How to Find the Right RPA Consultant for the Enterprise?

How does rpa work - Automation has streamlined a vast array of sectors today. Considering its growing popularity and uses in different industries, it goes without saying that automation has revolutionized the way we live and perform our daily tasks. One such modern and advanced technology that is transforming businesses is Robotic Process Automation (RPA). The technology is designed to streamline manual and hectic management tasks by automating all labor-intensive activities. It brings efficiency and accuracy to your business by handling the management operations seamlessly.

Despite being one of the popular technologies, many businesses have still not implemented the RPA tools. They are not even fully aware of the benefits of robotic process automation and how it can help transform their organization on different levels. Simply put, robotic process automation is a centralized system where a set of robots execute hectic tasks. Blue Prism and Automation Anywhere are two of the most popular suppliers of these automation tools.

But before you install the new technology, it is important that you hire an RPA consultant for your enterprise to get a better understanding of this technology. They will help you determine the cost-effective and accurate RPA tools your business needs and streamline the implementation project. Most importantly, an RPA consultant can assess your business and identify the tools you may need for effective operations. The question is, how do you find the best RPA consultant? Should you hire an individual or a team of consultants that offer the best advice on automation? In this post, we will discuss the reasons you must hire the RPA consulting services and the criteria for selecting the best consultant for your enterprise. Keep reading.

RPA Consultants – What do They do?

RPA tools are often seen as the game-changers in the business world. With a set of powerful functions and robots, this modern technology has a profound impact on business productivity, efficiency, customer satisfaction, continuity, and so on. However, the technology works for those who collaborate with the right partners.

Do you know 30-50 percent of RPA projects fail because of the wrong RPA consultants? This is one of the reasons why companies have lost faith in RPA technology. It isn’t the technology that fails, but the people you partner with. Not every company has an in-house consultant team that could offer valuable advice as to what type of RPA products must be implemented, which vendor you must collaborate with, and how the implementation of the technology should take place. People running a startup or a small-scale company might face difficulty in finding the best RPA consultant that charges a reasonable price while offering excellent services. There is no denying that companies that have relied on third parties for robotic process automation consulting services have had better results than those who used their in-house team for the same. You can either outsource the task completely to a third party or combine the external and internal team. However, outsourcing the wrong RPA partner could have devastating effects on your company, and it will leave you with only limited options for automation.

Commonly known as RPA implementation services, the Robotic Process Automation consulting services are designed to streamline the automation procedure. Here’s what an experienced and qualified RPA consultant offers:

• Figuring out the best procedure for implementing the automation
• Developing the software bots that match your company’s standards and budget
• Implement and configure the software solution
• Streamlining the deployment procedure
• Programming robots to execute the new procedures effectively
• Executing the pilot program
• Checking the results
• Walking you through the software system to give you a better understanding of how the system works
• Offer regular support and maintenance
• Fix bugs and errors that might impact the performance of the bots

You have to decide whether you want all the services or a few. If you have a limited number of employees or a team that’s overloaded with office chores, it makes sense for you to outsource the RPA automation process to a consulting firm for the best results. Not only do they handle the job professionally, but the RPA consultants are experienced in this area. They can get the task done in a relatively shorter time span. As mentioned above, not every company has an in-house team of IT experts that specialize in RPA programming.

The main job of the RPA consultants is to develop high-quality automation tools, especially bots that interact with other software apps and third-party tools seamlessly. The consultants are also in charge of assessing your current processes and automating them with the help of RPA bots. In addition to that, the right RPA consulting company will provide you with ongoing support to maximize the efficiency of the business processes. Should you face any issue with the RPA implementation, you can contact the consultants to get the issue fixed. They develop and implement technology that can fix your problems and improve your management operations.

Tips for Selecting the Best RPA Consultant for your Company

There are lot of benefits of robotic process automation. Once you have made up your mind about hiring the RPA consultant, the next important step is to explore different profiles and hire the most suitable, qualified, professional, and deserving RPA consultant for your firm. The sooner you make the decision, the simpler the entire process will be. However, you must never rush into hiring any random RPA company.

As we have discussed above, the RPA company will assist you in selecting the right robotic process automation tools that fit your business model. They will also help you with the implementation of this technology. With that being said, it is really important that you pay close attention to the RPA consulting firm you choose. Below we have mentioned a few crucial tips for streamlining the process. Let’s take a look:

• Technical Expertise with Soft Skills

RPA is one of the impactful and effective technologies that could transform the way your employees work. It saves the time of the human workers by automating mundane business activities and allowing your team to focus on better and more important tasks. However, choosing the wrong consulting partner for the project can result in failure. After all, it is the consulting company that helps you find the best automation tools and streamline their implementation. You will find a large number of RPA companies claiming to offer cheap and premium bot development and deployment services, but not every company offers promising results.

That’s why it is important for you to run a background check on the company to know their technical expertise and team up with a consultant who has technical experience combined with soft skills for the best results. Here, soft skills are as important as technical knowledge. You may need to communicate with the RPA consultants frequently to complete the project in a timely manner. The right RPA firm will understand your strategic goals and analyze your business processes before selecting and deploying the automation tools. They know that wrong tools and ineffective implementation can cost your business thousands of dollars in the long run. They use the resources efficiently.

• Availability

RPA development and consulting service isn’t something that could be performed online or virtually. The RPA consultant must be available to work with the team. The modern virtual meetings might seem an enticing and convenient option for companies, but it’s really important that you work with a consultant who’s ready for face-to-face interactions. It will be super inconvenient and ineffective for you to leave messages or chat with the team on social media when you could have a discussion with them in person.

• Experience with Certifications

Robotic Process Automation is one of the fastest-growing industries, which gives you a plethora of options to choose from. Try to find consultants that have several years of experience in this area instead of the beginners that have recently started practicing consultancy. While you need someone, who has programming and enterprise application development experience, that alone will not be enough. Your focus must be on a company with a solid track record in RPA consulting services. The RPA consultant starts their services by evaluating your business requirements. They must be experienced and qualified enough to understand your business niche. The last thing you want from the RPA consulting firm is to cost your business thousands of bucks due to wrong assumptions.

RPA implementation is not as simple as developing the software and implementing it in your firm. It’s rather a complex and tedious job, which might result in trials and errors. So, the right RPA partner for your project is one who understands the intricacy of the project and is ready to fix the errors that might arise during the implementation process. Experience alone may not be enough here. If you need innovative solutions, you must ask the company to show you the certifications and proof of their qualifications in this industry. Never rely on an unqualified and uncertified RPA consultant, as they may not be able to deliver the best results.

• Experience in the Similar Industry

Just a proven track record and a few satisfied customers don’t mean the RPA company can help you accomplish your target. For the company to offer the best results, you need to look for someone who has experience in this specific area. Hire a company that has experience in completing a similar project or has collaborated with companies in the same industry in the past. Check out their portfolio thoroughly before making any decision.

• Flexible Budgeting

It will be very difficult for organizations to work with the RPA consultants that charge on an hourly basis. While these consultants may offer the best implementation plan, the budget can create concerns for the company. If you hire hourly-based employees, you need to work closely with them to ensure that they are utilizing the time properly so that the project doesn’t affect your RPA budget. Besides, they must not extend the timeline of the project. Consider hiring a consulting company that is willing to accept the transparent risk-sharing cost structure. Some companies guarantee the best results at a controlled cost, meaning they will deliver a quality product within the given timeframe and at a reasonable price.

• Existing Relationship

What could be a better and safer option than working with people you are already familiar with? You shouldn’t limit your options to only those you know or the RPA consultants your staff recommends. Publish the job ad on different portals to get applications from different consultants. This will help you explore the profiles of different consultants. You can then narrow down your options to the popular and most suitable candidates that offer the best services.

Last but not least, case studies may help give you an idea of how the consultants dealt with the past challenges and how they overcame the issues they experienced in the past. It is important to note that Robotic Process Automation isn’t a simple task that can be accomplished easily. You must hire a talented consultant who has experience in working on similar projects and has completed similar tasks.

Should I Choose the Custom In-house RPA Team or Outsourced Group?

• In-house Software and Mobile App Development Services

Let’s say you have a team of IT experts that have several years of experience in deploying automation tools and using the custom mobile application development process. It may sound like a tempting and cost-effective solution, but remember that the software tools used to implement the RPA functions may not prove to be an efficient and accurate system in the long run.

The major drawback of using the in-house team for bot development and deployment is that your team will be responsible for managing a wide array of tasks. They will be responsible for discussing the idea with the end-user, building the required features, and programming these bots to function. In addition to that, they will have to take care of the updates and maintenance requirements. Maintenance is the main issue here. As each bot developer uses different techniques, there is a chance it will get harder and harder for the organization to maintain the software apps. Besides, it is not always possible to get the best support.

Coming to the perks, the major advantage of working with the in-house team of RPA developers is that you can enjoy seamless and uninterrupted communication with them. And, the license cost will be very reasonable given that the software is developed on an open-source platform. The in-house custom mobile app development company or consultants might prove to be a budget-friendly option for those who can barely afford the license fee. So, if you have plenty of software developers that have a fair amount of experience in this industry, then this solution might work wonders for you in the short term.

• Outsourced RPA Consultant Solutions

If you are not in a position to finance the overhead expenses and manage the software development and implementation process, then it is better to leave the task to professionals. You can find the best RPA consulting firm and outsource the entire implementation task to them. However, you are supposed to pay the consultancy fee to the company, in addition to the implementation cost.

The best part about the RPA consulting firms is that they streamline the bots implementation process for you. It’s easier and better to have a team of qualified and professional consultants working on the RPA development and implementation project than executing the task on your own. Not only will it save you ample time, but it reduces your employee’s workload. You could utilize this time on other vital tasks.

Top Reasons You Need to Hire RPA Consultants for Your Automation Project

The biggest advantage of working with the RPA consultants is that they guarantee speed in automation. The RPA services have become quite relevant for all types and sizes of companies. Gone are the days when it was possible for businesses to process a large volume of hectic activities manually.

Today, it isn’t possible for an entrepreneur to manage human resources, management operations, marketing & sales, customer service, and other crucial business activities single-handedly. Delegation might help people on some level, but at the end of the day, you will want a tool that could automate the basic and exhausting manual work. That’s when the RPA services come into the picture.

1.It Requires Careful Consideration

You will find a plethora of RPA tools that are designed for different purposes, but not all tools offer the same benefits as advertised. The best automation tool for your company depends on the industry you are in and the type of processes you need to automate. There is a chance the solution that works wonders for your competitors may not work for you, or the system that brought the best results for your company might prove useless to your rivals.

Only a professional consultant will take the time to understand different processes, as well as unique aspects of your company. They will help you choose the best RPA solution for your business.

2.Speed up the Manual Tasks

The main goal of the RPA tools is to speed up the manual activities by reducing the workload of your employees and automating an array of tasks. It helps you create a faster organization. RPA consultants do not only provide you with the best recommendations for the RPA solution, but they offer you full support for implementing the system. The consultants include a team of professionals that have the necessary skills to handle the implementation part effectively.

3.Offer Best Results

One of the easiest ways to set your company apart from the competitors is by digitizing your business. However, digital transformation isn’t only about embracing a few latest technologies for streamlining basic business tasks. It’s rather about adapting to advanced technology, such as RPA tools. While it may seem a simple and straightforward procedure, deploying the RPA tool is quite a complex process. Implementation might take a few weeks to months.

4.They Help you Get Started

RPA has become popular in a really short period of time. However, only a few companies are familiar with the technology and the steps required for its implementation. Unless you have a professional and qualified IT team, chances are you may not know where to start with the RPA. You don’t always know which processes should you automate and how to start the implementation. Well, that’s what the RPA consulting firm helps you with. Business process automation benefits - they start by evaluating your business performance, the manual processes, and other core functions. They identify the processes that can benefit the most from this technology. They will also help you explore the opportunities that you might not have known.

Basically, the RPA consultant will check the manual processes that can bring the best result for your company through automation. They will provide you with a detailed explanation of the solution that can be implemented in your firm for streamlining the manual activities. They give you time to decide the solutions you’d like to implement. After choosing the process you want to automate, they will start implementing the RPA solutions to get the job done efficiently. They will also walk you through the setup process, giving you a glimpse of how exactly the process will be carried out and the time it will take to have the RPA system ready.

Read the blog- How can you ensure a successful RPA implementation?

Conclusion

RPA business benefits - While the above features work for almost all types of organizations that plan on implementing the RPA tools, you must always consider your audience and industry before making any decision. Always choose the RPA consultant who’s willing to learn more about your industry before starting the software development and implementation. Hope this guide helped you find a suitable and experienced RPA consultant for your company. Outsource the task to a professional and transform your business digitally with the best software apps.