DEPT unifies data and accelerates work with AI
Learn how DEPT redefined global creative operations, centralized workflows, and enhanced team productivity with Airtable, enabling the agency to deliver exceptional work for global brands like Google, Patagonia, and Audi.
120+
video productions managed annually
30+
locations across 5 continents connected through a centralized system.
Managing hundreds of shoots around the world.
DEPT is a pioneering technology and marketing services company with a global team of over 4,000 digital specialists across 30+ locations on five continents. Working with renowned brands like Google, KFC, and eBay, DEPT balances the dual demands of building cutting-edge digital experiences and delivering best-in-class creative work.
For Toby Baker, Production Director at DEPT, managing a team of 45 creatives, producers, and freelancers posed a growing challenge.
“When you’re delivering 120 shoots a year, with thousands of assets and a globally distributed team, the stress of managing everything through Slack and spreadsheets becomes overwhelming”.
The challenge: Managing disconnected workflows amid growing demands
Before Airtable, DEPT struggled with a disjointed approach to managing production workflows. Teams relied on disconnected tools like Slack and spreadsheets, making it difficult to track project progress, budgets, and approvals. Feedback was often scattered, leading to delays and inefficiencies.
“As we scaled, the complexity of managing assets, contracts, and budgets increased exponentially,” explains Baker. “We needed a system that could bring everything together in one place, while being flexible enough to adapt to the unique demands of our industry.”
The solution: Unifying data and accelerating work with AI
By adopting Airtable, DEPT built a unified system that centralized its operations and empowered its team. The platform provided a single source of truth for everything from project tracking and legal approvals to influencer casting and asset review.
One of Airtable’s biggest strengths was its ability to adapt to DEPT’s needs, including integrating AI to automate influencer casting.
“We needed a better way to operate—one that made collaboration seamless and empowered our team to focus on creativity.”
“We feed project requirements into Airtable, which then integrates with AI models to recommend the best influencers for our campaigns,” Baker shares. “It’s incredibly efficient—what used to take days now takes minutes.”
Airtable’s flexibility also allowed DEPT to automate routine processes like contracts and approvals, reducing the manual workload for its team. “Whenever we face a business problem, Airtable is the first tool we turn to,” says Baker. “It’s so intuitive that even non-technical team members can use it to create solutions.”
The results: boosted productivity and efficiency with a unified workflow
Airtable’s impact on DEPT has been transformative, streamlining operations and enhancing productivity across the agency.
Centralized operations: DEPT now has a single source of truth, enabling teams to collaborate seamlessly and focus on delivering exceptional creative work.
Enhanced efficiency: Automating workflows like contracts and approvals has significantly reduced the team’s manual workload, freeing them to focus on high-impact tasks.
Improved team morale: “The biggest feedback from our team has been how much easier Airtable has made their day-to-day work,” says Baker.
AI integration for innovation: Leveraging AI with Airtable has streamlined processes like influencer casting, cutting turnaround times from days to minutes.
What’s next: DEPT is excited to expand Airtable’s use across the organization, exploring new opportunities in logistics and production management.
“Airtable has become the backbone of how we operate. It’s not just a tool—it’s the enabler of how we work smarter, deliver faster, and stay ahead in a competitive industry.”