Wippli Digital Nomad Experiment - Bali 2022

Wippli is on a serious mission: taking over the CXM (Customer Experience Management) territory. And what could be better than pressure-testing the end-to-end Wippli experience while on the move in Bali as a Digital Nomad, engaging with multiple tasks, both client/supplier sides with users from five cities (and timezones!) around the world?

Heard the buzz around the upcoming Digital Nomad Visa to Indonesia? With the possibility to work and play in Indonesia for up to five years - so long as your business is registered offshore - it’s an exciting prospect. As you may know, the Land of the Gods, Bali, is a hotspot for Digital Nomad types who have previously not had access to a similar visa, so it’s exciting times!

the Land of the Gods, Bali, is a hotspot for Digital Nomad types who have previously not had access to a similar visa, so it’s exciting times!

Hot off the back of this hype, it set the perfect scene to come up with my impressions after conducting Wippli’s very own Digital Nomad Experiment over two exciting weeks.

So, just what is a Digital Nomad?

Let’s kick things off with some definitions. 

A Digital Nomad, or DN for short, is not simply someone on a working holiday with laptop open, with their homebase, well, back home. If you have a job which allows you to work for two weeks in Spain, that’s fantastic - but that’s not quite the spirit of a DN. 

To me, a Digital Nomad is a professional that can fully operate on the move, remotely, from anywhere,  beyond the constraints of the physical space. Since the pandemic, we are all Digital Nomads in some way, after organisations and individuals have realised that times have changed and that the days of 9 to 5 at the office are long gone. And it’s a freeing experience.

Since the pandemic, we are all Digital Nomads in some way, after organisations and individuals have realised that times have changed and that the days of 9 to 5 at the office are long gone.

I had the chance to travel to Bali after they opened the doors for vaccinated tourists. I went full of work to do for Wippli and some creative projects in the pipeline, including two digital campaigns for the Australian Financial Review. The Idea of the trip was to experiment first-hand with Wippli as a true Digital Nomad.

Although I enjoyed some leisure and surf time, I went to Bali full of inconsistent, unplanned and ad-hoc clients, meetings and projects to manage. My trip was full of working at 3:00 am, sometimes stopping what I was doing to complete simple tasks, and then keeping on going. I managed the workload and creative resources with Daria, Wippli co-founder and Design Lead from Armenia, and we liaised with clients from Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore - all in Wippli! - My experience was not for the faint of heart nor those who love a regular schedule!

went to Bali full of inconsistent, unplanned and ad-hoc clients, meetings and projects to manage.

Here is my recollection of events from living the true Digital Nomad perspective, including the touchpoints where I did work:

Essential equipment stack

Gracias Andrea Venegas @avenegasfoto for the photo sesh - it was super fun! 

We operate in the Creative Services Space. Because it was a short trip and I was planning to be on the move, I went with the "Minimum Viable Equipment":

Here is the list, should you choose to do the same:

• Computer: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Maxed-out

• Laptop protection: Incase ICON Sleeve with Woolenex

• Backpack: Kathmandu Litehaul Plus 1 - This was the slimmest

• Backpack Raincover: Small (a must-have!) 

• Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 45  (don't forget the cables) 

• Cables: USB-C to USB-C Cable (lost it and needed it)

• USB-A to lightning Cable (super-long)

• USB-C to Lightning Cable

• USB-A to USB-C Cable (Bought in Bali)

• Travel Adaptor: Mogics Bagel powerstrip, universal to universal, with 6 outlets and 2 USB

• Power Bank: Anker Power Bank 

• Secondary screen: Ipad Mini (Paperlike on top) with Apple Pencil, for notes.

In general terms - except the laptop being a bit too heavy for some work and occasions - the whole mix was just right considering the trip's length. I'd bring my Ipad Pro for longer trips, and I may get one big screen for an extended stay. If you forget your adapters, call around because prices vary.

Travel to and from Australia

Jetstar - Sydney to Bali

The fight was as expected - cheap and tight. However, I could squeeze space and inspiration on the plane to start a whitepaper for three hours - bonus uninterrupted work time. The Ipad Mini worked a charm to watch the (pre-loaded) last Season of Ozark connected wirelessly to my headphones as I forgot the cable (duh!). Upon arrival, make sure you’ve factored in time and patience for the two hours vaccine, visa, and immigration queues.

Bali Denpasar Airport.

I had to finish a small task in the only restaurant available at the airport, and I'd advise you to try to avoid working there.

Jetstar - Bali to Sydney

Same, this time window, I just slept on that flight.

Canggu - 1st Week

Canggu is cosmopolitan, artsy and crowded; this time it was less crowded than usual. The impact of the pandemic could be appreciated in the streets - you could see that the bottom appeared to be left-back, as the town was coming back to life. The locals were lovely as usual, and I had the time to engage with some other Digital Nomads who were there.

Stay

Ecozy Hotel - Canggu

Overall Score 4/5

Ecozy Hotel is located right in the middle of Canggu's touristic area; it's conveniently close to everything. It’s great for walkability: you'll find plenty of businesses, restaurants and cafes, and if you walk down, you'll end up by the beach after a short while. Two minutes from everywhere after getting a Scoopy Scooter! 

• The place: The hotel is impeccably presented, and the super-friendly staff will ensure you'll be happy and taken care of. 

• The vibe: Just lovely!

• WiFi: Fast and reliable; max speed recorded 60mbps. 

• Mobile Internet: Nothing - the hotel is located in a blind spot with the provider I chose.

• Room: The room had a comfortable desk with an uncomfortable chair.

• Outside: The hotel was overall ok to do some work, not many people around, so it was possible to join two tables to work over breakfast. 

• Pro tip: The eating area has a closed space with AC, where I spent much of my time doing work with comfort, somehow privacy and where I was taken care of by the staff. 

• Will I go back? Super-yes!

Dojo Bali - Canggu

Overall Score 3.5/5

The biggest and most well-known co-working space in Canggu, Dojo is located (literally) within a 2min stroll to the beach and surrounded by markets and businesses of all kinds; I paid for one day of work.

• The place: Ample, well-serviced, plenty of seating areas of any kind and a few meeting rooms, service desk always available and keen to help, a coffee shop with some amenities inside Dojo.

• The vibe: Overall, the vibe was cool; people were doing their thing and engaged in activities; there was a cool board where people can advertise their work. I was there just for one day, but you could tell that Dojo has a significant social and collaboration component.

• Wifi: Fast and reliable; max speed recorded 52mbps. 

• Mobile Internet: Decent - let's not blame Dojo.

• Around: I Loved Dojo; however, I couldn't find a comfortable place to sit among the wooden chairs and cushioned launch, either an area with AC (I didn't get inside a meeting room, though) - For a business that offers co-working services, I would expect a higher level of (working) comfort. For those that love the heat and a relaxed vibe, sure.

• Will I go back? Why not!

Uluwatu-Bingin - 2nd Week

Firstly, a disclaimer that my friend @ellibobbie, who lived in Bingin, disagrees with me on my opinions of this surf haven. This was the first time that I spent more than a weekend in the Uluwatu area, and I finished my stay with mixed feelings. Places are more dispersed here than in Canggu; and a total geek (like me) engaging socially among the pro-surfers and Yoga Bloggers was challenging without a board or yoga mat in town. However, I go into the social spirit - on the last night, we danced at a Latin party at the Rolling Forks - a fantastically fun time! 

Stay

14 Palms- Uluwatu 2nd Week

Overall Score 3/5

Starting with the fact that this is not a hotel but rather something between a villa and a guesthouse, the place is located 25 min from the beach on a scooter, which is a total bummer considering the danger of driving a scooter in Bali. Although I don't remember having the room tidied during my stay, the place was clean and well presented. Forget about the friendly staff; the people in charge are friendly but almost invisible and detached.

• The place: Good size, no breakfast available, no nice work areas, no service. Stay there if you want your space and don't want to be bothered.

• The vibe: Empty vibe.

• WiFi: Fast and reliable; max speed recorded 60mbps .

• Mobile Internet: Decent.

• Around: There were nice cafes around (ITUAJA Bakery was an oasis in the desert); although the best place to work was inside the room, as it came with the most comfortable chair of all the trip.

• Will I go back? I don’t think so.

Le Cliff - Bingin

Overall Score 3.5/5 

Le Cliff was located right by the cliff as advertised. Le Cliff was a lovely hidden gem (that everyone knows!) Our stay was cosy, comfortable and beachy. The staff was attentive and engaged. It also came with the best sunsets of the trip - a Bali speciality in the area!

• The place: Amazingly located, sometimes you get visited by the (apparently unwelcomed) monkeys. It has its restaurants and bars. The room was cosy and tiny, including an almost invisible desk. I had a couple of meetings there, and it was like being inside a zoom background. I did some work on a table right by the beach over pineapple juice, and I would definitely call it a sublime working experience.

• The vibe: Chill, surfer vibe. A new friend Antonio @tocardosoo from Portugal sat down with us to tell us about his adventures at Nazaré, which was a nice time.

• Wifi: Very spotty and unreliable.

• Mobile Internet: Almost zero

• Around: A small, lovely beach and some other hotels. The place is well sorted and pleasant, so there is no need to be around. 

• Will I go back? Definitely yes! for the weekends.

Rasasvada cottages

Overall Score 3.5/5

This was an interesting one! A last-minute booking, this place is very well located and the best value for money I could get. As its name says, I stayed in a timber cottage and left with the feeling of staying in a ghosty place.

• The place: Green, full of vegetation, lovely gardens and big trees. The room comes with a beautiful terrace and a big desk where I did and saw some other people doing work, including Sandalwood incense for mosquitoes. The staff will not be all over you but sufficient to take care of you as long as you're not very demanding. The breakfast was very nice and pleasant. The bathroom (all-inclusive) is outside, adding an interesting and earthy touch.

• The vibe: Very chilled, silent and somehow spiritual. Not a party place and not a place to make friends, but rather a place to mind yourself and spend some enjoyable time in the quiet. 

• WiFi: Spotty, not the fastest.

• Mobile Internet: Decent.

• Around: 5min walk from The Cashew Tree (below) and close to everything around, with a scooter.

• Will I go back? Maybe.

The Cashew Tree Collective

Overall Score 4/5

Thanks for the video @brenstormin bro bro! 

@ellibobbie recommended The Cashew Tree for co-working. It was a nice-looking oasis, not overly close to anything, but a very cool place to stay and work for a while. During the last three days of my stay, I operated comfortably from there. I had a few meetings, met Anna @discover2uncover over her adventures, who was organising the whole surf film festival @sagressurffilmfestival in Portugal - and caught up with my friend @brenstormin from Siargao Island, who also did a small photo session for me.

• The place: Very well put, lovely interiors (or exteriors?), with tables and power to connect the equipment with big ceiling fans. The staff takes care of and accommodates you. 

• The vibe: It was a bit tricky and somehow pretentious (in a good way), I saw a bunch of people talking among them, but I wouldn't regard it as a social place like the Dojo. Perhaps I needed more time to get a bit more familiar and sociable.

• WiFi: Fast and reliable; max speed recorded 55mbps. I had a couple of online meetings that went super smooth.

• Mobile Internet: Decent.

• Around: The Cashew Tree was close to my last hotel, and because you do need a scooter in Bingin, I would say that it was close and reachable to all that Bingin has to offer.

• Will I go back? Yes.

Conclusions from the Digital Nomad experience

I went to Bali full of work to do - the perfect environment for DN exploration and testing. This post-pandemic Digital Nomad Experiment was an excellent opportunity to validate the Wippli assumptions and our Value Proposition and pressure-test the Platform in different and challenging conditions as a Supplier, Client and Team Manager. 

One of the best takes from my experience was having the opportunity to engage in work with other Digital Nomads using the Wippli Platform. Also, managing all the jobs and operations from my iPhone (Wippli works on mobile), sometimes from bed, other times from my scooter (not exactly advised!) or the beach, while seeing our clients well-served was a total gem! 

One of the best takes from my experience was having the opportunity to engage in work with other Digital Nomads using the Wippli Platform.

I feel fortunate for the opportunity to work, take care of our clients, and delegate and manage our workload from Bali using Wippli. I also had the chance to deal with one complex task outside my Wippli workload and compare both experiences. The value of having visibility and control of everything (clients, team, jobs, actions) in one place is so much more streamlined and augmented than the annoyance of wasting all this time juggling apps, mostly when on the go  - is just priceless!

The value of having visibility and control of everything (clients, team, tasks, actions) in one place is so much more streamlined and augmented than the annoyance of wasting all this time juggling apps, mostly when on the go - is just priceless!

Got back in Sydney, with the reward of completing the DN experiment, and with our clients sharing that working with Wippl was simply “an amazing customer experience”! 

Wippli is ready! - We're all working hard on the final touches. Watch this space!