Improving indirect procurement process by utilizing robotic process automation

Abstract

This thesis deals with utilization of robotic process automation in indirect procurement process. Purpose is to investigate, in which tasks robotic process automation can be utilized and what are the benefits and disadvantages of the usage. Thesis is carried out as a case study in a company, which is currently planning the adoption of robotic process automation in its business processes.
\nAccording to previous studies, robotic process automation can be utilized especially in routine-based, high volume tasks with low irregularity. Especially, external accounting has been seen to be a suitable target for robotics. In fact, the results of this thesis show that invoicing process and vendor data maintenance are areas in which robotic process automation can be utilized. From the indirect procurement point of view, especially vendor creation, invoice processing and vendor data maintenance are tasks that could be performed by the robot.
\nHowever, the data quality has been seen to be a barrier for the adoption of robotics. Results show that the usage of robotic process automation is too early from the indirect procurement point of view. Before the adoption, the company must harmonize its processes and improve the quality of the base data.