If nobody in-house understands the Airtable base, the client remains dependent. The system can be delivered and working without the team really knowing how to maintain and develop it.
That is why I see the internal champion as an essential deliverable of an engagement. This person stays after the consultant leaves.
Business understanding comes first
This internal champion does not need to be a developer. They need to understand the business and take an interest in the tools. They know why information is needed, who uses it and what happens when it is missing.
I aim to give them enough understanding to handle routine changes and identify those that require support.
Take control of your data
In my engagements, I want clients to stop feeling at the mercy of their tools and data. That means showing them how the system is organised and letting them practise making concrete changes at their own pace.
Control is not just about learning which buttons to press. It shows when someone knows where to look, can explain a rule and knows whom to ask for help when a change is beyond their remit.
Adapted from my LinkedIn post “The power user is the real deliverable”, dated 17 June 2026.