What is a Solution vs. a Table in SmartSuite?

Things to know about governance risk and compliance

Each plays a distinct role in structuring data, organizing processes, and enabling connected work across teams. This article explains how Solutions and Tables function within SmartSuite, their key characteristics, and how together they create a flexible, scalable foundation for digital operations.

TL;DR

Assess Your Needs: Determine whether you require a broad, multi-process Solution or a focused Table to address a specific workflow.
Leverage Customization: Use SmartSuite’s no-code builders and AI suggestions to tailor Solutions and Tables precisely to your business processes.
Plan for Growth: Build with scalability in mind, allowing your Solutions to evolve alongside your organization.

What Are Solutions in SmartSuite

A Solution in SmartSuite is the overarching framework that organizes related business processes, data structures, and workflows. It represents a complete business area - such as Human Resources, Project Management, or Customer Relationship Management - and brings together all the necessary Tables, automations, permissions, and dashboards to support that function.

Key Characteristics of Solutions

Holistic Structure: Solutions integrate multiple Tables, views, automations, and reports that work together to solve a specific business challenge.
Process-Oriented: Each Solution is designed around a defined workflow or operational need - streamlining end-to-end processes.
Customizable and Scalable: Solutions can evolve as your organization grows, supporting additional Tables, fields, automations, or integrations without disruption.

Example of a SmartSuite Solution

A company looking to improve its Project Management operations might deploy a Project Management Solution in SmartSuite. This Solution could include Tables for Projects, Tasks, Resources, and Risks, along with dashboards to visualize progress, automation to send deadline reminders, and reports to track performance metrics.

Benefits of Solutions

Efficiency: Consolidate multiple workflows and data sets into a unified structure.
Comprehensiveness: Manage everything from strategic planning to task execution within a single environment.
Adaptability: Modify or extend Solutions as needs change - without rebuilding from scratch.

Exploring Tables in SmartSuite

Within each Solution, Tables serve as the core building blocks that hold and organize data. Each Table focuses on a specific aspect of a process (similar to a spreadsheet or database table) but with richer functionality, automation, and connectivity.

Key Characteristics of Tables

Task- or Data-Specific: Tables are designed to handle focused sets of information, such as employee records, project tasks, or customer accounts.
User-Friendly: Tables provide an intuitive interface where users can view, filter, group, and visualize data in different ways: Grid, Kanban, Calendar, Timeline, or Chart views.
Interconnected: Tables can link to one another, allowing information to flow seamlessly across a Solution. For example, a “Projects” Table can link directly to a “Tasks” Table to show all tasks related to a specific project.

Example of a SmartSuite Table

In the Project Management Solution, a Tasks Table might manage individual assignments: tracking task owners, due dates, dependencies, and completion status. This Table connects with the Projects Table to provide real-time rollups of progress and resource utilization.

Advantages of Tables

Simplicity: Keep data structured and easy to manage within a specific business function.
Agility: Create or modify Tables quickly using SmartSuite’s no-code design tools.
Interactivity: Build connected data relationships that eliminate silos and improve visibility across teams.

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Comparing Solutions and Tables
Aspect	Solution	Table
Scope	Broad framework encompassing multiple processes and data sets	Focused data structure supporting a single process or entity
Purpose	Manage an entire business function or department	Store and manage specific records or data points
Composition	Contains multiple Tables, dashboards, automations, and permissions	Contains fields, views, records, and linked relationships
Customization	Configurable at the structural and governance level	Configurable at the field and workflow level

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Use Cases for Solutions vs. Tables

Use Case 1: Human Resource Management

Solution: A complete HR Management Solution may include Tables for Recruiting, Employees, Performance Reviews, and Training.
Table Example: The Recruiting Table could automate candidate tracking, interview scheduling, and offer approvals.

Use Case 2: Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Solution: A CRM Solution might bring together Tables for Leads, Accounts, Opportunities, and Support Tickets.
Table Example: The Opportunities Table automates deal tracking, sends alerts for stalled opportunities, and links to the Accounts Table for client history.

The SmartSuite Advantage

SmartSuite’s architecture makes it easy to build both broad, integrated Solutions and specialized Tables that work in perfect harmony. Whether you’re deploying an enterprise-scale GRC Solution or managing day-to-day workflows in Marketing or IT, SmartSuite gives you the flexibility to design, automate, and scale with confidence.

Benefits of Using SmartSuite for Solutions and Tables

Here are the 4 benefits of using SmartSuite for Solutions and Tables:

Seamless Integration: Tables within a Solution share data effortlessly, maintaining a single source of truth.
User-Friendly Interface: Both Solutions and Tables are designed with intuitive drag-and-drop builders and AI-assisted configuration.
Scalability: As your organization expands, you can easily add new Tables or evolve existing Solutions to support emerging needs.
Collaborative Power: Teams can collaborate directly within records, using comments, @mentions, and activity feeds tied to the work itself.