The no-code platform market - France

No-code platforms are visual programming platforms that enable any user to build their own application, in the broadest sense of the term, with a simple drag-and-drop operation. These platforms make it possible to create websites, newsletters and forms in just a few clicks, thanks to highly visual and intuitive interfaces, without any notion of programming. In recent years, we've seen no-code tools gain in popularity as they meet a wide range of marketing needs: create a chatbot, scrape data, automate tasks and even design mobile applications - all without coding, of course. Some platforms even offer tools for designing your own no-code services, such as Bubble. But the principle remains the same, and has been for almost 50 years: a publisher provides a tool that enables a non-technical profileto easily create a solution that, at first glance, involves specific technical complexity. The global market for no-code platforms is booming for several reasons. On the one hand, advances in computer technology are making programming more accessible to the general public. On the other hand, there is tension in the developer job market: companies are finding it hard to recruit, and salaries are high. no-code solutions offer a degree of independence to non-technical profiles, who often appreciate being able to "do things themselves", freeing themselves from the constraints inherent in organizations. These obstacles can be linked to the rigidity of companies, to interests that are not perfectly aligned between certain departments and management, or to uncertainties about the added value of a technical solution. on a global scale, we can see that no-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular, driven by companies such as Airtable and Bubble. The amount invested in the US in low- and no-code startups has more than quadrupled in five years, from $114 million in 2014 to $529 million in 2019. Among them, Airtable ($170 million raised in total) used by WeWork in the management of its construction projects and Netflix for its video post-production stages. Although the French no-code market was lagging behind the Anglo-Saxon markets, the fact remains that French companies are increasingly inclined to use these platforms, which are better suited to the needs of SMEs. The increase in the number of start-ups offering these solutions, such as Contournement and Ottho Tools, bears witness to the dynamism of the market.