Previously, at one of our nocodeklub events, we had Rupert Arnold as a speaker. Rupert is the CEO of DocsAutomator, a document automation tool he founded after running a kombucha brewery.
He talked about his experience with no-code and how he automated his brewery to scale it and make it more efficient. It was an awesome talk, so we caught up with him again for an interview to learn how you can use tech to scale your business.
Hi Rupert, what a great event, thanks again for joining. Can you give us again a short introduction about yourself as probably not every reader has heard your talk.
Rupert: Sure, happy to! I'm Rupert Arnold, an entrepreneur with quite a diverse background. I started my career as an event organizer in Berlin, where I ran a startup conference called "Hi, Berlin." After that, I moved into innovation and management consulting, but I soon found it wasn't quite fulfilling for me.
Seeking a change, I founded a kombucha brewery. This was driven by my personal health interests and a strong belief in the benefits of fermentation. However, the kombucha market in Germany didn't grow as I had expected, and eventually, I decided to leave that business.
My latest venture is DocsAutomator, a document automation tool based on Google Docs. I developed this tool to address a recurring problem I encountered in my previous work with document management. It took about five weeks to create the MVP, and now Docs Automate serves small businesses by helping them streamline their processes. I really enjoy supporting small business owners through automation and remain active in the no-code community.
This is quite an interesting journey. From Kombucha to a document automation tool. How did it come?
Rupert: It has indeed been quite a journey! My transition from kombucha to a document automation tool really came about through my experiences as an entrepreneur and problem-solver. While running my kombucha brewery, I needed to manage various business processes efficiently. I started using Airtable to handle orders, production, and customer relations management (CRM).
As time went on, I found myself integrating more tools and automating processes using no-code platforms like Zapier and Google Workspace. This hands-on experience with Airtable and the constant need for efficient document automation led me to develop my own solution, DocsAutomator.
Throughout this process, my interest in no-code grew significantly. I saw the practical benefits it offered in building and automating business processes without needing extensive coding knowledge. As I continued to work on developing and refining DocsAutomator, no-code became a central part of my entrepreneurial toolkit.
Love it. This is such a great example of how people learn about no-code. But to stay on topic. You mentioned business processes. What areas do you see where companies can use technology or no-code to make them more efficient and scalable?
Rupert: There are several key areas where businesses can use tech and no-code to become more efficient and scalable in my opinion.
Firstly, document automation is a big topic. Of course, I have to say that, as with Doc Automate I have developed a solution to tackle the repetitive task of automating documents.
Second, using an ERP can streamline various business processes. For example, in my kombucha brewery, I used Airtable to handle orders, production, and customer relations management (CRM). This setup allowed for efficient data management and smoother operations.
Integration with other tools is another crucial area. By integrating and connecting different tools, you can automate workflows and reduce manual tasks, significantly enhancing overall efficiency.
Customizing solutions to fit specific business needs is also vital as you do for your customers at Naviu. So for example I built custom apps and systems, such as an order management system, which allowed me to tailor technology to my business processes and improve efficiency.
Lastly, learning and utilizing coding can take things a step further. While I started with no-code solutions, I also learned JavaScript and incorporated coding into my systems. This blend of no-code and traditional coding allowed for more advanced customizations and optimizations.
So basically a lot of areas where tech can help. To dive deeper in here and get a more practical view: which tools can I use if I wanted to start tomorrow to make my business more efficient?
Rupert: Here are some tools you can use from my perspective:
- Airtable: For managing various business processes, including orders, production, and CRM. I used it as an ERP system.
- Zapier: To connect different applications and automate workflows, reducing manual tasks.
- Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets): For managing data and integrating with other tools to streamline operations.
- DocsAutomator: A custom document automation tool I built, leveraging Google Docs to automate the creation and management of documents.
- Airtable's React SDK: Used to build custom apps within Airtable, such as an order system.
- JavaScript: I learned and used JavaScript for more advanced customizations and optimizations within my systems.
- ChatGPT: Mentioned as a coding mentor for learning and troubleshooting JavaScript.
- Building your own tool: In the life of your business you will often have such special needs that standard tools are sometimes not enough, so building your own tool might be an option to consider. Even with no-code, you can build so much stuff nowadays, automating and scaling your whole business in a cost-efficient way.
Great list. Airtable is also one of our favorite no-code tool here at Naviu to build custom apps. So, löast but not least, can you give us a look at the results you achieved using no-code and tech in your ventures?
Rupert: First, in terms of efficiency in document automation, this has reduced manual effort and potential errors, making our operations much smoother.
Second, streamlined business processes have been a major win. This led to better organization and faster execution of tasks.
The quick adaptation and implementation that no-code tools offer have been invaluable. Their flexibility enabled me to rapidly adapt to changing business needs and implement new features or changes without needing extensive coding knowledge. In terms of cost-effective development, building systems with no-code tools has been more affordable. It reduced the need for hiring specialized developers for every small customization or automation task, saving both time and money.
Lastly, increased control and customization have been key advantages. No-code platforms allowed me to build and modify solutions tailored specifically to my business requirements, giving me greater control over my processes and systems. These tools have truly transformed how I operate my businesses.
Awesome Rupert. Thanks for this and much luck with all your ventures and no-code efforts!
Rupert: Thanks Andreas! It was a pleasure talking with you. I appreciate the good wishes, and I'm excited to see where these no-code efforts will take us. Best of luck to you as well!
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As Rupert Arnold’s example shows, no-code and tech can enable any company to be more efficient and scalable.
If you need help or have any questions on how you can use tech to be as efficient as Rupert, let us know.
PS: Join us in our next nocodeklub event - you can find more information here.
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