Web Product Catalog in 48 Hours with AirTable Extension!

I recently used AirTable while creating a new n8n workflow, and I was impressed by the intuitive UI and powerful features, including the AI Assistant chat.

So I decided to test it a bit further with a fun project, using it as the main database of a Web Product Catalog.

Start: Product Information

The first step in creating any web catalog is gathering the product information.

As often is the case, the product information coming from businesses is, let's say "less than ideally structured".

Many companies still do not use PIM, DAM or standard tools to structure and manage their products life-cycle.

So for the sake of this exercise, I gathered hundreds of internet images of dirt bikes, and used them as "products".

Define and Implement the Workflow

Every product catalog is unique, and so are all the steps required to bring it live to its best.

The first challenge in this scenario, was that each image was containing two different products (in this case bikes).

This was easily tackled with a small python script, that takes the image height and cuts it in half, and then saves two separate files.

AI to the Rescue

I then used the Google Cloud Computer Vision API in another python script, to do some bulk OCR on those images, extract all text from them, representing the product information (brand, model, engine displacement, etc.), and format it as a structured JSON file.

This file was easily imported into MongoDB, my favorite database for most applications, where I was able to do the first round of data cleaning (removing duplicate data, adding missing information, etc.).

I then exported the entire MongoDB collection into a CSV file, that has then been imported into AirTable, creating the table DirtBikes.

Here I did a second round of data cleanup, thanks to the intuitive UI of AirTable.

I used also a bit the AirTable AI Assistant, to fill data automatically in related columns, and even to create a new table automatically: Brands, containing the unique motorcycle brands out of the hundreds of images.

Image Optimization

As in most new web product catalog, the product images used by business are not "web-friendly", being used on all sort of marketing and branding material, they are generally in a very high quality, with some fancy background, or in some cases (as in this one) they contain text overlays covering parts of the product.

So before they can be used for a web catalog (or a Ecommerce website) they need further editing steps such as removing all text and the background, as well as optimizing the image file size for the web (all done with some free online tool).

UI: Web Catalog

The final step was to provide some nice-looking UI, as the default Gallery interface offered out-of-the-box by AirTable is a bit limited, when it comes to styling.

So I adventured into AirTable extensions (React apps that are embedded in AirTable UI), and quite quickly I was able to create a fancy web catalog, that could easily be the start of a new Ecommerce shop, or a PIM/DAM system! 

Conclusions

AirTable is a very powerful tool to quickly import/export and analyze data, making is a sort of Database As A Service.

I was able during the weekend to implement the AirTable extension using only the free tier, and despite not being able to publish it live, I could run it on my machine, while it displays embedded in the AirTable UI, making it very easy to implement and troubleshoot.

Find out more about AirTable Extensions, or how to have a web product catalog/Ecommerce in no time! 

Book a call now!

Learn why AirTable beats Excel in this video:

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the “48-Hours” product catalog solution described in the article?

A: The blog post outlines how you can set up a web-based product catalog in just 48 hours — by leveraging pre-built templates, streamlined import processes, automation of product data and images, and an efficient deployment workflow.

Q: Who should consider using a rapid “web product catalog in 48 hours” approach?

A: Businesses preparing for an upcoming launch, seasonal campaign, or trade show, and who need a functional online product catalog quickly — such as small to medium ecommerce brands, distributors, or B2B suppliers — will benefit most.

Q: What are the key steps to launch a web product catalog that fast?

A: Important steps typically include:

• Gathering product data and images in advance.
• Using a catalog platform or template that supports quick deployment.
• Configuring navigation, search/filter, and category structure.
• Testing and publishing within the 48-hour window.

Q: What technical or organizational prerequisites are needed?

A: You’ll need:

• Clean and consistent product data (names, SKUs, descriptions, images).
• Access to a web host or catalog platform.
• A clear category/structure plan and user flow.
• Someone responsible for rapid iterations and deployment (either internal or via an agency).

Q: What are the benefits of having an online product catalog quickly?

A: Some benefits include:

• Faster time-to-market for product launches.
• Improved accessibility of your product line online.
• Better marketing opportunities (shareable link, embed on website).
• Reduced dependency on PDFs/static-lists; interactive catalog elements.

Q: Are there any risks or trade-offs with a rapid catalog build?

A: Yes — a “quick launch” means potentially less refinement: fewer custom integrations, limited advanced features (e.g., complex filtering, search optimization), minimal polish of UI/UX, and possibly less thorough QA or data enrichment. But it gets you live fast and you can iterate afterwards.

Q: How can I ensure the catalog remains maintainable after the rapid launch?

A: You should:

• Use a system or platform that allows ongoing updates of product data/images.
• Define roles/process for catalog maintenance.
• Plan for future improvements (e.g., deeper search filters, analytics).
• Ensure the architecture is scalable (so you don’t need to rebuild later).

Q: What features should I consider adding once the immediate 48-hour launch is complete?

A: After the initial rollout, you may want to add:

• Advanced search, filters and facets (by price, attributes, availability)
• Analytics on product engagement and performance
• Integration with inventory/ERP systems for up-to-date availability
• Multi-channel syndication (to marketplaces, PDF catalogs, mobile)
• Rich media (videos, interactive 360° views)

Q: How can a web product catalog support my marketing or sales efforts?

A: A web catalog becomes a central hub for product discovery — you can link from emails, social posts, embed in website or share internally. It helps sales teams reference current product data, and supports marketing by showcasing full range, high-quality images and structured descriptions.