Digital transformation was fully accelerated in the majority of the industries and companies seeking to remain relevant on their market, because of the coronavirus pandemic. This is how RPA implementation went from a “nice to have” tool to a “must have” tool.
According to Gartner, global RPA software revenue is set to reach $1.89 billion in 2021, an increase of 19.5% from 2020. Moreover, despite economic pressures caused by COVID-19, the RPA market is expected to grow at double-digit rates through 2024.
Automation optimizes business operational processes using software robots that can perform repetitive, high-volume tasks, that require a lot of time and are prone to error when performed by humans. Robotic process automation brings a lot of benefits for companies from any industry: from cost savings, increased efficiency and productivity, to a seamless customer experience.
To reach all of these, the implementation process needs to be carefully planned and executed. Otherwise, the RPA project may fail and create even more inefficiency for your business processes – such as errors and unnecessary costs.
The good news is you don’t have to go through this by yourself. Having the right RPA implementation partner is crucial in order to embed a successful implementation project and get over challenges that may naturally arise. Specialists have vast knowledge and experience when it comes to RPA, and they will help you achieve your objectives for long-term success.
If you’re just now considering to start your automation journey, consider learning more about what are the correct steps that you should take in order to get off to a good start. You can read more about that in our article about how to start your RPA journey in 5 easy steps.
What should a company specialised in RPA implementation do for your business? Well, they should understand your goals, analyze your business operational structure, and help you discover your automation needs. They should also create an automation strategy and execute it in order to achieve optimization while maximizing return on investment (ROI).
It’s important to mention that there is no universal recipe for a successful RPA deployment, since every company has different needs and goals, so this is why you will need a customized approach.
Before choosing the right partner for you, make sure you establish a clear goal for the automaton and ask yourself what processes you need to automate.
Tips on choosing the right RPA implementation partner
We have prepared a list with some tips you should keep in mind when selecting your RPA implementation partner:
1. Understanding your company’s automation needs
A potential RPA partner should have, on the one side, the technical knowledge, and on the other side, they should understand what processes are suitable for automation in your company in order to achieve your goals.
They should be capable of identifying the areas where your company can make the most of robotic process automation. This is why you should make sure they will balance both technical skills and operational skills.
2. You should consider the commercial model of the partner
The RPA vendor who manages the implementation will impact your cost reduction, so it is very important to know from the beginning what their commercial model is. For example, Aggranda is an official UiPath partner company that trains software robots using RPA technology on the UiPath platform.
We make business process easier by transferring ordinary tasks from employees to software robots. All of our team members are UiPath RPA certified and we have developed software robots for global industry leaders from various fields, such as: accounting, finance & Banking, HR, BPO, healthcare, retail, telecom and so on.
Take a look at some of our RPA case studies to see real results we obtained for our clients:
- HR software robot for First Bank
- Piscot: processing orders in retail
- Arya: the HR software robot
- Alex: processing invoices in accounting
- Rosy: download reports and manipulate Excel files
3. Having proven experience
You should take into account the experience of your potential partner. Find out more about the automation projects they delivered: the complexity, the type of processes that were automated, their governance model and their approach. The right RPA implementation partner should be able to prove their experience and their results. Pay attention if they delivered projects in the same industry.
4. Having a good maintenance program
Maintenance is another important direction of the RPA implementation program. Software robots will require an efficient maintenance capability, in order to solve the technical problems that may occur and to perform well.
Choose an RPA partner that can provide this type of support, in order to have 24/7 operational software robots. Clarify these aspects from the beginning and ask about a structured cost for this service.
5. Having cultural similarities
This is an aspect that doesn’t refer to the technical skills of your potential partner – on the contrary, it refers to their soft skills and human side. When selecting your automation partner, set aside for a moment the technical knowledge they might have and pay attention to the clues that show you if they are compatible with your organization’s culture.
Since they will be an important part of your company, it’s vital to share a similar organizational culture. Otherwise, this might interfere with the success of your RPA implementation and achieving your goals.
6. Looking for customer references
Let’s face it. Now we rely on customer references more than ever, regardless of the service or product we want to buy. This is also valid for choosing the right RPA vendor, so we encourage you to ask for customer references.
Consider whether your potential partner has the capability to meet your needs and to navigate through problems and challenges. A good indication might also be how many clients continue to work with them after the program is implemented – this will give you an idea of their level of satisfaction.
Conclusion
Selecting your RPA partner might be a very demanding process, but it’s better to do your research before signing a contract to ensure a successful RPA implementation and long-term collaboration for setting up a robotic Center of Excellence, training your internal teams, and more.
We have offered you some quick tips for managing the selection process, but please know that the right decision will come only after you establish clear automation goals.
After the implementation, your company will benefit from better business results and improved efficiency, translated into higher revenues, cost savings and a higher level of productivity for each employee.