diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils/basic.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils/basic.ts
index 6255e13c1c..02f92e15e9 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils/basic.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils/basic.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@ export function basicProcessing({
 
 export function fixArrayTypes(row: Row, table: Table) {
   for (let [fieldName, schema] of Object.entries(table.schema)) {
-    if (schema.type === FieldType.ARRAY && typeof row[fieldName] === "string") {
+    if (
+      [FieldType.ARRAY, FieldType.BB_REFERENCE].includes(schema.type) &&
+      typeof row[fieldName] === "string"
+    ) {
       try {
         row[fieldName] = JSON.parse(row[fieldName])
       } catch (err) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
index e5edc65edd..d69fe73052 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { cache, db as dbCore } from "@budibase/backend-core"
 import { utils } from "@budibase/shared-core"
 import {
-  FieldType,
   BBReferenceFieldSubType,
   DocumentType,
   SEPARATOR,
@@ -10,99 +9,93 @@ import { InvalidBBRefError } from "./errors"
 
 const ROW_PREFIX = DocumentType.ROW + SEPARATOR
 
-export function processInputBBReferences(
+export async function processInputBBReference(
   value: string | { _id: string },
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE
-): Promise<string | null>
-export function processInputBBReferences(
-  value: string | string[] | { _id: string } | { _id: string }[],
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType
-): Promise<string | null>
+  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  if (value && Array.isArray(value)) {
+    throw "BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE cannot be an array"
+  }
+  let id = typeof value === "string" ? value : value?._id
 
-export async function processInputBBReferences(
-  value: string | string[] | { _id: string } | { _id: string }[],
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE | FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE,
-  subtype?: BBReferenceFieldSubType
-): Promise<string | string[] | null> {
-  switch (type) {
-    case FieldType.BB_REFERENCE: {
-      let referenceIds: string[] = []
+  if (!id) {
+    return null
+  }
 
-      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 BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER: {
+      if (id.startsWith(ROW_PREFIX)) {
+        id = dbCore.getGlobalIDFromUserMetadataID(id)
       }
 
-      // make sure all reference IDs are correct global user IDs
-      // they may be user metadata references (start with row prefix)
-      // and these need to be converted to global IDs
-      referenceIds = referenceIds.map(id => {
-        if (id?.startsWith(ROW_PREFIX)) {
-          return dbCore.getGlobalIDFromUserMetadataID(id)
-        } else {
-          return id
+      try {
+        await cache.user.getUser(id)
+        return id
+      } catch (e: any) {
+        if (e.statusCode === 404) {
+          throw new InvalidBBRefError(id, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         }
-      })
-
-      switch (subtype) {
-        case undefined:
-          throw "Subtype must be defined"
-        case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER:
-        case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USERS: {
-          const { notFoundIds } = await cache.user.getUsers(referenceIds)
-
-          if (notFoundIds?.length) {
-            throw new InvalidBBRefError(
-              notFoundIds[0],
-              BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-            )
-          }
-
-          if (!referenceIds?.length) {
-            return null
-          }
-
-          if (subtype === BBReferenceFieldSubType.USERS) {
-            return referenceIds
-          }
-
-          return referenceIds.join(",")
-        }
-        default:
-          throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
+        throw e
       }
     }
-    case FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE: {
-      if (value && Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw "BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE cannot be an array"
-      }
-
-      const id = typeof value === "string" ? value : value._id
-
-      const user = await cache.user.getUser(id)
-
-      if (!user) {
-        throw new InvalidBBRefError(id, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
-      }
-
-      return user._id!
-    }
 
     default:
-      throw utils.unreachable(type)
+      throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
+  }
+}
+export async function processInputBBReferences(
+  value: string | string[] | { _id: string }[],
+  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType
+): Promise<string[] | null> {
+  if (!value || !value[0]) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  let referenceIds
+  if (typeof value === "string") {
+    referenceIds = value
+      .split(",")
+      .map(u => u.trim())
+      .filter(u => !!u)
+  } else {
+    referenceIds = value.map(idOrDoc =>
+      typeof idOrDoc === "string" ? idOrDoc : idOrDoc._id
+    )
+  }
+
+  // make sure all reference IDs are correct global user IDs
+  // they may be user metadata references (start with row prefix)
+  // and these need to be converted to global IDs
+  referenceIds = referenceIds.map(id => {
+    if (id?.startsWith(ROW_PREFIX)) {
+      return dbCore.getGlobalIDFromUserMetadataID(id)
+    } else {
+      return id
+    }
+  })
+
+  switch (subtype) {
+    case undefined:
+      throw "Subtype must be defined"
+    case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER:
+    case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USERS: {
+      const { notFoundIds } = await cache.user.getUsers(referenceIds)
+
+      if (notFoundIds?.length) {
+        throw new InvalidBBRefError(
+          notFoundIds[0],
+          BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
+        )
+      }
+
+      if (!referenceIds?.length) {
+        return null
+      }
+
+      return referenceIds
+    }
+    default:
+      throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
   }
 }
 
@@ -110,67 +103,25 @@ interface UserReferenceInfo {
   _id: string
   primaryDisplay: string
   email: string
-  firstName: string
-  lastName: string
+  firstName?: string
+  lastName?: string
 }
 
-export function processOutputBBReferences(
-  value: string,
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE
-): Promise<UserReferenceInfo | undefined>
-export function processOutputBBReferences(
-  value: string,
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType
-): Promise<UserReferenceInfo[] | undefined>
-
-export async function processOutputBBReferences(
-  value: string | string[],
-  type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE | FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE,
-  subtype?: BBReferenceFieldSubType
-) {
-  if (value === null || value === undefined) {
-    // Already processed or nothing to process
-    return value || undefined
+export async function processOutputBBReference(
+  value: string | null | undefined,
+  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
+): Promise<UserReferenceInfo | undefined> {
+  if (!value) {
+    return undefined
   }
 
-  switch (type) {
-    case FieldType.BB_REFERENCE: {
-      const ids =
-        typeof value === "string" ? value.split(",").filter(id => !!id) : value
-
-      switch (subtype) {
-        case undefined:
-          throw "Subtype must be defined"
-        case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER:
-        case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USERS: {
-          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)
-      }
-    }
-    case FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE: {
-      if (!value) {
-        return undefined
-      }
-
+  switch (subtype) {
+    case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER: {
       let user
       try {
         user = await cache.user.getUser(value as string)
       } catch (err: any) {
-        if (err.code !== 404) {
+        if (err.statusCode !== 404) {
           throw err
         }
       }
@@ -179,15 +130,45 @@ export async function processOutputBBReferences(
       }
 
       return {
-        _id: user._id,
+        _id: user._id!,
         primaryDisplay: user.email,
         email: user.email,
         firstName: user.firstName,
         lastName: user.lastName,
       }
     }
-
     default:
-      throw utils.unreachable(type)
+      throw utils.unreachable(subtype)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function processOutputBBReferences(
+  value: string | null | undefined,
+  subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType
+): Promise<UserReferenceInfo[] | undefined> {
+  if (!value) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+  const ids =
+    typeof value === "string" ? value.split(",").filter(id => !!id) : value
+
+  switch (subtype) {
+    case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER:
+    case BBReferenceFieldSubType.USERS: {
+      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/index.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
index 499ea0e4c5..1badc438b0 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import {
 } from "@budibase/types"
 import { cloneDeep } from "lodash/fp"
 import {
+  processInputBBReference,
   processInputBBReferences,
+  processOutputBBReference,
   processOutputBBReferences,
 } from "./bbReferenceProcessor"
 import { isExternalTableID } from "../../integrations/utils"
@@ -161,13 +163,9 @@ export async function inputProcessing(
         delete clonedRow[key].url
       }
     } else if (field.type === FieldType.BB_REFERENCE && value) {
-      clonedRow[key] = await processInputBBReferences(
-        value,
-        field.type,
-        field.subtype
-      )
+      clonedRow[key] = await processInputBBReferences(value, field.subtype)
     } else if (field.type === FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE && value) {
-      clonedRow[key] = await processInputBBReferences(value, field.type)
+      clonedRow[key] = await processInputBBReference(value, field.subtype)
     }
   }
 
@@ -253,7 +251,6 @@ export async function outputProcessing<T extends Row[] | Row>(
       for (let row of enriched) {
         row[property] = await processOutputBBReferences(
           row[property],
-          column.type,
           column.subtype
         )
       }
@@ -262,9 +259,9 @@ export async function outputProcessing<T extends Row[] | Row>(
       column.type == FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE
     ) {
       for (let row of enriched) {
-        row[property] = await processOutputBBReferences(
+        row[property] = await processOutputBBReference(
           row[property],
-          column.type
+          column.subtype
         )
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
index 609dc9ffc0..c5a7b7fc84 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import _ from "lodash"
 import * as backendCore from "@budibase/backend-core"
-import { BBReferenceFieldSubType, FieldType, User } from "@budibase/types"
+import { BBReferenceFieldSubType, User } from "@budibase/types"
 import {
+  processInputBBReference,
   processInputBBReferences,
+  processOutputBBReference,
   processOutputBBReferences,
 } from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
 import {
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ jest.mock("@budibase/backend-core", (): typeof backendCore => {
       ...actual.cache,
       user: {
         ...actual.cache.user,
+        getUser: jest.fn(actual.cache.user.getUser),
         getUsers: jest.fn(actual.cache.user.getUsers),
       },
     },
@@ -31,6 +34,9 @@ jest.mock("@budibase/backend-core", (): typeof backendCore => {
 const config = new DBTestConfiguration()
 
 describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
+  const cacheGetUserSpy = backendCore.cache.user.getUser as jest.MockedFunction<
+    typeof backendCore.cache.user.getUser
+  >
   const cacheGetUsersSpy = backendCore.cache.user
     .getUsers as jest.MockedFunction<typeof backendCore.cache.user.getUsers>
 
@@ -56,6 +62,64 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
     jest.clearAllMocks()
   })
 
+  describe("processInputBBReference", () => {
+    describe("subtype user", () => {
+      it("validate valid string id", async () => {
+        const user = _.sample(users)
+        const userId = user!._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReference(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userId)
+      })
+
+      it("throws an error given an invalid id", async () => {
+        const userId = generator.guid()
+
+        await expect(
+          config.doInTenant(() =>
+            processInputBBReference(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+          )
+        ).rejects.toThrow(
+          new InvalidBBRefError(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+      })
+
+      it("validate valid user object", async () => {
+        const userId = _.sample(users)!._id!
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReference({ _id: userId }, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userId)
+      })
+
+      it("empty strings will return null", async () => {
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReference("", BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual(null)
+      })
+
+      it("should convert user medata IDs to global IDs", async () => {
+        const userId = _.sample(users)!._id!
+        const userMetadataId = backendCore.db.generateUserMetadataID(userId)
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processInputBBReference(userMetadataId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+        expect(result).toBe(userId)
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
   describe("processInputBBReferences", () => {
     describe("subtype user", () => {
       it("validate valid string id", async () => {
@@ -63,14 +127,10 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         const userId = user!._id!
 
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            userId,
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processInputBBReferences(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
 
-        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
+        expect(result).toEqual([userId])
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([userId])
       })
@@ -80,11 +140,7 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
 
         await expect(
           config.doInTenant(() =>
-            processInputBBReferences(
-              userId,
-              FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-              BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-            )
+            processInputBBReferences(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
           )
         ).rejects.toThrow(
           new InvalidBBRefError(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
@@ -98,14 +154,10 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
 
         const userIdCsv = userIds.join(" ,  ")
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            userIdCsv,
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processInputBBReferences(userIdCsv, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
 
-        expect(result).toEqual(userIds.join(","))
+        expect(result).toEqual(userIds)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userIds)
       })
@@ -122,45 +174,22 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
 
         await expect(
           config.doInTenant(() =>
-            processInputBBReferences(
-              userIdCsv,
-              FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-              BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-            )
+            processInputBBReferences(userIdCsv, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
           )
         ).rejects.toThrow(
           new InvalidBBRefError(wrongId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
       })
 
-      it("validate valid user object", async () => {
-        const userId = _.sample(users)!._id!
-
-        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            { _id: userId },
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
-        )
-
-        expect(result).toEqual(userId)
-        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([userId])
-      })
-
       it("validate valid user object array", async () => {
-        const userIds = _.sampleSize(users, 3).map(x => x._id!)
+        const inputUsers = _.sampleSize(users, 3).map(u => ({ _id: u._id! }))
+        const userIds = inputUsers.map(u => u._id)
 
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            userIds,
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processInputBBReferences(inputUsers, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
 
-        expect(result).toEqual(userIds.join(","))
+        expect(result).toEqual(userIds)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userIds)
       })
@@ -169,7 +198,7 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
           processInputBBReferences(
             "",
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+
             BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
           )
         )
@@ -179,11 +208,7 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
 
       it("empty arrays will return null", async () => {
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            [],
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processInputBBReferences([], BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
 
         expect(result).toEqual(null)
@@ -193,13 +218,44 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         const userId = _.sample(users)!._id!
         const userMetadataId = backendCore.db.generateUserMetadataID(userId)
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processInputBBReferences(
-            userMetadataId,
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processInputBBReferences(userMetadataId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
-        expect(result).toBe(userId)
+        expect(result).toEqual([userId])
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe("processOutputBBReference", () => {
+    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(() =>
+          processOutputBBReference(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toEqual({
+          _id: user._id,
+          primaryDisplay: user.email,
+          email: user.email,
+          firstName: user.firstName,
+          lastName: user.lastName,
+        })
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userId)
+      })
+
+      it("returns undefined given an unexisting user", async () => {
+        const userId = generator.guid()
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processOutputBBReference(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
+        )
+
+        expect(result).toBeUndefined()
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(userId)
       })
     })
   })
@@ -211,11 +267,7 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         const userId = user._id!
 
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
-          processOutputBBReferences(
-            userId,
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
-            BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
-          )
+          processOutputBBReferences(userId, BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER)
         )
 
         expect(result).toEqual([
@@ -239,7 +291,6 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
           processOutputBBReferences(
             [userId1, userId2].join(","),
-            FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
             BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
           )
         )
@@ -259,6 +310,46 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
         expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([userId1, userId2])
       })
+
+      it("trims unexisting users user given a valid string id csv", async () => {
+        const [user1, user2] = _.sampleSize(users, 2)
+        const userId1 = user1._id!
+        const userId2 = user2._id!
+
+        const unexistingUserId1 = generator.guid()
+        const unexistingUserId2 = generator.guid()
+
+        const input = [
+          unexistingUserId1,
+          userId1,
+          unexistingUserId2,
+          userId2,
+        ].join(",")
+
+        const result = await config.doInTenant(() =>
+          processOutputBBReferences(input, BBReferenceFieldSubType.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).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        expect(cacheGetUsersSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([
+          unexistingUserId1,
+          userId1,
+          unexistingUserId2,
+          userId2,
+        ])
+      })
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts
index 223340497e..b1928b696b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/inputProcessing.spec.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import {
 import * as bbReferenceProcessor from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
 
 jest.mock("../bbReferenceProcessor", (): typeof bbReferenceProcessor => ({
+  processInputBBReference: jest.fn(),
   processInputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+  processOutputBBReference: jest.fn(),
   processOutputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
 }))
 
@@ -19,7 +21,64 @@ describe("rowProcessor - inputProcessing", () => {
     jest.resetAllMocks()
   })
 
-  it("processes BB references if on the schema and it's populated", async () => {
+  const processInputBBReferenceMock =
+    bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReference as jest.Mock
+  const processInputBBReferencesMock =
+    bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences as jest.Mock
+
+  it("processes single 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",
+      sourceId: INTERNAL_TABLE_SOURCE_ID,
+      sourceType: TableSourceType.INTERNAL,
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        user: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE,
+          subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER,
+          name: "user",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const newRow = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      user: "123",
+    }
+
+    const user = structures.users.user()
+
+    processInputBBReferenceMock.mockResolvedValue(user)
+
+    const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
+
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReference).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(
+      1
+    )
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReference).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "123",
+      "user"
+    )
+
+    expect(row).toEqual({ ...newRow, user })
+  })
+
+  it("processes multiple BB references if on the schema and it's populated", async () => {
     const userId = generator.guid()
 
     const table: Table = {
@@ -56,9 +115,7 @@ describe("rowProcessor - inputProcessing", () => {
 
     const user = structures.users.user()
 
-    ;(
-      bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences as jest.Mock
-    ).mockResolvedValue(user)
+    processInputBBReferencesMock.mockResolvedValue(user)
 
     const { row } = await inputProcessing(userId, table, newRow)
 
@@ -67,7 +124,6 @@ describe("rowProcessor - inputProcessing", () => {
     )
     expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processInputBBReferences).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       "123",
-      "bb_reference",
       "user"
     )
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts
index 526460b350..8a19b6349b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/outputProcessing.spec.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ import { generator, structures } from "@budibase/backend-core/tests"
 import * as bbReferenceProcessor from "../bbReferenceProcessor"
 
 jest.mock("../bbReferenceProcessor", (): typeof bbReferenceProcessor => ({
+  processInputBBReference: jest.fn(),
   processInputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
+  processOutputBBReference: jest.fn(),
   processOutputBBReferences: jest.fn(),
 }))
 
@@ -20,10 +22,12 @@ describe("rowProcessor - outputProcessing", () => {
     jest.resetAllMocks()
   })
 
+  const processOutputBBReferenceMock =
+    bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReference as jest.Mock
   const processOutputBBReferencesMock =
     bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences as jest.Mock
 
-  it("fetches bb user references given a populated field", async () => {
+  it("fetches single user references given a populated field", async () => {
     const table: Table = {
       _id: generator.guid(),
       name: "TestTable",
@@ -40,7 +44,7 @@ describe("rowProcessor - outputProcessing", () => {
           },
         },
         user: {
-          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE_SINGLE,
           subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER,
           name: "user",
           constraints: {
@@ -57,18 +61,66 @@ describe("rowProcessor - outputProcessing", () => {
     }
 
     const user = structures.users.user()
-    processOutputBBReferencesMock.mockResolvedValue(user)
+    processOutputBBReferenceMock.mockResolvedValue(user)
 
     const result = await outputProcessing(table, row, { squash: false })
 
     expect(result).toEqual({ name: "Jack", user })
 
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReference).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(
+      1
+    )
+    expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReference).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "123",
+      BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
+    )
+  })
+
+  it("fetches users references given a populated field", async () => {
+    const table: Table = {
+      _id: generator.guid(),
+      name: "TestTable",
+      type: "table",
+      sourceId: INTERNAL_TABLE_SOURCE_ID,
+      sourceType: TableSourceType.INTERNAL,
+      schema: {
+        name: {
+          type: FieldType.STRING,
+          name: "name",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: true,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+        users: {
+          type: FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
+          subtype: BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER,
+          name: "users",
+          constraints: {
+            presence: false,
+            type: "string",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    }
+
+    const row = {
+      name: "Jack",
+      users: "123",
+    }
+
+    const users = [structures.users.user()]
+    processOutputBBReferencesMock.mockResolvedValue(users)
+
+    const result = await outputProcessing(table, row, { squash: false })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ name: "Jack", users })
+
     expect(
       bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences
     ).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(bbReferenceProcessor.processOutputBBReferences).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       "123",
-      FieldType.BB_REFERENCE,
       BBReferenceFieldSubType.USER
     )
   })