Airtable is a relational database app with minimal learning curve
February 20, 2018
Airtable is a relational database app with minimal learning curve
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Airtable
We are using AirTable as a workflow management tool for new research concepts, and for aspects of our contracting process.
Pros
- Airtable provides the core benefits of a robust relational database while being easy to set up and use.
- I have found that many tools look great when they are set up with limited amounts of demo content, but the choice of UI often stops being a strength when you have real world content populated. This is not the case with Airtable - we are using bases with hundreds of records contained and it continues to give a clear representation in a single view.
- The revision history functionality and exportable data provide a good level of comfort for organisations used to local hosted solutions and version control within separate files.
Cons
- The biggest hurdle for us has been that each base can only lookup information stored within itself (albeit on separate sheets). In terms of a use case, this means that you can't have staff data on a separate base and then relate project details back to it. For me, this has required us to have a staff list on a sheet with each base.
- Formulas are a little basic, but this hasn't been a major for us.
- Formatting is quite good, but additional options would be useful.
- Early indications are positive. Uptake has been rapid, and people are actively using the system with minimal onboarding.
The combination of the ease of use, clean well-designed UI and underlying functionality sets Airtable apart from other comparable systems we've tried.
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