Airtable vs Excel: 10 reasons why you should choose Airtable

By 

Fritz

 on 

21

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8

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2023

Excel is a tool that has been used by companies for years. From large multinationals to small start-ups, you can see Excel in action almost everywhere. In fact, as many as 60% of all companies use this program. As effective as Excel may seem, it has its limitations. But what if we tell you that there is an alternative that, in addition to offering the same features, has additional benefits that Excel can't match? Meet Airtable, the Excel alternative that can revolutionize your business.

Discover Airtable: the Excel alternative that takes your business to the next level

Airtable is more than just a spreadsheet program. It's a revolutionary tool that's fundamentally changing the way you manage data. Whether you're running a small business or at the helm of a large company, Airtable has the potential to optimize your workflow and increase productivity. Let's dive deeper into what Airtable is and how it differs from Excel.

What is Airtable?

Airtable is an online platform that combines the functionality of a database with the visual appeal and usability of a spreadsheet. However, it goes beyond what Excel can offer. Airtable makes it possible to work with various data formats such as text, images, checklists, and even links to records in other tables. Compared to Excel, Airtable provides a more structured way of working, saving you time and helping you work more efficiently. What's more, the ability to work collaboratively in the cloud and automate tasks is what sets Airtable apart from Excel. Whether it's project management, CRM, inventory management, or anything else, Airtable offers a flexible and powerful solution for your business.

Wat is Airtable?

Airtable vs Excel: 10 benefits

You may be wondering: why should I switch to Airtable? Is Excel not enough for my needs? Although Excel is a powerful tool, Airtable offers specific benefits that can improve your work experience. Here are five reasons why you should consider working with Airtable:

User-friendly interface

Airtable stands out from other database tools with its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The design is visually appealing and easy to navigate, even for beginners. It's like working in a spreadsheet, but with more options. This ease of use makes it easy to manage and manipulate data, saving you time and streamlining your workflow.

With Airtable, you can effortlessly organize, filter, and sort data, so you always have a clear overview of your projects and tasks. In addition, it offers numerous integration options with other tools and applications, allowing you to work more efficiently and increase productivity.

Whether you're managing a team project, keeping an inventory, or simply organizing your personal to-do list, Airtable is the perfect tool for taking your workflow to the next level. You'll be amazed at the endless possibilities and ease with which you can manage complex tasks. Get the most out of your data with Airtable!

Airtable Views - Create the Perfect View | Airtable

Different views

With Airtable, you can look at your data in a unique way. You can choose from a variety of views, including the grid view to organize your data, the calendar view to plan important dates, the gallery view to create visually appealing presentations, and the Kanban view to streamline your workflow. This not only makes it easier to organize and visualize your data, but also allows you to present your data in the most appropriate way, depending on your specific needs and preferences.

Various data types

One of the biggest advantages of Airtable is its incredible versatility in working with different data types. Whether it's textual information, numerical values, images, hyperlinks, or even managing files, Airtable offers a wide range of options. This results in unprecedented flexibility and functionality that goes beyond what is possible with Excel. With Airtable, you can organize, analyze and present your data in a whole new way, allowing you to work more efficiently and effectively.

Cloud-based

Because Airtable is cloud-based, you never have to worry about losing your data. Your data is stored securely and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. In addition, with regular updates and improvements, Airtable ensures that it is an increasingly better tool.

Collaborate easily

Airtable makes real-time collaboration easy and efficient. With the ability to comment, assign tasks, and view changes in real-time, you and your team can work seamlessly together, no matter where everyone is. It enables you to communicate effortlessly, meet deadlines and successfully complete projects. Whether you're in the office, on the road, or working from home, Airtable provides the tools you need to be productive and achieve great results.

Airtable Collaboration Overview | Airtable Support

Templates

Airtable offers a wide range of ready-to-use templates for various purposes, including project management, content calendars, and CRM systems. These templates have been carefully designed to help you get started quickly, even if you don't have any experience with databases. Whether you're a novice user looking to manage a project or an experienced professional who needs a content calendar, Airtable has the templates you need to work efficiently and effectively. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, Airtable offers an intuitive experience for managing all your data.

Integrations

Airtable also excels in its ability to integrate with the tools that you already use. Whether you're using Slack, Teams, or Gmail, Airtable can seamlessly connect to create a smooth and improved workflow. But the integration opportunities don't stop there. Using services like Zapier and Make, or directly via Airtable's REST API, you can sync data, automate and more. This means that you can effectively connect Airtable with almost any other software or tool you use, allowing you to optimize your work processes and increase productivity.

Conditional Logic for Airtable Automations | Airtable Blog

Automation

Airtable offers powerful automation functions that take your workflow to the next level. Whether you want to send emails automatically based on specific triggers, update records with dynamic formulas, or create tasks based on predetermined criteria, Airtable lets you effortlessly set up and forget about complex processes. This not only saves valuable time, but also minimizes the risk of errors. With Airtable, you can get the most out of your organization and streamline your daily tasks in an efficient and automated way.

Mobile app

With the Airtable mobile app, you can access your data anytime, anywhere. Whether you're on the go or in a remote location, you can easily enter, edit, and view data, even without an internet connection. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, giving you flexibility to manage your data no matter where you are. With the Airtable mobile app, you can stay efficient and productive, even when you're not online.

Interfaces

Perhaps one of the best things about Airtable is the interfaces. With the Interface Designer teams have the ability to build complete apps that support their workflows, all working from the same data sources and all updated in real time. However, not all employees need access to everything to take action. An abundance of information can confuse and slow down your team rather than moving your campaign, initiative, process, or project forward.

The good news is that with Interface Designer, you can create a visual, streamlined “front door” for your shared data so that employees can make decisions based on the most relevant information. Interfaces are perfect for employees who just need a single place to update project status or add new tasks but don't need deeper access to Airtable. They're also ideal for stakeholders who need to review and approve work to unblock their teams, and leadership and cross-functional partners who need progress updates and summary metrics to guide decision-making.

Introducing Airtable's New Interface Designer | Airtable Blog

Airtable: A versatile alternative to Excel

Choosing the right tool for your organization is critical to success. As an alternative to Excel, Airtable offers an intuitive and flexible solution that can transform your work processes. The ability to automate complex processes, build unique interfaces, and filter relevant information makes Airtable a powerful tool for any team. It's no longer necessary to struggle with restrictive spreadsheets; choose Airtable and experience the freedom and efficiency of this innovative solution.

Leave the era of frustrating spreadsheets behind and move to a more powerful, flexible, and intuitive system. Make the switch to Airtable today and learn how your team can work more efficiently than ever. Take up the challenge and embrace the future of organized work with Airtable!

If you also need help setting up Airtable for your company, we, as Airtable consultants, are always ready to assist you. Schedule an introductory meeting and learn how we can help you grow your business with Airtable.

Need help moving to Airtable?

Schedule a meeting and we'll be happy to advise you about Airtable's options for your company.

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FAQs

What features does Airtable have?

  • Views: Turn your data into useful views like List, Timeline, Gantt, and more.
  • Interface Designer: Design custom apps based on your existing data in minutes using drag and drop elements.
  • Automations: Accelerate your processes by automating manual tasks and reducing clutter.
  • Management and control: Support large amounts of data, workflows, and teams. Everything in one place.
  • ... and much more!

What type of work is AI best for?

Airtable AI can be added to any workflow and is flexible enough to improve key workflow steps within any team or department. Product teams can use AI to categorize customer feedback and generate product specifications to accelerate feature development. Marketing teams can use AI to draft creative briefings, gather competitive information, or write blog posts. HR and finance teams can use AI to create job descriptions, categorize budget expenditures, prepare company announcements, and more.

Why use Airtable instead of spreadsheets?

Spreadsheets originated from paper ledgers, while Airtable was developed as a relational database from the start.

Spreadsheets are great for keeping track of information, but Airtable makes your data really useful. In Airtable, you can sync, structure, and store data the way you need, supporting endless use cases.

In addition, data is synchronized in real-time. So when data points change, these changes are automatically implemented in every workflow and wherever the data appears, making manual updates unnecessary.

Can Airtable be used for project management?

Yes, Airtable is ideal for project management. You can easily structure projects, assign tasks, track deadlines, and visualize progress with various views such as Kanban, Gantt, and Calendar. Thanks to the automations and integrations, you can streamline processes and always stay up to date, which ensures efficient and organized project management.

What is Airtable used for?

Airtable is used for marketing, operations, project management, HR, sales, finance, and much more. Thanks to its flexibility, you can use it for almost everything: from organizing events and managing projects to keeping track of sales opportunities and streamlining administrative processes.

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Fritz Wierper

No-code consultant