Digiteam participated in the NoCode Summit 2022 both in-person and remotely. Here’s our feedback on this event!
What is the NoCode Summit?
A French event that brings together no-code enthusiasts from around the world!
The goal? To exchange ideas, discuss the challenges of no-code, discover tools, explore business models, stay updated on all the latest releases, and of course, have some fun!
This inaugural edition took place in Paris and gathered nearly 1,000 people over two days (in-person + remote). You could find numerous participants from around the globe, including Make, Bubble, Softr, Weglot, Glide, ncScale, Appfarm, weweb, and of course Digidop (visiting to network 😊), among others.
A debrief on what happened
1. Diverse and Varied Opinions
“No-code gives people superpower.”
“Democratize, empower, increase.”
“Become a maker, not just a viewer.”
Here are some phrases that opened the first edition of the NoCode Summit. Opinions on no-code were plentiful, but generally quite enthusiastic, cautious, and pragmatic.
To summarize the main themes from the discussions I had and the talks I attended:
1.1 Data Challenges
It’s no surprise that data is everywhere, and the tools to manage it are proliferating. The challenge with no-code functionalities revolves around simplifying the storage, management, formatting, reusability, and interconnectivity between apps.
1.2 Omnipresence of Web Apps
Many players, including tools and agencies related to the world of web apps, were present at this first edition. I was particularly impressed by the capabilities of certain tools like Appfarm, which has a robust logic system and API connectivity, along with a Layout interface reminiscent of Webflow that made me smile.
1.3 Interconnectivity Between Tools
Make, one of the largest players in no-code tool integration via workflows, was present to advocate for this topic. This challenge can also be seen in the latest features of many no-code tools: creating automations, connecting tools, managing data flows, triggering actions, etc.
1.4 Security Challenges
No-code tools are mostly secured, but beware of poor practices that can create vulnerabilities! One example I discussed was Softr, an extremely effective tool for transforming Airtable databases into real dashboards, websites, or web applications.
The problem: When you connect an Airtable database to Softr to display only certain columns on your web interface... all columns are still visible when inspecting the page!
A best practice is to never connect your data source directly but only connect a pre-filtered Airtable view. In short, learning no-code and best practices is a critical topic!
1.5 Mastery of No-Code
“No-coder is a profession.”
And like any profession, it requires learning, experience, and knowledge. Primarily through training. We had discussions on this aspect with several no-code training providers like Alegria Academy, Contournement, Shubham, and defended our viewpoint with the recent launch of the Digidop Academy.
1.6 The No-Code Community's Mixed Opinions
On one hand, no-code is viewed as a time-saver, productivity booster, with a fast learning curve, cost-effective in the long run, agile, inclusive, etc. On the other, there are more cautious perspectives highlighting the need for learning, the multiplicity of players complicating the choice of “stack,” challenges in scaling a 100% no-code business, the need for processes, etc.
2. Experiences Shared
2.1 The "Buy or Build" Dilemma with Qonto
- Context: The fintech Qonto wanted to integrate its tool with Slack to allow its users to receive notifications based on their account transactions. Initially, they chose to develop this integration themselves (build method), connecting their API to Slack’s.
- Result: 3 months full-time for Qonto’s developers, resulting in a somewhat clunky solution that spammed users with notifications, without any filtering options, etc. In summary, a lot of effort spent on something that fell outside their "core tool" and received poor user feedback.
- Pivoting to No-Code: Qonto ultimately turned to expert no-code solutions for tool integration, Zapier and Make, to build a much more agile solution that could connect not only to one but dozens of different tools.
2.2 Managing a No-Code Project End-to-End
Discussion particularly with the company Re-Build on
- The importance of defining client needs and the project structure: “master your process, split, and prioritize.”
- Following up, reminding, and boosting the client throughout the service
- Adapting based on the digital maturity of your interlocutor
- Collecting feedback
- Concluding a project... which could of course be challenged indefinitely.
2.3 Multifaceted No-Code
Conference by Zetoolbox on the advantages and uses of no-code across various business spectrums.
- Knowledge management
- Project management
- HR
- etc.
3. Tool Presentations
- Appfarm: Impressive live build of a pizza reservation interface (😍) featuring payment systems, data flows, automations, and member spaces. All in just 45 minutes!
- Glide: Discovery of features with a live build from the company Datapix. They transformed a simple Airtable base into a genuine business tool usable in app mode and through a web interface.
- ncScale: Securing your no-code stack particularly through a smart notification system.
- Weglot: Our favorite tool for translating your website into any language 🤩
- and many others...
4. Intertwining Business Models
Between no-code tools, freelancers, agencies, “academies,” etc., this event highlighted the symbiosis that has formed within the no-code ecosystem. On one side, the tools are racing to add functionalities backed by funding rounds, while on the other, agencies and freelancers leverage them to make solutions accessible to all (helping companies create a stack, implement processes, consolidate them, ensure sustainability, and of course, train).
The No-Code Summit in Pictures
Positive Highlights
Engaging and Varied Talks
From experience sharing, tool presentations, to discussions on diverse themes, the NoCode Summit provided us with a variety of formats to better understand these new challenges.
Wonderful Encounters and Exchanges
Partners, competitors, French, Norwegians, Germans, English, etc. All gathered around a common interest: no-code! Plenty to keep us occupied during these two days.
A Comprehensive Event
Conferences during the day, cocktails and music in the evening. Two well-filled days for this first no-code event in Paris.
Areas for Improvement for Future Editions
Notable Absentees!
We talked a lot about them, but they weren’t there: Webflow (It’s up to us to bring you to Paris ;)), Figma, Airtable, Notion, Zapier, and many others... It’s challenging to gather everyone for a first edition, but we hope to see them next year!
More Diverse Topics
We couldn’t attend all the talks, but generally, I felt that the topics were heavily business-oriented. Perhaps a bit more no-code related to internal challenges (teams, processes, HR, etc.) next time?
Also, there were no debates around no-code tools related to SEO! There are so many in terms of copywriting tools, AI, reporting tools, etc. Dokey, 1.fr, Peppertype, where were you?
An Event Overwhelmed by Its Success on the First Day?
Rooms overflowing, Wi-Fi on coffee break for a large part of day one (difficult for a tech event: tool presentations, live builds, etc.), just a few hiccups of event management.
A Remote Pass with Limited Access
We wanted to test both experiences, but unfortunately, the remote pass did not allow access to all the talks... So we'll have to settle for replays!
