Nocode has been talked about a lot lately. However, although this technology allows a certain acceleration of your digital projects, you should not want to rush either and burn the steps necessary for their success 🤯

The management of a Nocode project, like a classic digital project, must include a certain number of stages, all of which are essential. First of all, the collection of the client's needs, the definition of specs, the structuring of the project, the conception and design, the prototyping. Only then will we look at the tools, i.e. the implementation in the chosen tool or tools.

Moreover, Nocode is a world of more than 500 more or less mature tools that are not all equal in terms of ease of use and creation. So, before jumping in headlong, you have to determine your real needs and the benefits you are looking for ⚖️.

It is true that Nocode speeds up the time taken to set up projects by a factor of three, but this does not take away from the upstream work involved in creating a digital solution, the real expertise that will make the products created successful. Let's take a look at this technological revolution and take a closer look at the projects it can accelerate.

But first, what is Nocode?

Nocode is a way of designing and creating digital products; one should not think only of tools when one hears Nocode. 🕰 Since the very beginning of computing, it is the notion of abstraction that is sought in the implementation of digital solutions. An abstraction that would allow us to speak the same language, and that everyone could understand. Computer language must be brought down to an easy level, and Nocode today allows this accessibility.

Of course, the technology is not completely new. At the end of the 1980s, with Apple's HyperCard, this notion of abstracting the code to speak to as many people as possible was already desired.

Why are we talking about it again today? Because digitalisation is essential for the survival of companies - especially after the year 2020 that we have just passed - and no one can miss it any longer.

Today, Nocode includes a whole range of tools based on three essential points, without which an application could not be considered as such: interfaces, workflows and data.

To find out more about Nocode and why we created Alegria.tech, listen to my podcast recorded with Simon Robic from the Nocode Family :

What types of projects are developed in Nocode?

Nocode is intended for all types of clients: start-ups, SMEs and large accounts. As far as projects are concerned, some of them come up quite often, two main types of projects in particular stand out.

The first concerns subjects that are very SME-oriented. This involves the optimisation of internal processes, i.e. the creation of business applications for employees (CRM, ERP, flow or workflow management, internal processes specific to their business).

The second type of project requested by clients concerns everything B2C, particularly websites: landing pages, showcase sites, e-commerce shops ormarketplaces.

And which sectors are launching in Nocode?

All sectors are in demand for Nocode today: service, industry... We have clients in the cosmetics, media, film, audiovisual and e-learning sectors, but also lift companies, home repairs, real estate, lawyers and various legal services. All business verticals are getting involved!

Why is there so much excitement about the Nocode in 2021?

First of all, there is a real need to modernise the tools already in place in companies. The technical stacks have not changed for 15-20 years.

Today, in companies, SMEs or large accounts, the software is there but it is ageing, it no longer meets the needs of employees and is struggling to be effective. They are even sometimes too limited in relation to the needs of the business, which wants more and more customisation in an easy-to-use tool.

Moreover, there is an increase in the use of tools that go against those authorised by the CIOs, a practice commonly known as "shadow-IT", which can cause flaws in the security systems of companies.

Experiences not tailored to the user

One of our customers explained to us that he had to press the same button 10 times to perform an action that he should have been able to do in one click to validate a quote or to create a contract. This is just one example; the reality is that customers are only now realising that they are losing a lot of time and productivity because of the software they use. That's where we come in and not only advise them, but also create the tailor-made application to meet their real needs.

There is also a growing awareness of the use of SaaS software for which an SME will pay for a very complete service when in the end it will use very few of the functions offered. In addition, some software is so comprehensive that companies sometimes get lost in it. Their day-to-day uses are often simpler than what a SaaS tool can offer them. Sometimes, access to a few data is enough; it is therefore better to turn to the creation of a tailor-made mini-CRM to be more efficient on a daily basis.

Today, Nocode allows us to replace or complete existing generic tools, which are sometimes outdated, with adapted, efficient and personalised solutions. It is important to bear in mind that Nocode allows great fluidity in what will be created: we can simply add connections and overlays to existing business software, which cannot be completely replaced, for example, for budgetary reasons.

Thanks to Nocode, a 100% customised solution

The Nocode allows for full customisation of the tools. 

💬 It's like having a sandbox and coming in and creating whatever you want

One of our clients, a law firm, needed a CRM to prospect and organise its client meetings. None of the generic software in their vertical met their needs, which were specifically: "who are the three prospects I need to have lunch with this month?

We were able to create a tool for them quickly, and at a much lower cost than with traditional development, that met their needs and according to their own rules.

What are the real benefits of switching to nocode?

The question that often comes up is indeed about the differentiating advantages of Nocode compared to what one would expect from a traditional development agency. And yet, there are clearly 4 advantages:

- speed of design ⏱

- the price 💰

- customisation 🤝

- and autonomy 🕊

These 4 points are THE added value of Nocode compared to what is possible traditionally. Be careful though:

💬 Not all tools are equal in terms of handling and ease of creation and design. We must not forget that Nocode is not magic, it is not because we do Nocode that we must forget the consulting part: coaching, structuring, specs definition, project management, design, prototyping.

In the end, if there was only one thing to remember, it is that Nocode speeds up projects but does not take away all the work that goes into creating an application!

Project management: don't risk going too fast 

The entire upstream phase of a digital project is essential. With Nocode, it even becomes the most important phase of project management. This is the basis on which Alegria.tech was born, because agencies must play an even more important role than before in supporting their clients in the success of their transformation.

The simplicity of the tools can make one forget this upstream phase. The company may want to launch itself directly into the tool, into creation, by skipping this design phase a little. A phase which traditionally was very important in the minds of project managers to avoid making mistakes when launching the development in code. Today, they might tend to go much too fast in the tool. And in the end, they will realise that the construction of the solution is not adapted to the real need, and they will have lost time.

The definition of technical and, above all, functional specifications remains fundamental, particularly the management rules or the rules for the application tree. Ultimately, the business applications developed often concern hundreds of users with very elaborate management of interventions. It is therefore impossible to imagine plunging directly into the design of the application, at the risk of going back and forth endlessly to adjust the requirements.

This is where theNocode agency is an asset in the implementation of Nocode solutions.

The main trends observed today in the Nocode

The first observation is the democratisation of Nocode in large companies, because at the beginning, Nocode was mainly part of the start-up world.

Alegria.tech's role is precisely to demonstrate to SMEs and large accounts all the benefits they can derive from this technology. And this involves evangelising, raising awareness among people who are not technical, and sometimes even among IT managers. Our mission is really to help more traditional companies to migrate to this type of solution.

The second observation is that this is happening on the tools side, with a real consolidation of the market and maturity reached for certain Nocode tools. In 2020, 1 billion dollars were invested in the technology, and 660 million since the beginning of the year. Even the small Nocode players are raising funds. The tools are becoming more and more solid from a business point of view, and therefore the confidence that we can have in these tools is growing.

This proves that it's not just a trend, but that we are witnessing a profound change in the way digital products and solutions are designed!

My favourite tools for everyday life :

👉 Airtable, one of my favorites, for automation, global project and process management

👉 Notion, for daily management and documentation topics 

👉 Bubble, for interface creation, workflow management, automation

👉 Webflow, more focused on aesthetics, branding to make beautiful things, 3D in the web  

My sources of information :

• Makerpad is the Nocode bible that I love to follow (video resources, tutorials, tips, it's very complete)
• Julien's watch on the Nocode France slack, it's factual, he goes straight to the point
• The Nocode Station newsletter by Milan Boisgard, for more detailed articles
• Pablo Heredia's newsletter, a concentrate of features to remember, tips on Bubble

 The people I follow :

• Julien de >Circumvention>
• All the team of the Nocode France Slack and >Contournement> who exchange a lot of useful information and who participate to the evangelization of Nocode
• The English speaker, Tom Osman on Twitter who does a lot of background work on identifying tools. He categorises them according to different criteria. He also gives information on the technical side.
• Lacey Kesler who helps with education. And she's a woman, we need more of them in this tech world, we need a lot more of us to take action on these issues.
• Gregory John, on Bubble, he makes very aesthetic videos on very relevant topics: tips and guides.

 And to follow me :

• on Instagram (a brand new account waiting for you)
• on Twitter
• on LinkedIn
• and soon on Twitch with tool demos, customer cases, use cases and feedback from our customers.

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