When it comes to building automated workflows for supplier inquiry handling, there are several crucial factors that come to mind. Functionality is often the first thing we think of. But let's not forget that pricing plays a significant role too. Airtable is a common choice in the world of automation, but does its pricing really meet your expectations? Maybe comparing Airtable and Bika.ai in various aspects like pricing and functionality could help you make a wiser decision. It's essential to note that for the specific task of supplier inquiry handling, Bika.ai's Regular Invoice Collection for Paid Payments template is highly suitable. Free Trial
Airtable is a cloud-based platform that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the power of a database. It's designed to help you create, share, and collaborate. You can use it to organize content, track projects, and manage tasks effectively. However, it has its challenges. The base structure can be complex for new users, and handling large datasets and providing easy-to-use automation can be a struggle. With a limit of 125,000 records per base for the Business Plan, it might not scale well for teams with extensive data management needs. Additionally, its templates lack built-in automation capabilities.
Bika.ai is a no-code AI automation database that offers an easy-to-use platform with enhanced CRM, marketing automation, project management, BI, and ERP capabilities, all at an attractive price. It comes with plug-and-play templates that simplify business process automation. In the era of AI, Bika.ai can handle large amounts of data effortlessly, making it a reliable choice for various operations.
Airtable is suitable for straightforward tasks and smaller databases. On the contrary, Bika.ai is capable of handling more complex tasks and larger data volumes, leveraging AI automation to streamline tasks across different business activities. Let's take a quick look at how these two platforms compare on key features:
Feature | Airtable | Bika.ai |
---|---|---|
Pricing | Free provided, paid plans from $20/user/month | Free provided, paid plans from $9.99/user/month |
Platform Type | No-code database | No-code AI automation database |
Ease of Use | Base structure is geeky for non-tech users | Directory tree is easy to use and user-friendly for general users |
Records per Database | Up to 125,000 records per base for Business plan | Up to 1,500,000 records per database for Team plan |
Automation | Basic automation capabilities with limited triggers and actions | Advanced automation capabilities with extensive triggers and actions |
Template | Templates don’t include automation capability; no automation publish and share | plenty of plug-and-play AI automated templates with preset content; supports automation publish and share |
Storage | 100 GB of attachments per base | 800 GB per space |
API | Limited APIs | API-first platform making every feature an integration endpoint for automation |
Bika.ai offers a generous free tier and cost-effective paid options that provide better value compared to Airtable.
When looking at Airtable's pricing plans:
Plan | Features | Price |
---|---|---|
Free plan | Unlimited bases 1,000 records per base Up to 5 editors 1 GB of attachments per base 100 automation runs Interface Designer | Free |
Team plan | 50,000 records per base 25,000 automation runs 20 GB of attachments per base Standard sync integrations Extensions Gantt and timeline view Expanded color, formatting, and calendar options | $20 per user per month |
Business plan | 125,000 records per base 100,000 automation runs 100 GB of attachments per base Premium sync integrations Verified data Two-way sync Admin panel SAML-based single sign-on | $45 per user per month |
Enterprise plan | 500,000 records per base 500,000 automation runs 1,000 GB of attachments per base On-premises sync integrations Enterprise Hub Enhanced security and admin controls Enterprise API Extension and integration management Audit logs and DLP | Pricing on request (estimated to start at $70 up to $100 per user per month) |
Now, let's take a look at Bika.ai's pricing plans:
Plan | Features | Price |
---|---|---|
Free plan | 5GB of storage 10,000 records per database 200 automation runs Missions, Reports, AI Summary, and more Free Send Bulk 100+ SMS / 1000+ Email OpenAPI Access | Free |
Plus plan | 50GB of storage 100,000 records per database 30,000 automation runs Permissions control More database fields, automation actions More free SMS, Email, Reports, Missions, AI | $9.99 per user per month |
Pro plan | 200GB of storage 500,000 records per database 60,000 automation runs IM / Email Support Team / Organization Advanced OpenAPI and AI models | $19.99 per user per month |
Team plan | 800GB of storage 1,500,000 records per database 100,000 automation runs Audit Logs Full integrations, automations Advanced Permissions | $39.99 per user per month |
Opt for Bika.ai if you need:
Bika.ai's proactive features save precious time and resources, allowing you and your team to focus on strategic activities rather than mundane data management and task execution.
The Regular Invoice Collection for Paid Payments template includes a data table and an automation task.
The usage steps are as follows:
Install this template into your Bika Space. If you need to manage multiple projects simultaneously, you can install this template multiple times. One template corresponds to one project.
You need to invite the finance manager to join the Space. You can set the role to "Finance Manager" and then create an invitation link.
Enter the editing interface of the Automatic Invoice Collection
automation task, where you can modify the task's trigger conditions and execution actions. If not set, it defaults to automatically sending reminders at 10 AM on the 25th of each month.
Set the corresponding payer information in the invoice management so that it can be used when collecting invoices. If not set, the invoice collection function will not work properly.
We have enabled the Automatic Invoice Collection
automation task by default. You can check whether the reminder notification is successfully sent at 10 AM on the 25th of each month. You can also click "Run Now" to test whether you receive the reminder notification.
Payers can submit invoices through the collection reminders they have received, and the system will automatically add the invoices to the "Invoice Management" data table.
After the payer submits the invoice, the finance manager will receive a reminder that the invoice has been submitted and needs to confirm whether the submitted invoice is correct.
In invoice management, you can view all submitted invoice information, including invoice status, submitter, submission time, etc.
This template is highly suitable for:
By using this automation template, you can effectively address specific challenges related to supplier inquiry handling. It simplifies and automates the invoice collection process, ensuring timely and accurate management of invoice data. Make the smart choice and embrace the power of Bika.ai for a more efficient and streamlined workflow.