Is it possible to build software without technical and coding expertise?
Short answer: no. And no, this isn’t a discussion about AI, CODEX, or anything like that. This is a discussion about our human-creative talents. And how questioning current set-ups can result in improved systems and tools.
But since we are mentioning AI, I would like to not that I am not using it to help me write or to proofread, so please excuse the less polished delivery of the content.
The Real Problem: Accounting Software Wasn’t Built for Nonprofits
As a CFO, I struggled with the available systems, especially when it comes to project-based industries such as nonprofits or construction, etc.
Let’s focus on non-profits for a moment. If you think about it, nonprofit “projects” often have multiple “customers.” DEFINITIONS: I call a “project “any award (contract, grant, etc.), or activity (conference, advocacy day, etc.). I call a customer any funder, strategic partner, event sponsor, someone registering for a conference, making an individual donation…you see how this can get out of hand?
Imagine that at a conference from the Policy department you have an advocacy day funded by your local health department, yet you have sponsors through the Convening department, and have hundreds of people registering for these events. Sure, you can potentially tweak current systems to handle this with workarounds and A LOT of Excel trackers. But I really wanted something that produced non-profit project specific accounting and compliance reporting that any impatient mind could grasp in 5 seconds, before running off to a meeting or the next task on the long “to-do” list.
What If Your Data Made Sense in Five Seconds?
One time I concluded a meeting in 7 minutes, and we accomplished everything we wanted! Could we have a system that gives accurate, real-time data, both financial and programmatic, this fast? Data that’s easy to understand very quickly by everyone?
This is where the value of the USER comes in when building the software. With the incredible technical team, this build-out is user-driven. We interviewed countless users of other current systems, we listened, we took notes. And we continue to do so. Your pain points, complaints – we welcome them!
No Coding Skills? Build With the Right Technical Team
Our teams span from the beautiful Tetons and Rockies in Wyoming and Utah to the beautiful Vitosha Mountain just outside of Sofia, Bulgaria. We share our love of nature and share our curiosity about issues you experience with your current systems. We built
something incredibly useful, because this was our approach: user frustration as our inspiration.
So, building software, no technical skill? No problem; the team hears you, as it heard me.
