No-code tools and platforms are starting to take center stage much more today. Given the countless opportunities these kinds of technology enable, it makes a lot of sense why citizen developers continue to increase in multitudes. That mentioned, parabola.io is one fine example of how visual programming is changing the game, not only in tech but more so in businesses.
Meet Parabola
Similar to the stellar bubble.io, Parabola is also a drag and drop visual programming platform that lets you create magnificent things with your data in ways that were exclusive only to traditional coders many years back. In other words, even without an exhaustive IT background, you can still very much collectively transform and move data.
Parabola’s technology conveniently lets you build and automate various workflows, designed to improve the way you go about office tasks and business duties. From marketing reporting to bulk inventories and custom sales to order management, this particular no-code platform helps you do it all.
And while this may all sound magical to the non-coder, we have decades worth of science to thank. Parabola can achieve these processes by creating flows made of three driving elements:
Sources, transforms, and destinations.
Let’s put them into context: sources are where the data comes from, transform refers to the specific actions performed, and destination talks about where the data goes.
Here are a few examples you can automate with Parabola:
- Merging data from varying sources
- Clearing datasets
- Matching customer categories and demographics
- Syncing data between services and apps
- Automating labor-intensive spreadsheet tasks
- Generating data-centric reports
Why Parabola is genius
Because it’s a visual programming platform, users can rely on piecing together a workflow based on how they would with a flowchart. Again, to anyone who isn’t big on technology, let alone coding and thorough IT principles, this is a massive breakthrough in itself, as these are all functions you’d come across in complicated software like Google Sheets or Excel, except here, tools are much more user-friendly and a lot easier to manipulate.
Furthermore, Parabola was made to bypass the monotonous processes sales executives and account managers have to do through several Excel tabs just to get done. That means, users can find a way to describe all their laborious steps to Parabola, and then start executing their processes without having to religiously check if the formulas are working just fine.
How does Parabola work?
One of the best reasons to use Parabola is its user interface. What’s usually a dry and dreary Excel experience becomes a fast and engaging encounter with the no-code platform. Naturally, this is all because of its “Flows.”
Once you create an account with Parabola, you will have to create a Flow not long after. Technically, a Flow is the process your data follows, beginning from Source leading to its Destination.
To better understand the steps your data takes, let’s discuss the process.
Sources
As the name suggests, a source is where your data originates. In the absence of a Parabola connector, users can refer to the platform’s API import component. Moreover, business leaders, marketers, and creatives alike will be pleased to know that there is a long list of established connectors ready for utilizing. That said, choose whatever option is best and you’re essentially good to go!
But that’s not all!
Users can also build a flow that optimizes several imports. An example of this situation is when a user imports a customer database from Zapier, for instance, and also some data from PayPal or Venmo to pair them up.
Fundamentally, Parabola allows users to create Flows like these for as many times they want in whichever stage they need to.
Transforms
Once you’ve sourced the data, you’re now free to use every Parabola tool there is to merge, shape, extract and mold whatever you need from it—all without having to write code yourself! Consider yourself an upcoming data scientist, if you may. Intrinsically, Parabola allows you to do multiple things with the information you have at hand before forwarding it to the next step.
Need only a customer’s name? Not a problem.
Looking only for a prospect’s email address? Go ahead.
The possibilities don’t end.
Destination
Along with the API Export component and other native apps, Parabola also has a good number of established destinations. That’s to say that through a little API documentation reading, your data’s destination can be anywhere you need it to end up. If, however, you’re not the savviest when it comes to API endpoints, you can resort to a CSV or Google Sheets.
And like many superb no-code platforms, Parabola allows you to manually run these processes or schedule a Flow.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Parabola is an efficient no-code tool that allows you to simplify your process of acquiring data. Still, it’s best to acknowledge that it isn’t the only platform that’s designed to meet those demands. After all, the market for simplified programming is much wider and more complex now.
This is because startups and enterprises are bound to lean towards certain platforms—whether they’re bubble.io, Zapier, or Airtable—given the nature of their businesses. How Parabola fairs in the face of competition can vary depending on whoever is talking and the kind of business challenges they face.
Whatever your take is, Parabola is a strong no-code platform brand that promises a shortcut to procedures and methodologies that would otherwise demand long hours and days and days of just sitting in front of Excel sheets. It’s also one of the more affordable options among its contemporaries in the market.
Depending on the size of your projects, prices may vary. Nonetheless, their fees start at a cheap $4 per month.
