other project managing softwares provide, but Airtable doesn't.
- Gantt chart visualization
- Resource management and allocation
- Task dependencies and sequencing
- Critical path analysis
- Earned value management
- Risk management
- Project budgeting and financial tracking
- Resource leveling and workload balancing
- Project timeline and milestone tracking
- Agile project management features (e.g., sprints, user stories)
- Project progress tracking and reporting
- Time tracking and timesheet management
- Project portfolio management
- Issue tracking and bug management
- Integration with project management methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)
Database & Records
Records in Airtable expand to full view to show all their details without the page needing to reload or open a new window. Once you've expanded the recording, you can add more details to the recording, edit it, and more. You cannot easily see all these details from the grid view.
For example, in an inventory database of farm equipment you own, a grid view allows you to easily see a list of everything you own and other important values you want to see in a blink. However, expand any profile and you can see all the details about that device, such as the uploaded receipt from the first time you bought it, links to manufacturer information, etc. manufacture or warranty, and note the date of your last maintenance., and such.
To upload attachments, whether images or documents, you can drag and drop them onto the recording. The expanded view also has a space for comments, where you can use the @ sign in front of people's names to signal their attention.
Although you can link one record to another in the same database, you cannot link an individual record stored in another database. (There is a workaround, though, if you want to configure Airtable Sync). Note that synchronization is one-way and automatic synchronization only happens once every five minutes.
Airtable Collaboration & Other Tools
Collaboration is an important part of Airtable, but so limits who can make changes to your database. When you invite others, you as the owner/creator can grant them one of four levels of permission.
The first is the same permission level you have, Owner/Creator. Anyone with the owner/creator role has full access to the database, including the ability to change other people's permission levels and delete them entirely.
The second is the editor. People with Editor-level access can add, remove, and edit records, comment on records, and add, remove, and edit views. In addition, they can access the entire database.
The third is a commenter or someone who can access and view the entire database but can only comment on records. They cannot make any other changes.
Finally read-only access. Anyone with this permission level can only view the database and records, but cannot make any changes or add comments.
Here's an example of how you can collaborate in Airtable: Suppose you have a database to assign and track jobs. You can create a column with the Contributor field type and then assign one of your collaborators to the task. You can link to a table with all the names of people who can be assigned to this type of work. That way, when you need to assign a task, the list of possibilities will be there.
As you become a more proficient user of Airtable, which is not difficult to do with its many tutorials, you can get more and more done with it.
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| Image Source: Airtable |
Templates and Marketplace
Two of Airtable's newest features are automation and an app marketplace. Automation allows you to write simple "if this, then that" conditions that automatically trigger actions. For example, "If someone creates a new record in this database, then message this or that Slack channel." As of this writing, only some "if" triggers are supported, with a few other actions.
Another new feature is Apps Marketplace (Which opens in a new window). Apps are plugin features and functions that you can add to your Airtable account, such as the previously mentioned Gantt charts. Other examples include pivot tables, time tracking widgets, and URL preview apps. Some of the apps are quite ambitious, such as an app called Page Designer that helps you take fields from a record and place them on a page where you can create a beautifully designed finished product.
Integration
Airtable can connect to a large number of online services, such as Asana, Box, Google Drive, Basecamp, SMS Salesforce, Zendesk, Github, Trello, and even Instagram (for uploading images) up).
If you need an unsupported service, you can try connecting it through Zapier or IFTTT, third-party services that connect other apps for you. If not, you can contact the company to access its API.
Airtable Cost / Pricing
Airtable offers its basic functionality for free. Advanced usage and features are available with paid plans starting at $6 per user per month when billed annually. In total, Airtable offers three options:
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Airtable Cost Overview |
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Cloud |
Cloud |
Cloud |
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$10/month
(billed annually) |
$20/month
(billed annually) |
Contact
Sales |
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Plus |
Pro |
Enterprise |
Free
The company is not trying to entice customers with a 14-day free trial. Instead, Airtable offers the essential features of its platform for free.
With this plan, you can create as many databases as you want and share them with as many users as you want. However, each database has a limit of 1200 records (Airtable lingo for spreadsheet rows) and only 2 GB of storage, which may not be ideal for asset management.
If you like automation, know that this plan will limit you to 100 automation per month.
Note: You can only go back up to two weeks in your revision history in the database, so keep that in mind and export backups from time to time.
Cost: Free
Features: Free Plan |
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FUNDAMENTALS |
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Unlimited Bases |
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5 Maximum
number of users |
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1,200 records
per base |
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1,200 records
per table |
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2GB attachment
space per base |
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2-week revision
and snapshot history |
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Rich field
types including attachments, checkboxes, dropdowns, and more |
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Web, desktop,
iOS, and Android apps |
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Realtime
collaboration and commenting |
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VIEWS |
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Grid, calendar,
form, Kanban, and gallery views |
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INTERFACE DESIGNER |
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Design
interactive applications with a drag-and-drop experience |
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APPS |
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1 per base |
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AUTOMATION |
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100 runs per
month |
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2-week run
history |
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Automation integrations |
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SYNC |
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1 synced table
per base |
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1 sync integrations |
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SUPPORT |
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On-demand
webinars |
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Self-serve
knowledge base |
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Email support |
Pro
Airtable's Pro plan is capable of serving large businesses. Databases can hold up to 50,000 records, and each database provides up to 20 GB of storage. In addition, you can view revision history for up to one year.
This plan also includes the ability to install apps from the Airtable Marketplace, so you can create custom and branded forms for a more professional look, manage editing permissions, and access users. use and even allow individuals to create their own personal views.
Cost: $6 per user, per month for a 5-seat starter plan (for five users), billed annually. $20 per user, per month (billed annually) for the full Pro plan (for more than five users).
Features: Pro Plan |
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FUNDAMENTALS: |
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Unlimited Bases |
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50,000 records per base |
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50,000 records per table |
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20GB attachment space per
base |
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1-year revision and snapshot
history |
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Rich field types including
attachments, checkboxes, dropdowns, and more |
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Web, desktop, iOS, and
Android apps |
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Realtime collaboration and
commenting |
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VIEWS |
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Grid, calendar, form,
Kanban, and gallery views |
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Gantt view |
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Timeline view |
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Personal and locked views |
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Sections |
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INTERFACE DESIGNER |
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Design interactive apps with
a drag-and-drop experience |
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APPS |
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10 per base |
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AUTOMATION |
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50,000 runs per month |
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1-year run history |
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Automation integrations |
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Jira Cloud |
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SYNC |
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10 synced tables per base |
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Automation sync |
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7 sync integrations |
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Automatic sync |
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Jira Cloud |
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CUSTOMIZATION |
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Custom branded forms |
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Expanded color and
formatting options |
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Advanced calendar features |
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EDITING & PERMISSIONS |
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Password and domain
restricted shares |
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Field and table editing
permissions |
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Early access to new features |
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SUPPORT |
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On-demand webinars |
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Self-serve knowledge base |
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Email Support |
Enterprise
Airtable can customize its business plan to the specific needs of your organization. The company is increasing the storage limit per facility to 1,000 GB, and users could see revisions take place over the next 3 years. This plan can also run up to 500,000 vehicles per month.
VIP benefits work with this plan. Airtable provides each Enterprise customer with a dedicated account manager to manage day-to-day claims. And since customer needs for the platform can be incredibly complex and involved, Airtable provides customized training and intros to guide users on how to use the platform and navigate the basics. specified by their employer.
Cost: Contact Airtable for more information. Special offers for nonprofits and educational institutions.
Features: Enterprise Plan |
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FUNDAMENTALS: |
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Unlimited Bases |
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250,000 records per base |
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100,000 records per table |
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1,000GB attachment space per
base |
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3-year revision and snapshot
history |
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Rich field types including
attachments, checkboxes, dropdowns, and more |
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Web, desktop, iOS, and
Android apps |
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Realtime collaboration and
commenting |
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VIEWS |
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Grid, calendar, form,
Kanban, and gallery views |
|
Gantt view |
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Timeline view |
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Personal and locked views |
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Sections |
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INTERFACE DESIGNER |
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Design interactive apps with
a drag-and-drop experience |
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APPS |
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10 per base |
|
AUTOMATION |
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500,000 runs per month |
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3-year run history |
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Automation integrations |
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Jira Cloud + Server/Data
Center |
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SYNC |
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10 synced tables per base |
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Automation sync |
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7 sync integrations |
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Automatic sync |
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Jira Cloud |
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CUSTOMIZATION |
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Custom branded forms |
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Expanded color and
formatting options |
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Advanced calendar features |
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EDITING & PERMISSIONS |
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Password and domain
restricted shares |
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Field and table editing
permissions |
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Early access to new features |
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ADMIN |
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SAML-based single sign-on
(SSO) |
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Federated company account |
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Unlimited workspaces |
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Payment by invoice |
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Enterprise-wide admin panel |
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Enhanced deletion recovery |
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SUPPORT |
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On-demand webinars |
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Self-serve knowledge base |
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Email Support |
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Priority Support |
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ONGOING SUCCESS PROGRAM |
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Customer Success Manager |
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Joint success plans |
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Business reviews |
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES |
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Consultation with Airtable
experts |
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Custom base training |
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Base build services |
See the Airtable pricing page for more details.
How are Airtable prices compared?
Compared to other collaboration apps, Airtable's pricing is pretty competitive, although it's hard to compare Airtable directly with any other app. For example, Smartsheet (which starts at $19 per person per month) has a similar spreadsheet approach to Airtable, but you can also use it as a full-fledged project management app. Airtable is not designed for that.
Another application that shares some similarities but is not strictly a database management tool is Monday.com. It costs about $10-20 per person per month, but with Monday.com you pay for licenses in predefined batches, so for example, if you have a group of 17 people, you will round up and pay 20.
Quick Base, another online database system, no longer makes its prices public, but it used to charge similar to Airtable. Quick Base requires a minimum number of licenses per account.
Airtable Pros and Cons
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PROS |
CONS |
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Final Words About Airtable Cloud Collaboration Software
Airtable might be the most straightforward database tool you've ever used. It allows you and your team to quickly interact and manage data on any topic.
Airtable provides a simple, code-free environment for building your own marketing management platform without having to create the entire system yourself. You can construct and optimize the best marketing planning tool for your team as long as you have a clear vision of what you're attempting to achieve with Airtable and are ready to put in the effort to build it.
While there are certain limits (particularly in native marketing planning tools), Airtable provides a lot of flexibility while making it very simple to create interfaces and put together a full marketing management system.
