What is the purpose of a hackathon?

Hackathons are not single-purpose events, but rather multifaceted opportunities for both the host organization(s) and participants to achieve a diverse set of objectives. Some of the most common applications for the host(s) include; discovering business solutions, accelerated product/service launch, staff training and engagement, canvassing for new talent, and improved developer relations.

What happens during a hackathon?

A hackathon is a versatile competition that brings together creative thinkers to solve various problems in a predetermined (typically short) amount of time. There is a wide variety of hackathon event structures but the typical framework is as follows; 1. The event challenges, objectives, rules, parameters and timelines are clearly defined by the host organization(s), 2. Members from ideal/target demographics are invited and encouraged to participate, 3. Participants form teams of 4-6 people, 4. Teams work to find creative solutions to the challenge and build a prototype of their concept, 5. Once complete teams demonstrate their product to a panel of expert judges, 6. Winners are announced and prizes awarded, the organizer announces the winning team

Why is it called a hackathon?

The term “hackathon” is an amalgamation (more formally known as a portmanteau) of the words “hacker” and “marathon”. A “hacker” generally refers to computer programmers, designers, innovators, and other domain experts. The marathon component is derived from the short time frame in which most hackathons are structured. Challenges typically push participants to work for extended hours without sleep in order to complete their prototype. The term hackathon was first coined in Calgary, Canada, on June 4, 1999 for the OpenBSD Hackathon. Check out our article What is a Hackathon?

How long is a hackathon?

Typically hackathons run for 24-48 hours depending on the expected outcome, however some extend beyond this typical frame if more extensive prototyping is needed.

How do I prepare for my first hackathon?

1. Study and explore previous hackathons by the host organization and winning solutions. These insights will help you to anticipate the types of challenges you’ll face, 2. Determine where to find the resources you will need during the hackathon, 3. Learn how to effectively work in teams, by attributing the right task to the individual with the correct skillset, 4. Explore and research the host organization’s industry

Are hackathons worth it?

Hackathons offer added value to both organizers and attendees. They are a great option when looking to find and assess business solutions, work with startups, train your staff, build a talent pool or launch a new product/service. As an attendee it’s a chance to network with others in similar fields, bring your ideas to life, learn new skills, or push outside your comfort zone and improve your skills.

Who can take part in Hackathon?

Each hackathon is unique and may or may not have specific prerequisites. Some events are open to anyone interested, while others may be specific to students, those with particular certifications or credentials, for example. It’s best to explore the guidelines before registering.

How to Automate Your Workflow with Simple Coding Skills

Posted on

September 1, 2022

Most of the processes in an organization are periodic in nature or have a cycle time, also called the critical path. When these tasks are performed manually, there is a significant cost associated with them. When these tasks are automated, the process becomes faster, more reliable, accurate, and efficient.

No matter the industry or size of a business, all share the goal of automating their workflow to achieve a wide range of benefits—from boosting efficiency, reducing errors, future-proofing, and gaining a competitive edge in a fast-paced environment. With that in mind, how do you automate your workflow with little-to-no coding involved in the process?

Steps to Take When Automating Without Coding
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1. Define Your Company's Workflow

Before automating a workflow, it’s important to define how you want to automate it. To do this, refer to your business model and the design of your current processes. Your workflow should be documented, meaning that it should be in a logical and easy-to-follow format.

For example, your tasks may include order processing, product creation, customer service, web development, and social media marketing. Consider the data points gathered from these different departments and how you can use them to automate.

If your workflow hasn’t been defined in a way that suits your current requirements, use this as a chance to re-evaluate your business model and processes to decide how to better future-proof your organization.
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2. Identify How Automation will Improve Your Operational Efficiency

Your workflow structure should reflect the most efficient way for your company to get work done in order to boost operational efficiency. Think about whether automation will help you with:

Reducing costs
Enhancing productivity
Streamlining communication
Improving visibility
Maximizing time efficiency
Reducing errors
Achieving regulatory compliance

For example, imagine a car manufacturing company has multiple stages to their manufacturing process, including stamping, painting, and assembly. Defining a workflow, in this case, will help to reduce the workload of each employee by ensuring that each stage is completed in a timely manner, thus reducing the time and cost it takes to get the finished car out the door.
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3. Identify Key Stakeholders

Key stakeholders are those people involved in the workflow to make it run smoothly. They are the ones who are most affected by your workflow structure, and it’s important to know how each person (and their role) fits into the process.

For example, your key stakeholders may include the project manager, the salesperson, and the customer service representative. When automating your workflow, it’s important to keep these key stakeholders in mind. If a key stakeholder is no longer involved in the process, you may need to take this into consideration when creating new processes.
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4. Visualize Your Workflow in a Simple to Understand Diagram

To gain better visibility into your workflow structure and how each process is completed, visualize your workflow in a simple workflow diagram.

Visualizing your workflow visually allows you to better understand the workflow, and allows you to easily track the progress of each stage. These two factors allow you to pinpoint any problems and errors in your workflow without the need to physically go back and look over everything.
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5. Download a Simple Automation Software to Get Started

After you have defined your workflow, identified your key stakeholders, and visualized your workflow in a diagram, it’s time to automate it. To do so, you’ll need to use a software program to automate your workflow.

There is plenty of affordable automation software out there, most of which can simplify your organization’s workflow by working with the tools you already use to get work done. When you integrate apps using simple automation software, you can automatically create, update, and monitor your tasks, with no coding required.
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The Bottom Line: Automating Your Workflow Without Technical Coding Involved

Automating your workflow without coding is possible, but it’s important to remember that automating your workflow without technical coding involved can require a big shift in your understanding of process efficiency. With automated tools, your workflow has to be visualized so you can keep everything in one place and understand how it is all working together.
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How Can We Help You?

Dipping your toes in the tech industry is a great way to boost your education and build the career that you want. Fortunately, worldwide hackathon opportunities are available within your reach, thanks to Hackathon.com.

Hackathon.com is the largest online hackathon community worldwide. We connect over 2000 hackathon organizers with over 10 million member innovators globally. Find a hackathon online or in-person by searching our Events page.

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