How to select the right RPA solution for your credit union?

If you’re considering investing in an RPA solution for your credit union, there are many factors to look at before making the final cut. This blog will take you through all of them. 

Once you have answers to all the questions above, you can move on to the next step—selecting an RPA solution. 

Let‘s get started. 

Remember, you may find a lot of information available on the RPA vendor websites, but there are some questions you should ask them to understand the ease of implementation. 

Here are some of the questions that you can ask the RPA vendor to understand the ease of implementation: 

• Does it have an open architecture? If your vendor isn’t willing to share its code with you or other third parties, this might be a red flag. The ability to share code is essential for interoperability and collaboration between vendors. 
• Does it support all major operating systems? Some vendors only support Windows, while others only support Linux or Unix. This could prevent you from using their solution if your network is based on another operating system. 
• What language does it use? Some vendors only use Java, while others use C++ or Python. Make sure your team knows how to program in this language before committing to an RPA solution. 

Ask these questions, and make sure you do your own research when evaluating an RPA vendor. 

Here are some of the questions that you can ask the RPA vendor to help you finalize your ideal RPA solution: 

• Is there a learning curve? 
• What is your solution’s user interface like? Is it intuitive, easy to navigate, and understand? 
• Can I train my staff on how to use the platform in-house, or does the vendor provide training? 
• Is there a built-in knowledge base for common tasks that staff can leverage when they run into problems? 
• Does your solution have workflow rules or approval steps built in so that anyone can make changes without going through proper channels? 

Always remember that if a tool is too complicated, it can lead to errors that may be hard to find and fix at a later stage. If you want to avoid making mistakes, then you need automation tools that are easy to use and should provide enough hand holding before your credit union can take off.  

The right RPA solution should be able to map your manual processes quickly. You can check whether the tool provides a quick mapping of processes by asking the RPA vendor a few questions: 

• How long will it take you to map my existing process? 
• How long will it take you to automate the manual process? 
• Can I see a demo of how fast you can automate my process? 

After you get the answers, write down what you expect from them in terms of speed. This will help you narrow your choices and pick the ideal RPA solution for your credit union. 

5. Cost 

Cost is a deciding factor in choosing the right RPA solution for your credit union. As a credit union, you’re looking for a solution that will bring more efficiency to your business processes and save money along the way. You also want something to help you drive profitability and make employees happier. 

The cost of the software will depend on two factors: 

1. The number of users you plan to have on your system. 
2. How many bots do you need to create and deploy? 

There are two ways to pay for automation: monthly or annual subscription fees and per-bot costs. The first category includes SaaS models that charge a flat rate for as many users as you want but no bots at all.  

The second category comprises on-premises solutions that require you to purchase a license for each bot you wish to deploy, which can get expensive fast if you have dozens or hundreds of bots in use at any given time. 

Here are some of the questions that you can ask the RPA vendor: 

• How much does it cost per seat? 
• What kind of software development resources do I need? 
• What is the total cost of ownership (TCO)? 
• How long is the contract? Can I cancel it at any time? 
• How many modules does your solution include out of the box, and how many more can we add at an additional cost? 

As a credit union leader, you must consider the total cost of ownership, including hardware and software, as well as ongoing maintenance costs before you finalize your RPA vendor. 

6. Scalability 

When choosing the right RPA solution for your credit union, scalability is a deciding factor. 

As regulations evolve and compliance requirements become more complex, you must choose a scalable solution that can grow with you as your needs change over time.  

Many credit unions want to get started with RPA quickly, but they also want to make sure they can grow their implementation as needed. Some vendors offer solutions that can be scaled up or down based on your needs. Others require more upfront investment in automation tools. 

Check what kind of integration does the RPA vendor offer with other systems? Are there any limits on what types of connections you can make with other systems (e.g., if it’s just FTP, email, etc.), or do they have access to more robust connection APIs (Application Programming Interface)? 

Look for a vendor with a track record of innovation and technology leadership so they can help you adapt to changing regulatory requirements. 

7. Architecture 

Selecting an RPA solution based on architecture is extremely important as it decides how easy or difficult it will be for you to integrate with other systems in your organization.  

For example, suppose your systems are built using different core banking systems, programming languages, or technologies, there may be compatibility issues between them, which could lead to delays in deploying new features or adding new functionalities. 

As you begin considering robotic process automation (RPA) solutions, it’s essential to understand the different types of architectures available. The type you choose depends on your organization’s needs and the amount of investment you can make. 

Each architecture has its advantages and disadvantages, so selecting the right one for your organization is essential.  

Here’s an overview of the three main RPA architecture types: 

Cloud-based RPA: Cloud-based RPA solutions are hosted in the cloud, which means they don’t require any hardware investment on your part. The downside is that you’ll have limited control over the software’s architecture or performance. You may also need to pay extra for storage if you’re storing large amounts of data or working with a large number of users. 

On-premise RPA: On-premise RPA solutions are installed on your own servers and managed by IT staff. This gives you more control over how the software operates, but it can be expensive and time-consuming to install and maintain new versions as they become available. 

Hybrid RPA: Hybrid RPA combines the best features of both cloud-based and on-premise options by hosting some components of the solution in the cloud while keeping others local to your business. 

You can choose from cloud or on-premise solutions based on the requirements of your organization. If you are looking for a cost-effective option, then cloud-based solutions are best suited for you. On the other hand, if security is a concern, then on-premise solutions will be ideal. 

8. Exception handling 

Exception handling is crucial in choosing the right RPA solution for your credit union.  

Handling exception is an integral part of the process because it ensures that the system doesn’t miss any exceptions or errors during its operation. 

Exception handling is the process of detecting and resolving errors in a transaction before it gets completed. This process is also known as exception management or exception processing. Exception management involves identifying and addressing mistakes made by an automated process before the result of that mistake reaches the end-user. It also involves automatically correcting errors that have already reached the end-user. 

This is important because you don’t want your employees focusing on fixing all kinds of mistakes instead of doing what they are paid for – serving members! 

Some RPA solutions allow you to define exceptions and conditions that stop the process execution when they occur. Other solutions don’t provide this feature, which means that if there’s an exception, the entire process fails and stops.  

In both cases, it will take longer for you to fix the problem than if you had a proper exception handling mechanism built into your system from the start. So, watch for it! 

9. Vendor support 

One of the most important factors in choosing the right RPA solution is vendor support. It’s hard enough to get new technology up and running without worrying whether or not you can get help when you need it. 

You should be able to get the answers you need when you need them from the vendor’s support team. They should be able to offer advice on how best to implement their solution within your organization and any potential issues that might arise during implementation. The vendor should also provide training sessions so that employees can learn how to use the software effectively and efficiently. 

Here are some of the questions that you can ask the RPA vendor: 

• What kind of support does the vendor offer? 
• Do you offer 24/7 support? 
• What is your SLA (Service Level Agreement)? 
• Is it through email or phone?  
• How quickly will they respond to your queries? 
• What kind of training do I get? Is it included in my package, or do I need to pay extra money? 

You also want to ensure that there are no hidden costs associated with using this type of solution. Some vendors may charge a monthly fee just for having access to their software. Or charge extra if you want additional features or functionality added on top of what is already included in their base product offering (so check all terms carefully). 

10. Governance 

Governance should not be confused with the overall architecture or design of an RPA platform. It is more about how well the platform performs, how easy it is to use, and how much visibility you get on the entire operations.  

Governance is nothing but dashboards and monitoring mechanisms of your RPA solution. 

Governance provides you with the ability to monitor all your processes from a single dashboard. It helps you report the status of each process at any point in time with minimal effort. If there are any bottlenecks or problems in any process, it will alert you immediately to take appropriate actions quickly and efficiently. 

A good governance dashboard would be able to show the following: 

• The solution’s performance measures specific metrics like transaction volume, average response time, error rates, etc. 
• The performance of individual processes or tasks executed by the software robots can be measured using KPIs like throughput, accuracy, etc. 
• The status of the current state of execution (in progress or completed) and any errors or exceptions that may have occurred during the process execution. 

Takeaway 

Choosing a vendor is a critical decision that will directly impact your credit union’s future. You must take the time to research your options before making a final decision. This will help ensure that you select the right vendor and avoid any potential problems down the road. 

Are you wondering how you can use RPA to increase your team’s productivity while reducing overheads and threats? Zuci is here to help, with experienced experts to guide you through all stages of implementing intelligent automation.  

Book a demo to ask your questions and discuss how Zuci Systems enables credit unions with robotic automation solutions. 

Read Next: 

• How Is Data Analytics Used In Finance And Banking Sector?
• RPA Change Management Practices for Banks & Credit Unions
• 5 Strategies On Building A Personalized Banking Experience
• 10 RPA Implementation Best Practices for Credit Unions