Outerbase: The Future of Data Management

As technology continues to evolve and businesses continue to expand, data management has become an integral part of any company's success. However, accessing data is often a complex and time-consuming process that requires the expertise of developers or data analysts. This creates a bottleneck and slows down decision-making, which can have a negative impact on a company's bottom line. Enter Outerbase, the interface for your database.

In this article, we will explore the inner workings of Outerbase, the problems it solves, and how it can revolutionize the way companies access and manage their data.

What is Outerbase?

Outerbase is a modern platform that allows teams to securely access and manage their data without requiring any technical expertise. With Outerbase, you can view, edit, query, and visualize data from various relational databases such as Postgres, MySQL, Redshift, BigQuery, and Snowflake.

The platform was founded in 2022 by Brandon Strittmatter and Brayden Wilmoth, who saw a need for a modern and user-friendly interface for database management. Before starting Outerbase, Brandon led design for DigitalOcean's managed solutions and was the founding designer of Containership. Brayden, on the other hand, was a software engineering manager at Walmart where he led multiple teams of engineers on various platforms.

The Problem with Traditional Data Management

Traditionally, data management has been targeted solely at developers and data analysts. This meant that only a few people had access to the data, and any requests for data had to go through these experts. This created a bottleneck and slowed down decision-making, which could have a negative impact on a company's bottom line.

Moreover, traditional database tooling is outdated and poorly designed, making it difficult for non-technical team members to access and understand data. This means that decisions are often made based on incomplete or inaccurate information, which can lead to costly mistakes.

How Outerbase Solves These Problems

Outerbase provides an intuitive interface that allows anyone in your team to access and manage data. It has a familiar spreadsheet-like experience that anyone can use, eliminating the need for technical expertise. With Outerbase, team members can easily view, edit, query, and visualize data from various relational databases.

One of the key features of Outerbase is EZQL, which provides a SQL-less experience through the use of GPT-3. This means that team members can ask questions in plain English and get accurate results without having to write a single line of SQL. EZQL takes your database schema and structures your questions/queries based on it, making it easy for anyone to access data.

In addition, Outerbase allows you to create beautiful dashboards that can be shared with your team. These dashboards are updated in real-time and provide an easy way to visualize and understand complex data.

How Outerbase Works

Outerbase sits on top of most relational database types, including Postgres, MySQL, Redshift, BigQuery, and Snowflake. To get started, you simply provide your database credentials and Outerbase gives you a spreadsheet-like experience to view, edit, query, and visualize your data. Since access is based on your credentials, you can easily control how granularly your team accesses your data.

Outerbase's EZQL feature is powered by OpenAI and takes your databases schema and structures your questions/queries based on it. This means that you can ask questions in plain English and get accurate results without having to write any SQL.

Benefits of Using Outerbase

Outerbase offers a range of benefits that make it a valuable tool for companies that rely heavily on data. Here are some of the key benefits of using Outerbase:

Easy to Use
Outerbase has an intuitive interface that is easy to use, even for non-technical users. The spreadsheet-like experience makes it simple to view and edit your data, and the EZQL feature allows you to create complex queries without writing SQL code. This ease of use means that your entire team can access and work with your data, rather than relying on a select few data experts.

Secure
Security is a top priority for Outerbase. They use the latest security protocols to ensure that your data is safe and secure. Access to your data is based on your database credentials, so you can easily control who has access to your data and at what level of granularity.

Time-Saving
Traditionally, working with data required extensive knowledge of SQL, which can be time-consuming to learn and use effectively. Outerbase’s EZQL feature allows you to create queries and dashboards without writing a single line of SQL. This saves time and makes it easier for non-technical team members to work with data.

Collaborative
Outerbase is designed for modern collaborative work environments. Its intuitive interface and granular access controls allow your entire team to work with data, reducing bottlenecks and increasing collaboration. You can also easily share your data and dashboards with others on your team.

Customizable Dashboards
Outerbase’s visual dashboard builder allows you to create beautiful, customized dashboards that display your data in a way that is easy to understand. You can choose from a range of visualizations and customize them to fit your needs. This feature is particularly useful for presenting data to stakeholders who may not be familiar with the underlying data structure.

Multi-Platform Support
Outerbase works with a range of relational database types, including Postgres, MySQL, Redshift, BigQuery, and Snowflake. This means that you can use Outerbase regardless of which database you use. This flexibility makes it easy to integrate Outerbase into your existing data workflows.

Cost-Effective
Outerbase is a cost-effective solution for companies that need to work with data regularly. Traditional data tools can be expensive to license and require extensive training to use effectively. Outerbase’s intuitive interface and EZQL feature make it easy to use, reducing the need for extensive training. Additionally, Outerbase’s pricing is designed to be accessible to small and mid-sized businesses, with plans starting at just $49/month.

Conclusion

Outerbase is a powerful tool for companies that rely heavily on data. Its intuitive interface and EZQL feature make it easy for non-technical users to work with data, while its granular access controls and security protocols ensure that your data is safe and secure. Its customizable dashboards and multi-platform support make it a flexible tool that can be integrated into your existing workflows. And with plans starting at just $49/month, Outerbase is a cost-effective solution for companies of all sizes.