diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/cache/user.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/cache/user.ts
index b3fd7c08cd..481d3691e4 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/cache/user.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/cache/user.ts
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export async function getUsers(
 ): Promise<{ users: User[]; notFoundIds?: string[] }> {
   const client = await redis.getUserClient()
   // try cache
-  let usersFromCache = await client.bulkGet(userIds)
+  let usersFromCache = await client.bulkGet<User>(userIds)
   const missingUsersFromCache = userIds.filter(uid => !usersFromCache[uid])
   const users = Object.values(usersFromCache)
   let notFoundIds
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/redis/redis.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/redis/redis.ts
index 78817d0aa0..e7755f275d 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/redis/redis.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/redis/redis.ts
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class RedisWrapper {
     }
   }
 
-  async bulkGet(keys: string[]) {
+  async bulkGet<T>(keys: string[]) {
     const db = this._db
     if (keys.length === 0) {
       return {}
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class RedisWrapper {
     const prefixedKeys = keys.map(key => addDbPrefix(db, key))
     let response = await this.getClient().mget(prefixedKeys)
     if (Array.isArray(response)) {
-      let final: Record<string, any> = {}
+      let final: Record<string, T> = {}
       let count = 0
       for (let result of response) {
         if (result) {
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/tests/extra/DBTestConfiguration.ts b/packages/backend-core/tests/extra/DBTestConfiguration.ts
index a2550a6e24..99a5bcba46 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/tests/extra/DBTestConfiguration.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/tests/extra/DBTestConfiguration.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class DBTestConfiguration {
 
   // TENANCY
 
-  doInTenant(task: any) {
+  doInTenant<T>(task: () => Promise<T>) {
     return context.doInTenant(this.tenantId, () => {
       return task()
     })
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/tests/index.ts b/packages/backend-core/tests/index.ts
index 50fc1dc431..cdbacc12d8 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/tests/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/tests/index.ts
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 export * from "./core/utilities"
+export * from "./extra"
diff --git a/packages/bbui/src/Table/CellRenderer.svelte b/packages/bbui/src/Table/CellRenderer.svelte
index c64b975884..4ad6e22d7e 100644
--- a/packages/bbui/src/Table/CellRenderer.svelte
+++ b/packages/bbui/src/Table/CellRenderer.svelte
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     longform: StringRenderer,
     array: ArrayRenderer,
     internal: InternalRenderer,
+    bb_reference: RelationshipRenderer,
   }
   $: type = getType(schema)
   $: customRenderer = customRenderers?.find(x => x.column === schema?.name)
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/components/backend/DataTable/modals/CreateEditColumn.svelte b/packages/builder/src/components/backend/DataTable/modals/CreateEditColumn.svelte
index 8f0c5a0b7e..7d77942815 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/components/backend/DataTable/modals/CreateEditColumn.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/components/backend/DataTable/modals/CreateEditColumn.svelte
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
   import { getBindings } from "components/backend/DataTable/formula"
   import JSONSchemaModal from "./JSONSchemaModal.svelte"
   import { ValidColumnNameRegex } from "@budibase/shared-core"
+  import { FieldSubtype, FieldType } from "@budibase/types"
   import RelationshipSelector from "components/common/RelationshipSelector.svelte"
 
   const AUTO_TYPE = "auto"
@@ -42,6 +43,11 @@
   const NUMBER_TYPE = FIELDS.NUMBER.type
   const JSON_TYPE = FIELDS.JSON.type
   const DATE_TYPE = FIELDS.DATETIME.type
+  const BB_REFERENCE_TYPE = FieldType.BB_REFERENCE
+  const BB_USER_REFERENCE_TYPE = composeType(
+    BB_REFERENCE_TYPE,
+    FieldSubtype.USER
+  )
 
   const dispatch = createEventDispatcher()
   const PROHIBITED_COLUMN_NAMES = ["type", "_id", "_rev", "tableId"]
@@ -68,12 +74,39 @@
   let jsonSchemaModal
   let allowedTypes = []
   let editableColumn = {
-    type: "string",
+    type: fieldDefinitions.STRING.type,
     constraints: fieldDefinitions.STRING.constraints,
     // Initial value for column name in other table for linked records
     fieldName: $tables.selected.name,
   }
 
+  const bbRefTypeMapping = {}
+
+  function composeType(fieldType, subtype) {
+    return `${fieldType}_${subtype}`
+  }
+
+  // Handling fields with subtypes
+  fieldDefinitions = Object.entries(fieldDefinitions).reduce(
+    (p, [key, field]) => {
+      if (field.type === BB_REFERENCE_TYPE) {
+        const composedType = composeType(field.type, field.subtype)
+        p[key] = {
+          ...field,
+          type: composedType,
+        }
+        bbRefTypeMapping[composedType] = {
+          type: field.type,
+          subtype: field.subtype,
+        }
+      } else {
+        p[key] = field
+      }
+      return p
+    },
+    {}
+  )
+
   $: if (primaryDisplay) {
     editableColumn.constraints.presence = { allowEmpty: false }
   }
@@ -107,6 +140,7 @@
 
   const initialiseField = (field, savingColumn) => {
     isCreating = !field
+
     if (field && !savingColumn) {
       editableColumn = cloneDeep(field)
       originalName = editableColumn.name ? editableColumn.name + "" : null
@@ -114,6 +148,14 @@
       primaryDisplay =
         $tables.selected.primaryDisplay == null ||
         $tables.selected.primaryDisplay === editableColumn.name
+
+      const mapped = Object.entries(bbRefTypeMapping).find(
+        ([_, v]) => v.type === field.type && v.subtype === field.subtype
+      )
+      if (mapped) {
+        editableColumn.type = mapped[0]
+        delete editableColumn.subtype
+      }
     } else if (!savingColumn) {
       let highestNumber = 0
       Object.keys(table.schema).forEach(columnName => {
@@ -130,6 +172,7 @@
         editableColumn.name = "Column 01"
       }
     }
+
     allowedTypes = getAllowedTypes()
 
     if (editableColumn.type === LINK_TYPE && editableColumn.tableId) {
@@ -145,6 +188,8 @@
 
   $: initialiseField(field, savingColumn)
 
+  $: isBBReference = !!bbRefTypeMapping[editableColumn.type]
+
   $: checkConstraints(editableColumn)
   $: required = !!editableColumn?.constraints?.presence || primaryDisplay
   $: uneditable =
@@ -220,6 +265,13 @@
 
     let saveColumn = cloneDeep(editableColumn)
 
+    if (bbRefTypeMapping[saveColumn.type]) {
+      saveColumn = {
+        ...saveColumn,
+        ...bbRefTypeMapping[saveColumn.type],
+      }
+    }
+
     if (saveColumn.type === AUTO_TYPE) {
       saveColumn = buildAutoColumn(
         $tables.selected.name,
@@ -298,9 +350,10 @@
     // Default relationships many to many
     if (editableColumn.type === LINK_TYPE) {
       editableColumn.relationshipType = RelationshipType.MANY_TO_MANY
-    }
-    if (editableColumn.type === FORMULA_TYPE) {
+    } else if (editableColumn.type === FORMULA_TYPE) {
       editableColumn.formulaType = "dynamic"
+    } else if (editableColumn.type === BB_USER_REFERENCE_TYPE) {
+      editableColumn.relationshipType = RelationshipType.ONE_TO_MANY
     }
   }
 
@@ -339,7 +392,9 @@
       ALLOWABLE_NUMBER_TYPES.indexOf(editableColumn.type) !== -1
     ) {
       return ALLOWABLE_NUMBER_OPTIONS
-    } else if (!external) {
+    }
+
+    if (!external) {
       return [
         ...Object.values(fieldDefinitions),
         { name: "Auto Column", type: AUTO_TYPE },
@@ -360,6 +415,9 @@
       if (!external || table.sql) {
         fields = [...fields, FIELDS.LINK, FIELDS.ARRAY]
       }
+      if (fieldDefinitions.USER) {
+        fields.push(fieldDefinitions.USER)
+      }
       return fields
     }
   }
@@ -613,6 +671,17 @@
     <Button primary text on:click={openJsonSchemaEditor}
       >Open schema editor</Button
     >
+  {:else if isBBReference}
+    <Toggle
+      value={editableColumn.relationshipType === RelationshipType.MANY_TO_MANY}
+      on:change={e =>
+        (editableColumn.relationshipType = e.detail
+          ? RelationshipType.MANY_TO_MANY
+          : RelationshipType.ONE_TO_MANY)}
+      disabled={!isCreating}
+      thin
+      text="Allow multiple users"
+    />
   {/if}
   {#if editableColumn.type === AUTO_TYPE || editableColumn.autocolumn}
     <Select
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/componentSettings.js b/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/componentSettings.js
index 6d673cbd3d..4c49587372 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/componentSettings.js
+++ b/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/componentSettings.js
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ const componentMap = {
   "field/array": FormFieldSelect,
   "field/json": FormFieldSelect,
   "field/barcodeqr": FormFieldSelect,
+  "field/bb_reference": FormFieldSelect,
   // Some validation types are the same as others, so not all types are
   // explicitly listed here. e.g. options uses string validation
   "validation/string": ValidationEditor,
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ const componentMap = {
   "validation/datetime": ValidationEditor,
   "validation/attachment": ValidationEditor,
   "validation/link": ValidationEditor,
+  "validation/bb_reference": ValidationEditor,
 }
 
 export const getComponentForSetting = setting => {
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/controls/FieldConfiguration/utils.js b/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/controls/FieldConfiguration/utils.js
index d4a8963dba..c929263db1 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/controls/FieldConfiguration/utils.js
+++ b/packages/builder/src/components/design/settings/controls/FieldConfiguration/utils.js
@@ -43,4 +43,5 @@ export const FieldTypeToComponentMap = {
   link: "relationshipfield",
   json: "jsonfield",
   barcodeqr: "codescanner",
+  bb_reference: "bbreferencefield",
 }
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/constants/backend/index.js b/packages/builder/src/constants/backend/index.js
index dd66a48864..047152eeed 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/constants/backend/index.js
+++ b/packages/builder/src/constants/backend/index.js
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ export const FIELDS = {
       presence: false,
     },
   },
+  USER: {
+    name: "User",
+    type: "bb_reference",
+    subtype: "user",
+    icon: "User",
+  },
 }
 
 export const AUTO_COLUMN_SUB_TYPES = {
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/app/[application]/design/[screenId]/[componentId]/new/_components/componentStructure.json b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/app/[application]/design/[screenId]/[componentId]/new/_components/componentStructure.json
index ee0f99a074..11a130490a 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/app/[application]/design/[screenId]/[componentId]/new/_components/componentStructure.json
+++ b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/app/[application]/design/[screenId]/[componentId]/new/_components/componentStructure.json
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
       "datetimefield",
       "multifieldselect",
       "s3upload",
-      "codescanner"
+      "codescanner",
+      "bbreferencefield"
     ]
   },
   {
diff --git a/packages/client/manifest.json b/packages/client/manifest.json
index 6788925c31..4e56ca758d 100644
--- a/packages/client/manifest.json
+++ b/packages/client/manifest.json
@@ -5623,5 +5623,73 @@
         "defaultValue": false
       }
     ]
+  },
+  "bbreferencefield": {
+    "devComment": "As bb reference is only used for user subtype for now, we are using user for icon and labels",
+    "name": "User Field",
+    "icon": "User",
+    "styles": ["size"],
+    "requiredAncestors": ["form"],
+    "editable": true,
+    "size": {
+      "width": 400,
+      "height": 50
+    },
+    "settings": [
+      {
+        "type": "field/bb_reference",
+        "label": "Field",
+        "key": "field",
+        "required": true
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "text",
+        "label": "Label",
+        "key": "label"
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "text",
+        "label": "Placeholder",
+        "key": "placeholder"
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "text",
+        "label": "Default value",
+        "key": "defaultValue"
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "event",
+        "label": "On change",
+        "key": "onChange",
+        "context": [
+          {
+            "label": "Field Value",
+            "key": "value"
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "validation/link",
+        "label": "Validation",
+        "key": "validation"
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "filter/relationship",
+        "label": "Filtering",
+        "key": "filter"
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "boolean",
+        "label": "Search",
+        "key": "autocomplete",
+        "defaultValue": true
+      },
+      {
+        "type": "boolean",
+        "label": "Disabled",
+        "key": "disabled",
+        "defaultValue": false
+      }
+    ]
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/blocks/form/InnerFormBlock.svelte b/packages/client/src/components/app/blocks/form/InnerFormBlock.svelte
index f2887e97ad..ec5daa21b1 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/components/app/blocks/form/InnerFormBlock.svelte
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/blocks/form/InnerFormBlock.svelte
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     link: "relationshipfield",
     json: "jsonfield",
     barcodeqr: "codescanner",
+    bb_reference: "bbreferencefield",
   }
 
   let formId
diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7d11ff5525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<script>
+  import RelationshipField from "./RelationshipField.svelte"
+</script>
+
+<RelationshipField
+  {...$$props}
+  datasourceType={"user"}
+  primaryDisplay={"email"}
+/>
diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
index c9fe4a8549..768f784d49 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
   export let defaultValue
   export let onChange
   export let filter
+  export let datasourceType = "table"
+  export let primaryDisplay
 
   let fieldState
   let fieldApi
@@ -24,12 +26,15 @@
   let searchTerm
   let open
 
+  $: type =
+    datasourceType === "table" ? FieldTypes.LINK : FieldTypes.BB_REFERENCE
+
   $: multiselect = fieldSchema?.relationshipType !== "one-to-many"
   $: linkedTableId = fieldSchema?.tableId
   $: fetch = fetchData({
     API,
     datasource: {
-      type: "table",
+      type: datasourceType,
       tableId: linkedTableId,
     },
     options: {
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@
     : flatten(fieldState?.value)?.[0]
   $: component = multiselect ? CoreMultiselect : CoreSelect
   $: expandedDefaultValue = expand(defaultValue)
-  $: primaryDisplay = tableDefinition?.primaryDisplay
+  $: primaryDisplay = primaryDisplay || tableDefinition?.primaryDisplay
 
   let optionsObj = {}
   let initialValuesProcessed
@@ -54,7 +59,7 @@
       // Persist the initial values as options, allowing them to be present in the dropdown,
       // even if they are not in the inital fetch results
       initialValuesProcessed = true
-      optionsObj = fieldState?.value?.reduce((accumulator, value) => {
+      optionsObj = (fieldState?.value || []).reduce((accumulator, value) => {
         accumulator[value._id] = {
           _id: value._id,
           [primaryDisplay]: value.primaryDisplay,
@@ -161,7 +166,7 @@
   {disabled}
   {validation}
   defaultValue={expandedDefaultValue}
-  type={FieldTypes.LINK}
+  {type}
   bind:fieldState
   bind:fieldApi
   bind:fieldSchema
diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/index.js b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/index.js
index 47701fe3a9..5804d3a79d 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/index.js
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/index.js
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@ export { default as formstep } from "./FormStep.svelte"
 export { default as jsonfield } from "./JSONField.svelte"
 export { default as s3upload } from "./S3Upload.svelte"
 export { default as codescanner } from "./CodeScannerField.svelte"
+export { default as bbreferencefield } from "./BBReferenceField.svelte"
diff --git a/packages/client/src/constants.js b/packages/client/src/constants.js
index 37a45fbe5d..f0a89b9cfd 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/constants.js
+++ b/packages/client/src/constants.js
@@ -1,17 +1,5 @@
-export const FieldTypes = {
-  STRING: "string",
-  BARCODEQR: "barcodeqr",
-  LONGFORM: "longform",
-  OPTIONS: "options",
-  NUMBER: "number",
-  BOOLEAN: "boolean",
-  ARRAY: "array",
-  DATETIME: "datetime",
-  ATTACHMENT: "attachment",
-  LINK: "link",
-  FORMULA: "formula",
-  JSON: "json",
-}
+import { FieldType as FieldTypes } from "@budibase/types"
+export { FieldType as FieldTypes } from "@budibase/types"
 
 export const UnsortableTypes = [
   FieldTypes.FORMULA,
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..be99c9f633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<script>
+  import { getContext } from "svelte"
+  import RelationshipCell from "./RelationshipCell.svelte"
+  import { FieldSubtype } from "@budibase/types"
+
+  const { API } = getContext("grid")
+  const { subtype } = $$props.schema
+
+  const schema = {
+    ...$$props.schema,
+    // This is not really used, just adding some content to be able to render the relationship cell
+    tableId: "external",
+  }
+
+  async function searchFunction(searchParams) {
+    if (subtype !== FieldSubtype.USER) {
+      throw `Search for '${subtype}' not implemented`
+    }
+
+    const results = await API.searchUsers({
+      ...searchParams,
+    })
+
+    // Mapping to the expected data within RelationshipCell
+    return {
+      ...results,
+      data: undefined,
+      rows: results.data,
+    }
+  }
+</script>
+
+<RelationshipCell
+  {...$$props}
+  {schema}
+  {searchFunction}
+  primaryDisplay={"email"}
+/>
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/RelationshipCell.svelte b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/RelationshipCell.svelte
index ac7869bc4b..925c840478 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/RelationshipCell.svelte
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/RelationshipCell.svelte
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
   import { Icon, Input, ProgressCircle, clickOutside } from "@budibase/bbui"
   import { debounce } from "../../../utils/utils"
 
+  const { API, dispatch } = getContext("grid")
+
   export let value
   export let api
   export let readonly
@@ -30,15 +32,15 @@
   export let invertX = false
   export let invertY = false
   export let contentLines = 1
+  export let searchFunction = API.searchTable
+  export let primaryDisplay
 
-  const { API, dispatch } = getContext("grid")
   const color = getColor(0)
 
   let isOpen = false
   let searchResults
   let searchString
   let lastSearchString
-  let primaryDisplay
   let candidateIndex
   let lastSearchId
   let searching = false
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@
     lastSearchId = Math.random()
     searching = true
     const thisSearchId = lastSearchId
-    const results = await API.searchTable({
+    const results = await searchFunction({
       paginate: false,
       tableId: schema.tableId,
       limit: 20,
@@ -259,14 +261,16 @@
       on:wheel={e => (focused ? e.stopPropagation() : null)}
     >
       {#each value || [] as relationship}
-        {#if relationship.primaryDisplay}
+        {#if relationship[primaryDisplay] || relationship.primaryDisplay}
           <div class="badge">
             <span
               on:click={editable
                 ? () => showRelationship(relationship._id)
                 : null}
             >
-              {readable(relationship.primaryDisplay)}
+              {readable(
+                relationship[primaryDisplay] || relationship.primaryDisplay
+              )}
             </span>
             {#if editable}
               <Icon
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/renderers.js b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/renderers.js
index 104984ca4e..f5d4cfe297 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/renderers.js
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/renderers.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import BooleanCell from "../cells/BooleanCell.svelte"
 import FormulaCell from "../cells/FormulaCell.svelte"
 import JSONCell from "../cells/JSONCell.svelte"
 import AttachmentCell from "../cells/AttachmentCell.svelte"
+import BBReferenceCell from "../cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte"
 
 const TypeComponentMap = {
   text: TextCell,
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ const TypeComponentMap = {
   link: RelationshipCell,
   formula: FormulaCell,
   json: JSONCell,
+  bb_reference: BBReferenceCell,
 }
 export const getCellRenderer = column => {
   return TypeComponentMap[column?.schema?.type] || TextCell
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/utils.js b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/utils.js
index d4298e6a1b..9383f69f66 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/utils.js
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/lib/utils.js
@@ -19,12 +19,21 @@ const TypeIconMap = {
   formula: "Calculator",
   json: "Brackets",
   bigint: "TagBold",
+  bb_reference: {
+    user: "User",
+  },
 }
 
 export const getColumnIcon = column => {
   if (column.schema.autocolumn) {
     return "MagicWand"
   }
-  const type = column.schema.type
-  return TypeIconMap[type] || "Text"
+  const { type, subtype } = column.schema
+
+  const result =
+    typeof TypeIconMap[type] === "object" && subtype
+      ? TypeIconMap[type][subtype]
+      : TypeIconMap[type]
+
+  return result || "Text"
 }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.ts
index 99241a4831..11f6e6c249 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.ts
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export const addSampleData = async (ctx: UserCtx) => {
     // Check if default datasource exists before creating it
     await sdk.datasources.get(DEFAULT_BB_DATASOURCE_ID)
   } catch (err: any) {
-    const defaultDbDocs = buildDefaultDocs()
+    const defaultDbDocs = await buildDefaultDocs()
 
     // add in the default db data docs - tables, datasource, rows and links
     await db.bulkDocs([...defaultDbDocs])
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.ts
index 719774f014..52dfcfd97a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.ts
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ export async function save(ctx: UserCtx) {
   }
 
   const table = await sdk.tables.getTable(tableId)
-  const { table: updatedTable, row } = inputProcessing(
-    ctx.user,
+  const { table: updatedTable, row } = await inputProcessing(
+    ctx.user?._id,
     cloneDeep(table),
     inputs
   )
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.ts
index b80bd339e6..f33df4536f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,11 @@ export async function patch(ctx: UserCtx<PatchRowRequest, PatchRowResponse>) {
   const tableClone = cloneDeep(dbTable)
 
   // this returns the table and row incase they have been updated
-  let { table, row } = inputProcessing(ctx.user, tableClone, combinedRow)
+  let { table, row } = await inputProcessing(
+    ctx.user?._id,
+    tableClone,
+    combinedRow
+  )
   const validateResult = await sdk.rows.utils.validate({
     row,
     table,
@@ -106,7 +110,7 @@ export async function save(ctx: UserCtx) {
   // need to copy the table so it can be differenced on way out
   const tableClone = cloneDeep(dbTable)
 
-  let { table, row } = inputProcessing(ctx.user, tableClone, inputs)
+  let { table, row } = await inputProcessing(ctx.user?._id, tableClone, inputs)
 
   const validateResult = await sdk.rows.utils.validate({
     row,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/tests/utils.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/tests/utils.spec.ts
index 957cf51ecd..931a1cd90f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/tests/utils.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/tests/utils.spec.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe("utils", () => {
 
         const data = [{ name: "Alice" }, { name: "Bob" }, { name: "Claire" }]
 
-        const result = importToRows(data, table, config.user)
+        const result = await importToRows(data, table, config.user)
         expect(result).toEqual([
           expect.objectContaining({
             autoId: 1,
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe("utils", () => {
 
         const data = [{ name: "Alice" }, { name: "Bob" }, { name: "Claire" }]
 
-        const result = importToRows(data, table)
+        const result = await importToRows(data, table)
         expect(result).toHaveLength(3)
       })
     })
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.ts
index 0e5b784c66..e0d564db2a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.ts
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ export function makeSureTableUpToDate(table: any, tableToSave: any) {
   return tableToSave
 }
 
-export function importToRows(
+export async function importToRows(
   data: any[],
   table: Table,
   user: ContextUser | null = null
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function importToRows(
 
     // We use a reference to table here and update it after input processing,
     // so that we can auto increment auto IDs in imported data properly
-    const processed = inputProcessing(user, table, row, {
+    const processed = await inputProcessing(user?._id, table, row, {
       noAutoRelationships: true,
     })
     row = processed.row
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export async function handleDataImport(
   const db = context.getAppDB()
   const data = parse(rows, schema)
 
-  let finalData: any = importToRows(data, table, user)
+  let finalData: any = await importToRows(data, table, user)
 
   //Set IDs of finalData to match existing row if an update is expected
   if (identifierFields.length > 0) {
@@ -422,13 +422,11 @@ export function hasTypeChanged(table: Table, oldTable: Table | undefined) {
   if (!oldTable) {
     return false
   }
-  let key: any
-  let field: any
-  for ([key, field] of Object.entries(oldTable.schema)) {
-    const oldType = field.type
+  for (let [key, field] of Object.entries(oldTable.schema)) {
     if (!table.schema[key]) {
       continue
     }
+    const oldType = field.type
     const newType = table.schema[key].type
     if (oldType !== newType && !areSwitchableTypes(oldType, newType)) {
       return true
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/defaultData/datasource_bb_default.ts b/packages/server/src/db/defaultData/datasource_bb_default.ts
index d01f598ce4..a4821667ff 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/defaultData/datasource_bb_default.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/defaultData/datasource_bb_default.ts
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ function syncLastIds(table: Table, rowCount: number) {
   })
 }
 
-function tableImport(table: Table, data: Row[]) {
+async function tableImport(table: Table, data: Row[]) {
   const cloneTable = cloneDeep(table)
-  const rowDocs = importToRows(data, cloneTable)
+  const rowDocs = await importToRows(data, cloneTable)
   syncLastIds(cloneTable, rowDocs.length)
   return { rows: rowDocs, table: cloneTable }
 }
@@ -601,20 +601,20 @@ export const DEFAULT_EXPENSES_TABLE_SCHEMA: Table = {
   },
 }
 
-export function buildDefaultDocs() {
-  const inventoryData = tableImport(
+export async function buildDefaultDocs() {
+  const inventoryData = await tableImport(
     DEFAULT_INVENTORY_TABLE_SCHEMA,
     inventoryImport
   )
 
-  const employeeData = tableImport(
+  const employeeData = await tableImport(
     DEFAULT_EMPLOYEE_TABLE_SCHEMA,
     employeeImport
   )
 
-  const jobData = tableImport(DEFAULT_JOBS_TABLE_SCHEMA, jobsImport)
+  const jobData = await tableImport(DEFAULT_JOBS_TABLE_SCHEMA, jobsImport)
 
-  const expensesData = tableImport(
+  const expensesData = await tableImport(
     DEFAULT_EXPENSES_TABLE_SCHEMA,
     expensesImport
   )
diff --git a/packages/server/src/integrations/base/sqlTable.ts b/packages/server/src/integrations/base/sqlTable.ts
index 47b09dadee..4383167f4a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/integrations/base/sqlTable.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/integrations/base/sqlTable.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ function generateSchema(
       case FieldTypes.OPTIONS:
       case FieldTypes.LONGFORM:
       case FieldTypes.BARCODEQR:
+      case FieldTypes.BB_REFERENCE:
         schema.text(key)
         break
       case FieldTypes.NUMBER:
diff --git a/packages/server/src/sdk/app/applications/applications.ts b/packages/server/src/sdk/app/applications/applications.ts
index 2604b59fa7..07e303ccdd 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/sdk/app/applications/applications.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/sdk/app/applications/applications.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export async function fetch(status: AppStatus, user: ContextUser) {
     for (let app of apps) {
       const lock = locks[app.appId]
       if (lock) {
-        app.lockedBy = lock
+        app.lockedBy = lock as any
       } else {
         // make sure its definitely not present
         delete app.lockedBy
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b9b91b6789
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { cache } from "@budibase/backend-core"
+import { utils } from "@budibase/shared-core"
+import { FieldSubtype } from "@budibase/types"
+import { InvalidBBRefError } from "./errors"
+
+export async function processInputBBReferences(
+  value: string | string[] | { _id: string } | { _id: string }[],
+  subtype: FieldSubtype
+): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const referenceIds: string[] = []
+
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    referenceIds.push(
+      ...value.map(idOrDoc =>
+        typeof idOrDoc === "string" ? idOrDoc : idOrDoc._id
+      )
+    )
+  } else if (typeof value !== "string") {
+    referenceIds.push(value._id)
+  } else {
+    referenceIds.push(
+      ...value
+        .split(",")
+        .filter(x => x)
+        .map((id: string) => id.trim())
+    )
+  }
+
+  switch (subtype) {
+    case FieldSubtype.USER:
+      const { notFoundIds } = await cache.user.getUsers(referenceIds)
+
+      if (notFoundIds?.length) {
+        throw new InvalidBBRefError(notFoundIds[0], FieldSubtype.USER)
+      }
+
+      break
+    default:
+      throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
+  }
+
+  return referenceIds.join(",") || undefined
+}
+
+export async function processOutputBBReferences(
+  value: string,
+  subtype: FieldSubtype
+) {
+  if (typeof value !== "string") {
+    // Already processed or nothing to process
+    return value
+  }
+
+  const ids = value.split(",").filter(id => !!id)
+
+  switch (subtype) {
+    case FieldSubtype.USER:
+      const { users } = await cache.user.getUsers(ids)
+      if (!users.length) {
+        return undefined
+      }
+
+      return users.map(u => ({
+        _id: u._id,
+        primaryDisplay: u.email,
+        email: u.email,
+        firstName: u.firstName,
+        lastName: u.lastName,
+      }))
+
+    default:
+      throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/errors.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/errors.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..279a528b5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/errors.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { FieldSubtype } from "@budibase/types"
+
+export class InvalidBBRefError extends Error {
+  constructor(id: string, subtype: FieldSubtype) {
+    super(`Id "${id}" is not valid for the subtype "${subtype}"`)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
index 8e95a15dca..933e9bd2f5 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@ import { ObjectStoreBuckets } from "../../constants"
 import { context, db as dbCore, objectStore } from "@budibase/backend-core"
 import { InternalTables } from "../../db/utils"
 import { TYPE_TRANSFORM_MAP } from "./map"
-import { Row, RowAttachment, Table, ContextUser } from "@budibase/types"
-const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
+import { FieldSubtype, Row, RowAttachment, Table } from "@budibase/types"
+import { cloneDeep } from "lodash/fp"
+import {
+  processInputBBReferences,
+  processOutputBBReferences,
+} from "./bbReferenceProcessor"
 export * from "./utils"
 
 type AutoColumnProcessingOpts = {
@@ -48,12 +52,12 @@ function getRemovedAttachmentKeys(
  * for automatic ID purposes.
  */
 export function processAutoColumn(
-  user: ContextUser | null,
+  userId: string | null | undefined,
   table: Table,
   row: Row,
   opts?: AutoColumnProcessingOpts
 ) {
-  let noUser = !user || !user.userId
+  let noUser = !userId
   let isUserTable = table._id === InternalTables.USER_METADATA
   let now = new Date().toISOString()
   // if a row doesn't have a revision then it doesn't exist yet
@@ -70,8 +74,8 @@ export function processAutoColumn(
     }
     switch (schema.subtype) {
       case AutoFieldSubTypes.CREATED_BY:
-        if (creating && shouldUpdateUserFields && user) {
-          row[key] = [user.userId]
+        if (creating && shouldUpdateUserFields && userId) {
+          row[key] = [userId]
         }
         break
       case AutoFieldSubTypes.CREATED_AT:
@@ -80,8 +84,8 @@ export function processAutoColumn(
         }
         break
       case AutoFieldSubTypes.UPDATED_BY:
-        if (shouldUpdateUserFields && user) {
-          row[key] = [user.userId]
+        if (shouldUpdateUserFields && userId) {
+          row[key] = [userId]
         }
         break
       case AutoFieldSubTypes.UPDATED_AT:
@@ -130,8 +134,8 @@ export function coerce(row: any, type: string) {
  * @param {object} opts some input processing options (like disabling auto-column relationships).
  * @returns {object} the row which has been prepared to be written to the DB.
  */
-export function inputProcessing(
-  user: ContextUser | null,
+export async function inputProcessing(
+  userId: string | null | undefined,
   table: Table,
   row: Row,
   opts?: AutoColumnProcessingOpts
@@ -166,6 +170,13 @@ export function inputProcessing(
         })
       }
     }
+
+    if (field.type === FieldTypes.BB_REFERENCE && value) {
+      clonedRow[key] = await processInputBBReferences(
+        value,
+        field.subtype as FieldSubtype
+      )
+    }
   }
 
   if (!clonedRow._id || !clonedRow._rev) {
@@ -174,7 +185,7 @@ export function inputProcessing(
   }
 
   // handle auto columns - this returns an object like {table, row}
-  return processAutoColumn(user, table, clonedRow, opts)
+  return processAutoColumn(userId, table, clonedRow, opts)
 }
 
 /**
@@ -216,6 +227,16 @@ export async function outputProcessing<T extends Row[] | Row>(
           attachment.url = objectStore.getAppFileUrl(attachment.key)
         })
       }
+    } else if (column.type == FieldTypes.BB_REFERENCE) {
+      for (let row of enriched) {
+        if (row[property] == null) {
+          continue
+        }
+        row[property] = await processOutputBBReferences(
+          row[property],
+          column.subtype as FieldSubtype
+        )
+      }
     }
   }
   if (opts.squash) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..67a44a86f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+import _ from "lodash"
+import * as backendCore from "@budibase/backend-core"
+import { FieldSubtype, User } from "@budibase/types"
+import {
+  processInputBBReferences,
+  processOutputBBReferences,
+} from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
+import {
+  DBTestConfiguration,
+  generator,
+  structures,
+} from "@budibase/backend-core/tests"
+import { InvalidBBRefError } from "../errors"
+
+jest.mock("@budibase/backend-core", (): typeof backendCore => {
+  const actual: typeof backendCore = jest.requireActual(
+    "@budibase/backend-core"
+  )
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    cache: {
+      ...actual.cache,
+      user: {
+        ...actual.cache.user,
+        getUsers: jest.fn(actual.cache.user.getUsers),
+      },
+    },
+  }
+})
+
+const config = new DBTestConfiguration()
+
+describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
+  const cacheGetUsersSpy = backendCore.cache.user
+    .getUsers as jest.MockedFunction<typeof backendCore.cache.user.getUsers>
+
+  const users: User[] = []
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const userCount = 10
+    const userIds = generator.arrayOf(() => generator.guid(), {
+      min: userCount,
+      max: userCount,
+    })
+
+    await config.doInTenant(async () => {
+      const db = backendCore.context.getGlobalDB()
+      for (const userId of userIds) {
+        const user = structures.users.user({ _id: userId })
+        await db.put(user)
+        users.push(user)
+      }
+    })
+  })
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  describe("processInputBBReferences", () => {
+    describe("subtype user", () => {
+      it("validate valid string id", async () => {
+        const user = _.sample(users)
+        const userId = user!._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences(userId, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith([userId])
+      })
+
+      it("throws an error given an invalid id", async () => {
+        const userId = generator.guid()
+
+        await expect(
+          config.doInTenant(() =>
+            processInputBBReferences(userId, FieldSubtype.USER)
+          )
+        ).rejects.toThrowError(new InvalidBBRefError(userId, FieldSubtype.USER))
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith([userId])
+      })
+
+      it("validates valid user ids as csv", async () => {
+        const userIds = _.sampleSize(users, 5).map(x => x._id!)
+
+        const userIdCsv = userIds.join(" ,  ")
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences(userIdCsv, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userIds.join(","))
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith(userIds)
+      })
+
+      it("throws an error given an invalid id in a csv", async () => {
+        const expectedUserIds = _.sampleSize(users, 2).map(x => x._id!)
+        const wrongId = generator.guid()
+
+        const userIdCsv = [
+          expectedUserIds[0],
+          wrongId,
+          expectedUserIds[1],
+        ].join(" ,  ")
+
+        await expect(
+          config.doInTenant(() =>
+            processInputBBReferences(userIdCsv, FieldSubtype.USER)
+          )
+        ).rejects.toThrowError(
+          new InvalidBBRefError(wrongId, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+      })
+
+      it("validate valid user object", async () => {
+        const userId = _.sample(users)!._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences({ _id: userId }, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith([userId])
+      })
+
+      it("validate valid user object array", async () => {
+        const userIds = _.sampleSize(users, 3).map(x => x._id!)
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences(userIds, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userIds.join(","))
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith(userIds)
+      })
+
+      it("empty strings will return undefined", async () => {
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences("", FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(undefined)
+      })
+
+      it("empty arrays will return undefined", async () => {
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReferences([], FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(undefined)
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe("processOutputBBReferences", () => {
+    describe("subtype user", () => {
+      it("fetches user given a valid string id", async () => {
+        const user = _.sample(users)!
+        const userId = user._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processOutputBBReferences(userId, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual([
+          {
+            _id: user._id,
+            primaryDisplay: user.email,
+            email: user.email,
+            firstName: user.firstName,
+            lastName: user.lastName,
+          },
+        ])
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith([userId])
+      })
+
+      it("fetches user given a valid string id csv", async () => {
+        const [user1, user2] = _.sampleSize(users, 2)
+        const userId1 = user1._id!
+        const userId2 = user2._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processOutputBBReferences(
+            [userId1, userId2].join(","),
+            FieldSubtype.USER
+          )
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toHaveLength(2)
+        expect(result).toEqual(
+          expect.arrayContaining(
+            [user1, user2].map(u => ({
+              _id: u._id,
+              primaryDisplay: u.email,
+              email: u.email,
+              firstName: u.firstName,
+              lastName: u.lastName,
+            }))
+          )
+        )
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toBeCalledWith([userId1, userId2])
+      })
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..18d5128986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+import { inputProcessing } from ".."
+import { generator, structures } from "@budibase/backend-core/tests"
+import { FieldType, FieldTypeSubtypes, Table } from "@budibase/types"
+import * as bbReferenceProcessor from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
+
+jest.mock("../bbReferenceProcessor", (): typeof bbReferenceProcessor => ({
+  processInputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+  processOutputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+}))
+
+describe("rowProcessor - inputProcessing", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.resetAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  it("processes BB references if on the schema and it's populated", async () => {
+    const userId = generator.guid()
+
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          subtype: FieldTypeSubtypes.BB_REFERENCE.USER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const newRow = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: "123",
+    }
+
+    const user = structures.users.user()
+
+    ;(
+      bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences as jest.Mock
+    ).mockResolvedValue(user)
+
+    const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).toBeCalledWith(
+      "123",
+      "user"
+    )
+
+    expect(row).toEqual({ ...newRow, user })
+  })
+
+  it("it does not process BB references if on the schema but it is not populated", async () => {
+    const userId = generator.guid()
+
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          subtype: FieldTypeSubtypes.BB_REFERENCE.USER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: false,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const newRow = {
+      name: "Jack",
+    }
+
+    const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).not.toBeCalled()
+    expect(row).toEqual({ ...newRow, user: undefined })
+  })
+
+  it.each([undefined, null, ""])(
+    "it does not process BB references the field is $%",
+    async userValue => {
+      const userId = generator.guid()
+
+      const table: Table = {
+        _id: generator.guid(),
+        name: "TestTable",
+        type: "table",
+        schema: {
+          name: {
+            type: FieldType.STRING,
+            name: "name",
+            constraints: {
+              presence: true,
+              type: "string",
+            },
+          },
+          user: {
+            type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+            subtype: FieldTypeSubtypes.BB_REFERENCE.USER,
+            name: "user",
+            constraints: {
+              presence: false,
+              type: "string",
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      }
+
+      const newRow = {
+        name: "Jack",
+        user: userValue,
+      }
+
+      const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
+
+      expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).not.toBeCalled()
+      expect(row).toEqual(newRow)
+    }
+  )
+
+  it("it does not process BB references if not in the schema", async () => {
+    const userId = generator.guid()
+
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.NUMBER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const newRow = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: "123",
+    }
+
+    const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).not.toBeCalled()
+    expect(row).toEqual({
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: 123,
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b780bed54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import {
+  FieldSubtype,
+  FieldType,
+  FieldTypeSubtypes,
+  Table,
+} from "@budibase/types"
+import { outputProcessing } from ".."
+import { generator, structures } from "@budibase/backend-core/tests"
+import * as bbReferenceProcessor from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
+
+jest.mock("../bbReferenceProcessor", (): typeof bbReferenceProcessor => ({
+  processInputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+  processOutputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+}))
+
+describe("rowProcessor - outputProcessing", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.resetAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  const processOutputBBReferencesMock =
+    bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences as jest.Mock
+
+  it("fetches bb user references given a populated field", async () => {
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          subtype: FieldTypeSubtypes.BB_REFERENCE.USER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: false,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const row = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: "123",
+    }
+
+    const user = structures.users.user()
+    processOutputBBReferencesMock.mockResolvedValue(user)
+
+    const result = await outputProcessing(table, row, { squash: false })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ name: "Jack", user })
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences).toBeCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences).toBeCalledWith(
+      "123",
+      FieldSubtype.USER
+    )
+  })
+
+  it("does not fetch bb references when fields are empty", async () => {
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          subtype: FieldTypeSubtypes.BB_REFERENCE.USER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: false,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const row = {
+      name: "Jack",
+    }
+
+    const result = await outputProcessing(table, row, { squash: false })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ name: "Jack" })
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences).not.toBeCalled()
+  })
+
+  it("does not fetch bb references when not in the schema", async () => {
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.NUMBER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: false,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const row = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: "123",
+    }
+
+    const result = await outputProcessing(table, row, { squash: false })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ name: "Jack", user: "123" })
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences).not.toBeCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/server/src/websockets/websocket.ts b/packages/server/src/websockets/websocket.ts
index c92f0b6897..ffaf9e2763 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/websockets/websocket.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/websockets/websocket.ts
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ export class BaseSocket {
     if (room) {
       const sessionIds = await this.getRoomSessionIds(room)
       const keys = sessionIds.map(this.getSessionKey.bind(this))
-      const sessions = await this.redisClient?.bulkGet(keys)
+      const sessions = await this.redisClient?.bulkGet<SocketSession>(keys)
       return Object.values(sessions || {})
     } else {
       return []
diff --git a/packages/types/src/documents/app/row.ts b/packages/types/src/documents/app/row.ts
index c09dc79b95..708cbc3b9e 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/documents/app/row.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/documents/app/row.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export enum FieldType {
   INTERNAL = "internal",
   BARCODEQR = "barcodeqr",
   BIGINT = "bigint",
+  BB_REFERENCE = "bb_reference",
 }
 
 export interface RowAttachment {
@@ -33,3 +34,13 @@ export interface Row extends Document {
   _viewId?: string
   [key: string]: any
 }
+
+export enum FieldSubtype {
+  USER = "user",
+}
+
+export const FieldTypeSubtypes = {
+  BB_REFERENCE: {
+    USER: FieldSubtype.USER,
+  },
+}