Mark Standen, Global Associate Director of Automation Practice at Hortor, is an expert when it comes to recognising key changes to the global marketplace. In this comment piece, he reveals how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is going to make its mark during 2020 and beyond.
With the ability to provide comprehensive business analyses through specialised industry knowledge, Mark is delivering a best in class talent and advisor automation division for RPA, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
He comments: “Through the emergence of new technologies, the way industries operate has completely evolved in recent years. I believe the next big bang will occur in 2020 when Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is deployed into the global market.
“RPA, using artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, is expected to become a hyper-growth market as every organisation will be able to benefit from implementing it when automating their own processes.”
With more businesses investing in RPA to handle-high-volume, repeatable jobs that would have previously been completed by employees, this approach will provide those that embrace the change with opportunities to up-skill and to redeploy resource where it matters most.
With the risk of human error eradicated and a reduction in costs, RPA will be used to complete a wide range of tasks from customer queries and complex calculations, to the maintenance of records and transactions.
He comments: “I have paid close attention to the development of RPA in recent years and we are on the cusp of seeing it move from a concept to reality. The future is here, and we are now entering the next phase of the 4th industrial revolution.
“As a global strategic resourcing consultant, we must recognise how the development of these new technologies can positively impact our client base, especially the benefits for scaling their automation capacity.”
Just as clients are embracing new innovations, Hortor has also developed its employment consultant (EC) model to launch in the automation market.
This will enable Hortor to roll out its own full-time employees to complete short and long-term projects on behalf of clients, thus providing greater flexibility among a skilled workforce and a reduction in labour costs.
Mark comments: “Although the EC model has been a staple of Hortor’s services for many years, we’ve recently extended it to the automation market after recognising this method of workforce planning is becoming more attractive to both candidates and clients.
“We are now building a new EC team specialising in RPA capabilities to assist with global client projects and programmes of work that require specific solutions. There is no reason at all why Hortor can’t become the ‘go to’ talent enablement consultancy within automation and that is certainly where my sights are set.”
Operating within the digital, tech and specialist sectors means that Hortor must be one step ahead of changing market trends and the fallout this can have on clients. With its adapted EC model and a willingness to evolve with new innovations, Mark believes the business can become a global leader in the next five-years.
He comments: “No one else is embracing the RPA market in the tactile, relationship-focused manner as Hortor are. We can offer a truly unique and client specific talent solution which is supported by a specialised network of candidates that aren’t available on a passive market.
“RPA will undoubtedly revolutionise the way companies operate at every level, and as this new technology moves forward, so too will every progressive office in the country. It’s the idealistic game changer and Hortor is prepared to take control.”