Asana and Airtable are both distinct and individual products; however, they can complement one another and enhance your workflow processes.
Asana is a powerful project management tool that allows teams to organize tasks and track deliverables and workflows efficiently. The project management software features include task and deliverable assignments, project timelines and calendars, due dates, and internal communication tools! The project management software’s wide array of tools and applications enables seamless collaboration and communication between teams, ultimately leading to productive output.
Airtable, on the other hand, is a very flexible database and spreadsheet hybrid tool that allows teams to create and customize databases for multiple project management purposes, such as project tracking, content planning, and client account management. Airtable is an entirely customizable application, and its greatest strength lies in its ability to collate, sort, and analyze groups of data into actionable and management content.
Asana was released in 2012 and lists 300,000 users worldwide; many of these users include Fortune 100 companies such as IBM and Netflix. Asana was also released in 2012 and currently lists 140,000 paid subscription users.
What Are the Key Features of Airtable?
As previously outlined, Airtable is a cloud-based tool, and its enormous appeal is its combination of spreadsheet and database. The tool is user-friendly but boasts robust and complex tools typically featured within a database.
Airtable allows users to customize and curate their inputted data completely. Once the data is entered into the tool, users can allocate them to bases, which are individualized databases; from this point, the data can be managed, sorted, and tracked in any way that the user sees fit.
Collaboration Features
Airtable, like other project management tools, allows users to comment and edit in real time. Many other cloud-based project management tools feature this functionality – and for good reason: keeping communications streamlined and within applications enhances team collaboration and keeps automatic workflows productive and cohesive.
Flexible Database Structure
Airtable features a very customizable interface, and it is perfect for teams already very comfortable with Excel and any data-entry application. The tool allows users to enter, structure, sort, and export data into a format that suits their unique and specific needs.
Customizable Views
One of the strongest features of Airtable is the ability to sort data into an array of view types. Users can utilize a calendar-based view, grid-based, kanban board, or gallery perspective.
This type of content customization allows users to manipulate their data and view it in a preference that suits their specific needs and supports overall project management.
Automation
Another robust and helpful feature is the ability for Airtable users to automate repetitive and straightforward tasks. This could include pulling and distributing a daily report for teams. Also simplistic, this feature saves time, ensures that the task gets completed daily, and allows all stakeholders to receive vital data used within day-to-day transactions.
These automated project management features are easy to set up and save time for teams.
Integration with Other Tools
Importantly, Airtable syncs cohesively with other office third-party tools. The program syncs seamlessly with Zapier, Slack, Google Workspace, and Google Docs, amongst other applications.
Although a feature that is expected amongst popular office tools, the transaction between programs must be simplistic and user-friendly to keep productivity flowing.
Similarly, Airtable has a mobile app version of its tool, allowing users to update, upload, and access data while traveling in the field. Again, another benchmark feature, yet it is imperative to include such mobility within tools.
Data Import and Export
Arguably, one of the most robust features of Airtable is the ability to import and export data from within the tool. This process is simple and user-friendly, which is imperative.
Once the data is within the tool, it can be exported easily into other tools or integrated within other datasets.
Advanced Filtering and Sorting Capabilities
Users can sort, view, and export an array of data quickly within the Airtable tool. This program’s sorting and filtering capabilities are advanced and robust, making it an excellent asset to any business team.
User Permission and Access Control
Another important feature of Airtable is the ability to assign permission levels to users, which, in turn, maintains and controls the integrity of the data.
This is a vital functionality within the data-central application. Simple mistakes within a tool that heavily focuses on data would damage a business operation.
Another great feature of Airtable is that only critical information can be controlled – with other ‘bases’ completely open for upload, export, and customization.
Revision History
Within bases that are open and available for general access and customization, the program has an excellent feature to see when the last revision or data upload was complete.
Users can then request earlier document versions, which is a super helpful feature! This feature allows users to maintain data integrity and encourages transparency amongst teams.
What Are the Key Features of Asana?
Projects and Task Management
Asana is a robust and popular project management tool that allows users to create and organize subsequent tasks. Once created, these tasks can then be assigned to team members and include due dates and priority ranking, and they can even contain the attachments of relevant materials.
Interestingly and helpfully, projects can contain multiple subtasks, which makes it easy and visually supportive to assign and manage complex workflows and deliverables.
Collaboration and Workspaces
Like Airtable, Asana allows users to collaborate within the tool in real-time, including editing and commenting on a document. However, Asana takes this feature further and features a chat element within the tool, allowing teams to drop one another relevant notes and information, which is captured and documented easily.
The chat and team page feature in this Airtable alternative is actually very helpful as it allows workers to remain focused on the task at hand without swapping to other chat features such as Slack, texts, or calls, which could lead to users becoming distracted and off-task.
The feature allows users to upload vital project documentation and information within the shared workspace, which is an excellent addition to other storage sites such as SharePoint and keeps information handy.
Timeline and Calendar Views
When it comes to to-do lists and actions, people work very differently – some employees’ desks might be littered with post-its highlighting key dates and deliverables, and others might have neatly marked calendars. The great thing about Asana is everyone can display their project timelines in a fashion that adheres to their professional style.
Customization of dashboards and data is really important within project management tools. Everybody prefers data views, and Asana supports this need with customizable layouts.
Automation
A great feature of Asana, like Airtable, is the ability to automate repetitive tasks such as daily report distribution or due date reminders. Users can easily set up rules within the tool that automate such deliverable items, reducing manual work efforts.
Third-Party Applications and Mobility
Asana syncs seamlessly with various third-party applications and tools like Slack and Google Drive. Again, this feature is basic but imperative to ensure that productivity is met.
Asana also has a robust mobile application to keep data accessible whenever employees travel and on the road.
When users are out of pocket, this is typically when important information is neglected to be updated.
File Sharing and Attachments
As mentioned, Asana can allow users to upload attachments and other vital project information. This feature is great and ensures that data is collated somewhere centrally where all users have access to it.
Asana can be used as a sole document repository – or it can be used in conjunction with another file storage space.
Progress Tracking and Reporting
Another fantastic and very popular feature of Asana is the ability to generate and distribute reports based on the data entered on complex projects.
This is a super helpful feature, especially for those in middle management who have multiple statuses to update daily or weekly.
FAQs
Which tool is better for reporting from?
Based on user reviews, Asana is the better tool for generating charts and graphs that convey project data and milestones.
What is the best feature of each tool?
Asana has a superb group chat feature, which is helpful and relevant for project collaboration. Airtable allows for commenting and editing in real-time, but it does not have a chat feature.
Airtables ability to allow users to customize their content and data is a standout feature of this product.
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