Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is now more than an industry buzzword and an improvement potential for companies looking to do things faster, cheaper, and more accurately. RPA allows organizations to apply software bots that mimic repetitive human behavior that helps remove or limit manual processes improving entire workflows and speeding up digital transformation. Most importantly, your success with RPA will be highly dependent on the partner you choose. In addition to providing technical capabilities, a good robotic process automation services company will also have a strategic vision, consulting capabilities, and post-deployment support that helps maintain the improvements over the long term.
It can feel daunting with many RPA top companies available for partnership. You will need to assess each vendor’s strengths, domain knowledge, scalability, integration capabilities (especially if your organization uses SAP), etc. The primary goal is not to automate, but to automate and transform the entire process with a trustworthy and scalable solution.
In this article we will discuss how to determine the best partner for your RPA robotic automation journey. Particular attention will be given to understanding a core set of services and process RPA, as well as considering integration capabilities like RPA with SAP and other software integrations.
RPA in An Overview
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a software technology that uses robots to do high-volume repetitive work previously done by human workers. Examples would include data entry, accounts payable (invoice processing), system updates, report writing, etc. RPA is software that is programmed to use applications like a human user and does not require changes to be made to any underlying systems.
RPA robotic automation’s most powerful benefit is speed and accuracy. RPA robots can work on a 24/7 basis without fatigue, work considerably faster than a human can, and lower errors and costs. RPA can be particularly valuable to companies looking to reduce manual workload and improve operational efficiency. Additionally, RPA improves compliance and increases auditability, making it preferred technology for regulated industries like finance and health care.
Most traditional automations require critical system integration and/or coding prior to deployment. RPA can be low-code or no-code which democratizes the automation space, is rapid to deploy, and works across multiple platforms from legacy-technology to new SaaS solutions with limited disruption. That flexibility has made RPA top companies key players in business process transformation.
If your company is exploring automation, RPA is a pragmatic, low-cost entry point. It is important to know the site’s basics and learn the fundamentals of RPA so you know which partner to select as the best robotic process automation services company.
Services Offered by an RPA Solutions Company
Choosing a reliable robotic process automation services company begins with understanding the scope of services they provide.
Leading RPAs often offer the following services:
- Process assessment and discovery: Identifying which processes should/can be automated.
- Bot creation and testing: Creating and deploying custom bots that meet specific needs.
- Choosing and licensing an RPA tool: Helping you choose between UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere.
- Integration: Ensuring the bots will work with your ERP, CRM, HRMS, and any other business system.
- Monitoring and support: Continuing to support and monitor the bots to make sure they do what they were intended to do.
What makes a top RPA company stand out is their focus on process RPA, not just automating tasks, but automating the whole process. Exception handling, real-time analytics, and adaptivity to changing business needs all fall within process RPA.
What Makes a Top RPA Company?
When choosing top RPA companies, ensure you use a combination of qualitative and quantitative assessment. These vendors separate themselves by reputation and value from completed successful automation projects, not by the tools they utilize.
Here are some important aspects to evaluate:
A. Verifiable Experience And Case Studies: You are looking for a provider who has successfully deployed projects in your industry. If they have published case studies with some outcomes (time savings, cost savings, etc.), then this suggests the provider has evidence they can deliver.
B. Certified Partners: RPA vendors who provide official certifications of partnership with the platforms they use (e.g., UiPath Certified Partner) are credible and have technical depth.
C. Industry Experience: If your business is in healthcare, finance, or retail, you want an RPA company who knows your industry and regulatory framework.
D. Full Services: Top RPA providers provide full cycle services, from consultation to implementation and after-launch services.
E. Innovation: Will this provider be able to support you as you grow into more advanced areas of RPA, such as cognitive automation and machine learning, and into artificial intelligence? Top-tier providers are on the cutting edge of innovation.
F. Support Capabilities: Reliable vendors provide managed services, SLA-driven service support, and training for your internal support team.
How to Evaluate Process RPA Capabilities
Process RPA means automating full business processes, rather than just automating a single task. Your partner’s capability to do this will dictate how much ROI you can achieve with your automation. Here is the information needed to assess their process automation capability:
Process Discovery and Mining: The leading RPA solution providers use process mining tools such as Celonis and UiPath Process Mining to identify areas of automation and analyze the bottlenecks in workflow.
Automation Strategy Development: A reputable automation provider does not only develop bots for you. They will work on a strategy for your automation that aligns automation with your stated business objectives.
Workflow Optimization: RPA vendors with strong process RPA credentials will be able to redesign workflows to eliminate waste and increase productivity, utilization, and functionality.
Technology Toolkit: You will want to ask them to share their technology toolkit-since they are focused on RPA, do they incorporate BPM platforms, AI/ML tools, or APIs for smart automation outside RPA?
Compliance Requirements and Audit Trails: you will want to ensure all stakeholders can expect a solution that meets compliance standards as they apply, especially in a regulated industry.
Outcome Metrics: You should find out if your RPA provider articulates where the improvement are made from, by requiring defined KPIs such as reduced error rate, improved cycle time, and cost savings.
Process Automation is not simply about speed; it is business transformation. When assessing a robotic process automation services company, ensure the process automation capabilities you are getting encompass process discovery and mapping, full bot development and implementation, and post-deployment performance tracking.
RPA with SAP and Other ERP Systems
RPA with SAP can automate high-volume applications like purchase order creation, invoice confirmation, updates to master data, and report generation. However, SAP processes can be complex and require accuracy. Selecting a partner with deep SAP onboarding experience is critical.
In evaluating RPA providers:
1. Look for a provider and / or vendor who has RPA onboarding experience with SAP GUI, SAP Fiori, and S/4HANA.
2. Make sure the provider can develop bots for front-end front-end (GUI-based) and back-end (BAPI or IDoc) automation.
3. Identify that the vendor understands SAP’s modular architecture and can develop bots that are based on your unique configurations.
Some of the leading RPA companies offer “off the shelf” bots for commonly undertaken, high-volume SAP applications, which can help with the deployment process. Furthermore, the provider should ensure the processes are compliant with internal auditing policy and that appropriate logs (where applicable) are recorded.
In addition to SAP, the provider should have the capability to integrate with other ERP, CRM and HR systems. Great vendors can manage complex, multi-system processes.
If RPA with SAP is in your roadmap, request case studies or references from the provider in a similar environment.
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Author Bio
Nikhil Agarwal
Chief Growth Officer
Nikhil is a calm and composed individual who has a master’s degree in international business and finance from the United Kingdom. Nikhil Agarwal has worked with 300+ companies from various sectors, since 2012, to custom-build SOPs and achieve operational excellence. Nikhil & his team have remarkable success stories of helping companies scale 10X with business process standardization.
