What’s a hackathon, anyway?
This might be a good place to start for those unfamiliar with hackathons. What are they, basically?
A hackathon, or programming marathon, is a collaborative event that is quite common in IT development. While there may be many variants, with different constraints or organization depending on the event, the objective remains the same: to develop a technology in teams, sometimes with a theme or constraints, in record time before presenting it to a jury.
This endurance exercise (usually over two days) has become a frequent rendezvous for young and senior developers alike. These marathons are often organized by schools, universities, organizations, administrations or, as in the case of Nmédia, by a company itself. A hackathon can be open to external applications or remain an internal event.
Of course, a hackathon is, first and foremost, an event that aims to unite people and promote collaboration between those taking part. Teams are often formed just before the competition begins, so it’s vital to the project’s success that they listen to each other and prioritize teamwork. In the case of a company like Nmédia, it’s also an opportunity to bring together all our expertise on a single project and for some employees to work with new faces for the first time.
For our web agency, it’s also an opportunity to work on research and development. By offering a playful space full of creativity, teams can focus for two days on their ability to develop digital solutions.
A first edition already crowned with success
For Nmédia, this isn’t our first rodeo. The first hackathon took place on October 19 and 20, 2023. It was a resounding success regarding the solutions developed and the feedback from Nmédians on this new event.
(Please note: the video is only available in French)
For this first edition, the chosen theme was already focused on the trend of the moment: artificial intelligence (AI). ChatGPT, Midjourney, Copilot… These AI were already occupying the minds and conversations of the tech world, just like those of the Nmédia teams. How could we integrate these new technologies into the services offered by our agency?
Therefore, it was logical for Nmédia to experiment. What better playground than a programming marathon to explore how artificial intelligence can help a transactional platform?
And it has to be said that Nmédia had the perfect representative to embody the beneficiary of this marathon: our partner Followmybid! This interactive online auction platform enables companies and organizations to launch a fundraising campaign in just a few clicks. It integrates various processes and steps that AI can optimize when creating auctions.
With this theme in mind, the three multidisciplinary teams worked hard over two days to develop their solutions using artificial intelligence to enhance the platform. Brainstorming, experimentation, creativity, collaboration, fun, and enrichment were the watchwords of the teams during these working days.
With collaboration at its best, innovation was not to be outdone. In the end, three personalized and functional proofs of concept were presented to the professional jury convened by Nmédia. The objective was a success: in a short time, the teams developed solutions adapted to Followmybid’s needs.
A promising 2024 edition for AI at Nmédia
After such a successful event, it was only logical for Nmédia to add another piece to the puzzle. Artificial intelligence will again be at the heart of the event for this 2024 Hackathon, which takes place on November 7 and 8. This time, however, it will have a twist that will sound like a challenge to the 30 or so Nmedians taking part.
Teams must think and innovate to develop artificial intelligence solutions that benefit Nmédia and its customers.
With the same spirit of teamwork and collaboration between different areas of expertise, those taking part will have to bring their ideas to life using the excellent resources provided by artificial intelligence. These digital solutions will:
- Identify solutions enabling Nmédia to meet its customers' needs through AI better to improve the agency’s services.
- Optimize internal processes and find ways to use AI to make its working methods more efficient.
Rest assured, the organization and the people participating are already on the starting blocks to make this 2024 Hackathon an unforgettable edition. Everything is still to be done, and a few questions come to mind: What significant advances in AI will change the lives of tomorrow’s Nmédians? Which team will charm the jury with its solution? Will the record for the most litres of coffee Nmédians consume be broken? Join us on November 7 and 8 on our social medias, Facebook and LinkedIn (only available in French), to follow this event!