Feedback on the NoCode Summit 2022

Digiteam participated to the NoCode Summit 2022 in face-to-face and remote sessions, here is our feedback on this event!

What is the NoCodeSummit?

A French event that gathers nocode actors from all over the world!

The goal? Exchange, discuss the challenges of nocode, discover tools, business models, be up to date with all the upcoming releases and of course have fun!

This first edition took place in Paris and gathered nearly 1000 people over 2 days (face to face + remote). You could find there many actors from all over the world like Make, Bubble, Softr, Weglot, Glide, ncScale, Appfarm, weweb, of course Digidop (in visitor to exchange 😊) etc.

Learn more about the NoCode Summit 2022

A debrief on what happened

1. Diverse and varied opinions

"Nocode gives people superpower"

"Democratize, empowering, increasing"

"Become a maker than a viewer"

Some of the sentences that introduced the opening of this 1st edition of the nocode summit. Opinions on nocode were numerous, but generally speaking quite enthusiastic, cautious, and pragmatic.

To summarize the main themes of the exchanges I had and talks I participated in:

1.1 Data issues

It's not new, data is everywhere and the tools to manage it are multiplying. The challenge of nocode functionalities is to simplify their storage, management, formatting, reuse and interconnection between apps.

1.2 Omnipresence of webapps

Many actors, tools and agencies, related to the world of web apps were present at this first edition. I was very impressed by the power of some tools like Appfarm, with a very advanced logic and API connection system, and a Webflow-like Layout interface that made me smile.

1.3 Interconnection between tools

Make, one of the biggest players in the integration of tools via nocode workflows was present to defend this topic. But this issue is also reflected in the latest functionalities of many nocode tools: creating automations, connecting tools, managing data flows, triggering actions, etc.

1.4 Safety Issues

The nocode tools are (for the most part) well and truly secure, but beware of bad practices that can create vulnerabilities! The example I had the opportunity to discuss is Softr. An extremely efficient tool to transform Airtable databases into real dashboards, websites or web applications.

The problem: when you connect an Airtable database to Softr so that only certain columns are visible on your web interface... all columns are visible when the page is inspected!

A best practice is to never connect your source data but only a filtered Airtable view. In short, learning nocode and best practices is a real subject!

1.5 Mastering the nocode

"nocoder is a job"

And as with any profession, this requires learning, experience, knowledge, and above all training. We were able to discuss this aspect with several actors of nocode training such as Alegria Academy, Contournement, Shubham, and also defend our point of view with the recent launch of the Digidop Academy.

1.6 The nocode of divided opinions

On the one hand, nocode is perceived as a time saver, a productivity booster, a fast learning curve, profitable in the long term, agile, inclusive, .... etc. On the other hand, there are also more cautious opinions with a need to learn, a multiplicity of actors that makes the choice of its "stack" more complex, difficulty in scaling up its business in 100% nocode, need for processes, etc.

2. Feedback from experiences

2.1 Buy or build dilemma with Qonto

• Context: The fintech Qonto wanted to integrate its tool with Slack in order to allow its users to receive notifications according to the movements of their accounts. They first chose to develop this integration themselves (build method), by connecting their API to Slack's.
• Result: 3 months full time for the Qonto developers, and a not very agile solution that spams users notifications, without having any filtering possibilities etc. In short, a lot of work on something that is outside their "business tool" and doesn't get good user feedback.
• Bouncing back with nocode: Qonto finally turned to nocode solutions that are experts in tool integration, Zapier and Make, to build a much more agile solution, which they will be able to connect to not one but dozens of different tools.

2.2 Managing a nocode project from start to finish

Exchange with the company Re-Build, on

• Importance of framing the client's needs and the project structure: "master your process, split and prioritized
• Follow up, follow up, boost the customer during the whole service
• Adapting to the digital maturity of your contact
• Get feedback
• Closing a project ... which of course could be challenged endlessly

2.3 Multi-faceted Nocode

Zetoolbox conference to present the benefits and uses of nocode across multiple enterprise spectrums.

• Knowledge management
• Project management
• HR
• etc.

3. Tool presentations

• Appfarm: impressive live build of a pizza booking interface (😍) with payment system, data feeds, automations, member area. All in 45min!
• Glide: discovery of the functionalities with a live build from Datapix. They have turned a simple Airtable database into a real business tool usable in App mode and in web interface.
• ncScale: secure your nocode stack with a smart notification system.
• Weglot: our favorite tool to translate your website into any language 🤩
• and many others ...

4. Intertwining business models

Between nocode Tools, Freelance, Agencies, "Academies", etc. this event revealed the symbiosis that has been created within nocode. On the one hand, the tools are racing for features with fundraising, and on the other hand, agencies and freelancers are using them to make them accessible to all (helping companies to create a stack, set up processes, consolidate them, make them sustainable and of course train them).

The nocode summit in pictures

The positive points

Interesting and varied talks

Between feedback, tool presentations, "confrontations" on various themes, the nocode summit offered a variety of formats to better understand these new issues.

Beautiful meetings and good exchanges

Partners, competitors, French, Norwegians, Germans, English, etc. All gathered around a common point, the nocode! Enough to keep us busy during these two days.

An event from start to finish

Conference during the day, cocktail and music in the evening. Two full days for this first nocode event in Paris.

To be improved for the next editions

Great absentees at the call!

We talked a lot about them but they weren't there: Webflow (It's up to us to make you come to Paris ;) ), Figma, Airtable, Notion, Zapier and many others ... Difficult to gather everyone for a first edition, but we hope to see them next year!

More diverse topics

We didn't get to do all the talks, but in general I had the impression that the topics were very business oriented. A little more nocode for internal issues (teams, processes, HR, etc.) next time? 

Also,no debates about nocode tools related to SEO! They are however numerous between copywriting tools, AI, reporting tools, etc. Dokey, 1.fr, Peppertype, where were you? 

The event victim of its success on the first day?

Overflowing rooms, wifi on coffee break for a good part of the first day (difficult for a tech event: tool presentations, live build, etc.), in short, some of the hazards of the event.

A remote pass with limited access

We wanted to test both experiences, and unfortunately the remote pass did not allow access to all the talks... So we'll have to make do with the reruns!