Yes! We have a decision: we will robotise ourselves, we think RPA – Robotised Process Automation is the way to reach the height of modernity and competitiveness.
Wait, wait.
Before we choose the robots, buy and implement them, we need to know what do we want to use them for. This will determine where we shop. One could compare it to buying a car – for somebody, it will be a salesman vehicle – cheap, economical, failure-free, for somebody else an ambulance complete with sophisticated equipment. One needs an entire fleet, the other three cars.
Let’s assume we have completed that stage – we know we can use the robots to increase performance and profitability. Now, depending on the complexity of the processes they are supposed to operate, we can choose the form of purchase. There are a couple solutions to choose from.
The simplest form – let’s call it “box purchase” will grant a cheap robot for simple tasks. Bought with a license, it will only require installation(the company’s IT will handle it with ease). Simple tasks are e.g. “open sheet field A – copy content – open sheet field B – paste content”.
In a situation where we need a more advanced robot, most frequently we are dealing with a specialised advisor that identifies robot is able processes, calculate the number of required bots and ensure their implementation.
Interestingly enough, some big companies choosing to robotise an extensive percentage of processes choose different providers for different processes. It is a result of the already present specialisation in the industry.
Another factor to take into consideration when choosing a specific solution is the method of payment for the robot’s services. One could choose an opensource solution – free, but subject to some restrictions, e.g. related to company’s turnout or support for an orchestrator – a program allowing coordinating the work of multiple bots.
So, theoretically, the easiest way is to buy and own a robot. Only that it is either relevant to the simplest solutions, or requires a significant initial investment.
Solution providers hence use other forms of squaring, and the list is far from closed since new ideas emerge constantly. It can be a yearly fee for license use(paid upon purchase). It can be a charge for actually performed work(e.g. the number of operations), according to a set rate.
There have also appeared payment methods tying fees to the time the robot actually worked – so that when it does not operate, we do not need to pay anything.
We intentionally do not describe solutions of specific companies here – first, because in an industry as fresh as this one new providers appear on a weekly basis offering new options. Second, because as we have already mentioned, the market forces the development of innovative, advantageous ways of squaring RPA. Third – as we have said at the beginning – it is the kind of work we want to automate and the number of our new virtual employees that will determine our provider and the choice of the financial solution.
