Robotics: join the (r)evolution

From Star Wars to superhero movies, robots are never very far away in modern life. But this is fiction. Right? It will be reality sooner than we think. The future of robots is here. Now.

As we are in a people-oriented business, we are especially interested in how these robots will disrupt our professional lives and our jobs. Will Robocop take our job or not?

We tend to look at the bright side of life and we believe robotics will bring new career opportunities.

Ever heard of a job as Robotics Consultant?

• What’s this job like?
• And which skills do you need to become one?

Find an answer to all these questions in the article below.

Powering Change in Business

Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. When we talk about robots, we initially think about big factories stuffed with machines assembling all kinds of products.

Robots automate and help us improve productivity, efficiency, safety,… in many different industries. They come in different shapes. But most of the times they are invisible, build into a piece of software. And even, the hardware can’t function without the proper software. And, it’s in software robotics that the evolution is streaming along at light speed.

An important component of this is what’s known as Robotics Process Automation (RPA), a form of automation technology to speed up and streamline clerical processes, based on the idea of software robots. Let’s take the example of the banking industry. When applying for a credit card at a bank, the bank clerk needs to complete a few manual tasks before the client will receive his new credit card by mail. Thanks to RPA this routine and standardized task can be fully automated.

RPA will transform our workplace. Definitely. Have a look at this video how the Belgian bank Belfius is working on the future with RPA.

Automation: threat or opportunity?

There is no way around it, automation is the future. And whether you like it or not, it is happening.

If you look at the financial sector, since years banking has been made easier for the customers thanks to technology. This evolution has led to a slowdown in staff hiring at banks. Low-end back office jobs (data entry etc.) will no longer be required in the future.

A RPA avalanche will hit us and it will massively increase efficiency. The business benefits are clear: a reduction in human capital results in an increase of revenue per employee and reduced operational costs. But, it also creates new opportunities for employees:

• New jobs can come out of the ashes of ones that won’t survive this revolution. This is an opportunity to learn new skills.

• The focus will be moved away from production, meaning that employees can now hone in on quality and customer service

• This leads to a natural improvement in the experience of both employees and customers

• Focus on data analysis and innovation, developing newer and better products and services

It is expected that in 2018, the demand for RPA-related jobs will hit 2000 vacancies in Belgium alone. One of those new, future-proof jobs is Robotics Consultant.

What does a Robotics Consultant do?

A Robotics Consultant helps companies to determine which processes have a higher propensity towards automation. He analyses where performance of processes can be improved through automation resulting in lower operating costs for the company.

Doing this, he takes the client’s key priorities and objectives into account. He creates process workflows, detects potential risks, minimizes integration risks, automates the processes with the help of automation solutions etc. He performs a test pilot before scaling to a full implementation of the automated processes.

In short a Robotics Consultant builds software robots.

Cool! Isn’t it?

You don’t have to be a techie…

…to become a Robotics Consultant. Maybe that’s quite surprising to you. But, this job is not as technical as you might think.

• You don’t have to be a developer but being tech-savvy is a must. You will use a RPA tool like BluePrism but you won’t have to code software by yourself.

• To determine which processes can be automated, you need to be analytical. You need to be good at process-oriented thinking.

• To connect with the clients’ needs and align with its priorities, you will need to be a master at listening and communicating clearly.

Following educations would be a perfect fit for this job:

• Business Engineering Management Information Systems
• Applied Economics
• Business Administration

If the above describes your professional profile, then stepping in the world of robotics has never been so accessible.

At Exellys, we are partnering in a big project on Robotics Process Automation. In this position, you will build software robots that automate business processes.

As this is a new domain in the IT job market, you will get 1-month flash course on Robotics. You will be able to develop unique skills for a job in high demand.

This is your opportunity to invest in your future.

Questions? Do not hesitate to contact us!