Switchboard builds an infrastructure layer that detects the problem for tools without code

No code/low code software developers are looking for new generation toolsets to create more and more sophisticated “smart” applications to meet a rapidly growing need. Switchboard – which makes an innovative dev platform that includes initial error tracking and incident response functionalities for code -free environments – has advanced as a leader in this genre and has now revealed a new layer of infrastructure that it developed for its platform.

With this new layer of functionality, Switchboard allows companies that rely on code-free and low-code tools to monitor the health of their automations and identify potential errors before they perish. The company says its technology allows teams to see more uptime, more reliability and a smoother workflow. It currently supports service providers such as Zapier (which allows users to integrate the web applications they use and automate workflows) and Make (formerly Integromat, a visual platform for building workflow).

The investment community also took an interest. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company announced today that it has closed a $ 4.5 million seed round led by Slow Ventures, an early-stage focused venture capital firm known for its investments in social networking platforms, consumer brands , software-as-a-service (SaaS) and Web3.

The trend without code continues to grow

A growing number of companies are using code-free platforms (such as app builders, databases, automation platforms and design tools) to bridge the gap between expensive technical development and the speed and flexibility required for day-to-day business operations. However, there can be serious problems when either of these platforms encounter underlying data changes or broken connections.

Switchboard aims to prevent breakdowns by monitoring these platforms, reporting inconsistencies and then identifying potential remedies, CEO and cofounder Philip Lakin told VentureBeat. With the new funding, the company will take its problem -solving capabilities one step further. By using AI to anticipate and prevent crashes from happening, the company can save its users massive time and costly errors.

For example, before a team fixes a query in a form of sales leads on their website, Switchboard automates alerts notifying the editor that a change to the corresponding database or customer relationship management (CRM) will also be required. ) system, the company says.

“Switchboard is one of the visionary companies that adapts traditional developer -focused tools and processes to the new frontier of code -free platforms,” said Sam Lessin, general partner at Slow Ventures, in a media advisory . “As companies reinvent the way they do business using these platforms, there becomes a need to understand not only the connections between applications but also how efficiently data is transferred across the organization. . ”

What is the difference of Switchboard?

“A large number of code-free tools already exist in the spreadsheet-as-database space (Airtable), data integration space (Zapier) and Internal Tooling space (Retool),” Lakin told VentureBeat. “The Switchboard platform is a meta-layer on top of uncode tool spaces to (initially) provide error tracking in the same way that there are error tracking tools for developer-specific applications on AWS, etc.

The switchboard is not considered autonomic or self-healing in the sense that it does not auto-repair code-free automations (even, now), Lakin says. “But we greatly reduce the lag time that all the tools have without code alerting you to errors,” he said. “We feel that professionals without code should have the same level of understanding of their infrastructure as traditional developers do so they can fix things before they have a big impact on the business.”

Developing future Web3-type apps

“A lot of initial app development is now being done by building a workable prototype with code-free tools instead of showing customers dysfunctional wireframes,” Lakin told VentureBeat. “Some applications built on no-code enable multi-million dollar companies of today’s size and there is always a need to strengthen the infrastructure when business relies on these tools.

“We see this trend continuing as Web3 apps become more popular for organizations that need to build applications cheaply and quickly. Reliable infrastructure will always be important when there is a critical business need for uptime, ”Lakin said.

Founded in 2021 by Lakin and Brent Summers, Switchboard has hubs in Atlanta and San Francisco, with remote team members distributed around the world. In his last role as a solutions architect, Lakin most recently used no-code to build the onboarding process for more than 15,000 real estate agents at Compass. During the pandemic, Summers relied on code -free tools to deliver more than a million meals to those in need as a cofounder of the nonprofit HelpKitchen.

“When no-code automation is broken, teams can’t rely on them for business-critical needs. At Switchboard, we are focused on helping teams succeed and scale with the tools they already want, ”Summers said.

A mix of new and current investors participated in the round, including Backend Capital, Charge Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Overline Ventures, Forum Ventures, Soma Capital, TnT Ventures, New Normal Ventures and Polymath Capital. Some well-known no-code founders have also invested including founders Zapier, Bubble, Betty Blocks, Internal and Carrd.

Market leaders in the no code/low code development space, according to G2, include companies such as ServiceNow, Airtable, Appy Pie, Quixy, AppSheet, Jotform Tables, SurveySparrow and Salesforce Platform.

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