The new world of work is digital and more and more companies are turning to automation to gain a decisive advantage over the competition and work efficiently and cost-effectively. But how companies can ideally automate their processes is not always obvious at first glance. It takes people who are familiar with process automation and the industry. Automation is booming; experts are in demand. So this is the right time to get started as an Automation Consultant.
What exactly is an Automation Consultant?
An Automation Consultant helps customers implement process automation systems. This involves analyzing existing processes, working with companies to plan possible automation using suitable methods, and then installing these as cost-effectively and purposefully as possible. However, it is at least as important to take the entire team along with you on the path to automation, to always explain the next steps and to document everything in a comprehensible manner. Employees should be trained and integrated. Automation consultants can help companies with different aspects of automation, such as maintaining the system after installation.
An automation consultant should be familiar with automating a wide variety of processes, such as production, quality control or management. As the word consultant suggests, it's about providing advice and support. So it's very important to always be in close consultation with the customer and to go through various options with each other. The customer decides for himself exactly how he wants to implement the automation on the basis of the consultation. Customers want detailed and individual advice on the various systems and options.
Agency vs. Freelance Work
Automation consultants can start their own business or work for consulting agencies. Which is better depends on one's own preferences. While an agency takes care of the business tasks around the actual job and usually handles customer acquisition, the fee may be somewhat higher as a freelancer.
Since the Automation Consultant is still considered a bird of paradise among consultants at this point in time - despite the ever-increasing demand for process experts in companies - starting out as an Automation Consultant now can not only create a profitable niche, but also ensure a consolidation of one's own standing in the near future.
In this context, it is worth looking at the forecast growth to see the potential: From 2018 to 2023, the global market for process automation will grow by 36.2% to USD 8.69 billion. Small and medium-sized enterprises are expected to see a further increase of 37% per year on average.
So it's only a matter of time before the bird of paradise becomes the gold standard in demand. An early start as a freelancer could therefore already pay off at this point in time.
Why process automation is important for consultants
It is not only companies that refuse to embrace digitization and automation, or underestimate their potential, that run the risk of being left behind. Management consultancies must also be prepared for the working world of the future and be able to advise companies competently on digital topics such as process automation. So now is the right time to acquire the important skills for the future as a consulting firm or independent consultant.
Not convinced yet? Here are three more reasons why consulting companies should embrace Process Automation:
1. The Automation Industry is Booming
By ten years from now, the proportion of work requiring technical skills will increase by up to 55%, while fewer manual or motor skills will be needed. That's according to a study by McKinsey.
The importance of process automation is increasing dramatically, which is why all companies want to benefit from the technology in the medium term. Consultancies are scrambling to have the companies of the future in their portfolio in order to benefit from this growth.
2. Lack Of Automation Knowledge
Although automation is already so important and will continue to be so, there is often still a lack of technical expertise to lead the way to digital transformation. According to a study by the software group SAP, only three percent of the top 100 corporations worldwide successfully completed company-wide initiatives for digital transformation in 2017.
This is an important starting point for consulting firms to offer their customers a decisive added value.
3. New Source Of Income For Consultants
Automatisierung spart Geld – dafür sind Unternehmen andererseits bereit, Geld zu investieren - etwa in gute Beratung. Mit der Prozessautomatisierung können Prozesse angegangen werden, die bisher gar nicht im Fokus der Beratung standen. Automation Consultants können neben der eigentlichen Beratungs-Dienstleistung Geld mit der Schulung von Mitarbeitern, Wartung der Systeme und den Provisionen von Software-Lizenzen verdienen. Das bildet eine wiederkehrende Einkommensbasis.
How To Become An Automation Consultant?
Consultants who want to equip themselves for the job requirements of the future and acquire skills for automation can get support from various academies in the field of digitization and choose from a wide range of future-oriented technologies and useful skills.
Bots & People also offers flexible online courses to become an Automation Strategist and teaches, for example, the basics of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Process Mining or Automation with iPaaS solutions.
The Future as an Automation Consultant is Worthwhile
Becoming an Automation Consultant now and investing in process automation skills opens the doors to the working world of the future. Innovative strategies and concepts are in demand and automation consultants are an important step ahead of "classic" consultancies.
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