Unique no-code tools (part 1)
The first in a series about uncommon no-code tools, simplifying the creation of complex applications such as blockchain smart contracts, voice applications, and games.
Issue #7 of the No-code Analysis newsletter explores uncommon, yet powerful no-code tools for fascinating use cases.
Here’s what you’ll read about in this issue:
No-code: more than meets the eye
3 no-code tools that unlock uncommon capabilities
Examples of no-code voice applications, smart contracts, and financial modeling
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No-code: more than meets the eye
As the pace of no-code innovation increases, attention often focuses on tools such as website and mobile app builders, automation suites, and products. It is fascinating to see all the ways these tools find new ways to enable creators to build products without code.
Beyond these tools, the no-code ecosystem is expansive and the definition of the term becomes fuzzy. As many have said, the term no-code describes a new paradigm in product development more than a type of tool. That's true for each of these tools that use no-code principles to empower complex solutions by non-technical creators.
This first part in a series looks at 3 unique uses cases for no-code and the tools that make them possible:
Voice applications using Voiceflow
Blockchain smart contracts using Unibright
Financial modeling using Causal
Voice applications using Voiceflow
About Voiceflow
With Voiceflow, users can design and build custom voice applications for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
It is simple to create a voice application in Voiceflow and export as an Alexa Skill or Google Action. Soon, Voiceflow will also help users create an interactive voice response (IVR) system with custom logic trees.
Example uses
In the Voiceflow interface, users construct voice applications using a familiar canvas layout. Using conditional logic, users create voice applications to listen for phrases and return responses.
As an example, a rental-by-owner site such as Airbnb could create a phone booking assistant. Using Voiceflow, a product team could build a multi-step voice application that responds to the prompt "Alexa, book my vacation on Airbnb". Moving through logical conditions, the voice assistant would return information about rental choices.
When a customer triggers the Alexa Skill, the application advances through the questions. Within a few steps, the voice application returns a rental suggestion that fulfills the requirements.
That's a simple example, but it is easy to see that the possible workflows are endless. Voiceflow applications can retrieve information from many sources, including third-party APIs and Airtable. To extend Voiceflow's capabilities, users also have the option to tie in integrations with services such as Zapier.
Blockchain smart contracts using Unibright
About Unibright
Unibright makes it simple to create blockchain smart contracts without writing a line of code.
Cool! Amazing!
Wait, what's a smart contract? We should let the experts handle this one.
Smart contract
A smart contract is a self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. The code and the agreements contained therein exist across a distributed, decentralized blockchain network. The code controls the execution, and transactions are trackable and irreversible.
source: Investopedia
Example uses
A smart contract is a self-executing contract, written in code and stored on a decentralized blockchain. Since a smart contract controls the completion of terms of the agreement without human intervention, the code has to be accurate.
If a smart contract sounds like it requires the expertise of both a lawyer and a developer, that's correct. Yet, there is a limited supply of both lawyers and developers that are able to create smart contracts. Because the technology is new, there are not enough skilled professionals with the skills to create smart contracts.
This makes the Unibright Framework very interesting because it promises to remove the need for a developer. Using a workflow builder, non-technical users can create smart contracts that follow standards.
For example, a contractor working on a milestone-based project needs to receive many approvals before receiving payment for completed work. This process can be time-intensive and involve many people, from project managers to accounting. Any disagreements or disputes can lengthen the process.
A smart contract defines the scope of work and the verification process in advance. The smart contract can automate tasks and store a permanent record of verifications. In this example, the contractor would complete work, ask the project manager to verify, and instantly receive payment from accounting.
Unibright also provides templates for common use cases such as multi-party approvals, supply chain tracking, and insurance claim processing.
Financial modeling using Causal
About Causal
Causal is a simple way for anyone to build interactive financial models. Finance professionals or analysts typically create financial models in complicated spreadsheets, which can be difficult to create, update, and share.
Causal makes it much simpler to get started with financial models. The company provides free templates for common predictive modeling scenarios such as:
Recurring monthly billing revenue for a SaaS business
Expected return on investment from a Google Ads advertising budget
Total expected compensation from joining a startup compared to a FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) company.
Example uses
With Causal, users model multivariate scenarios from a web-based tool. There is no need to know a programming language like Python or R.
Users build new financial models or use one of the templates provided by Causal. After creating a model, users are able to easily customize the model and run variations.
After financial models are complete, users can present data from Causal's elegant visual dashboard. Collaboration and sharing with team members and investors also occur directly in the model. A Google Sheets integration allows models and forecasts to update in real-time.
Causal will also build and maintain models through their CFO as a service offering. They will manage a company's finances and create financial models to meet their needs. While most large companies have a Chief Financial Officer on staff, startups often rely on a part-time CFO or adviser. It will be interesting to see how Causal meets that need as they add capabilities to their solution.
To be continued
In the second part of this series, we’ll uncover more unique use cases such as no-code game creation and stream processing for Internet of Things (IOT) data.
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