Areas of Specialization
Human Resources | Supply Chain | Information Technology | Finance / Accounting | Customer Support | Legal & Compliance

Why Garnet River for Robotic Process Automation
We see Robotic Process Automation, or RPA, as a tool that lets organizations rework how its people work. It uses technology as it was intended—to accomplish more, easier, without error, and at a quicker pace. More impactful, it empowers people to do more interesting and meaningful work by taking away their busywork.

On the surface, it’s very simple. Use a software tool to write a process that converts a manual, repeatable task into an automated robot function. When done right, it’s like having a personal assistant…available to work 24/7 in your system.

The challenge many organizations have when adopting RPA is selecting the right processes and using the right tools.

At Garnet River, we’re a UiPath partner, but we are also technology agnostic. We believe that proper governance that organizes guidance and process is the key to successfully executing RPA activities to expected outcomes.

Photo of Shayne Pendergast, Garnet River's RPA Practice Lead

“One of the things people think about when they hear Robotic Process Automation, or RPA, is robots. RPA is not an actual physical robot. It’s software programmed to replace manual work done by human workers—faster and with greater accuracy. For some organizations, this allows for cost savings through staff reductions. For many more, it’s a tool to boost productivity and drive innovation…to empower workers to engage their minds more—not shut them off.”

– Shayne Pendergast, Practice Lead

RPA Insights & Thought Leadership

Automation Opportunities Across the Enterprise

Human Resources Supply Chain Information Technology Finance / Accounting Customer Service
Onboarding & Offboarding Invoice & Contract Management Server & Application Monitoring R2R: General Accounting, Reconciliations, Fixed Assets, Close, Consolidations Order Management
Time / Attendance Management Demand & Supply Planning Maintenance & Monitoring O2C: Quote Management, Cash Apps, Customer Master, Credit Management Customer Inquiries
Payroll Inventory Management Batch Processing P2P: Vendor Master, Requisitions, PO Creation / Management, Payment Processing, Reporting, Invoicing Customer Account Set Up
Benefits Administration Work Order Management Email Processing & Distribution Collections Document Processing
Recruitment (Back Office) Returns Processing Backup & Restoration Duplicate System Entry
Personnel Administration Freight Management
Education & Training

Our Stages of RPA Implementation

Step 1: Ideation

  • Overview: Client and Garnet River brainstorm process automation candidates; identify business unit (BU) stakeholders; capture workflow detail; and gather supporting documents.
  • Timeframe: Ideation session should conclude within a one- to two-hour time slot.

Step 2: Scoring

  • Overview: Unique session with each involved BU, in which processes to identify value, baseline targets, and backlog will be reviewed. Also will challenge and quantify current processes…why are they in use, what is the desired outcome, and how is value measured. Garnet River will present a set of recommended processes for automation.

  • Timeframe: Up to one week.

Step 3: Prioritization

  • Overview: In-person workshop with all BUs to build consensus around business prioritization. Garnet River will share scoring, recommendations, time-to-value, ROI, prioritization, etc., and a Plan of Automation will be developed. An automation candidate for the QuickStart proof of concept will be selected.

  • Timeframe: Two- to three-hour session.

Step 4: Observation

  • Overview: Capture video and observe current process in action.

  • Timeframe: Sessions vary based on three factors of the process selected in ideation (time to execute, volume of process, and number of FTEs involved).

Step 5: Documentation

  • Overview: Develop a workflow flowchart​ and generate a detailed requirements document for client to review and approve.

  • Timeframe: Up to one week

Step 6: Development

  • Overview: Establish the development environment and obtain, as needed: remote access, system access, copies of digital assets, etc.​ Initiate bot development in UiPath Studio (or selected platform).

  • Timeframe: Typically within four weeks after initial environment setup.

Step 7: Testing

  • Overview: Internal verification against test plan​. Conduct a client review session and user acceptance testing session.

  • Timeframe: Not to exceed four weeks.

Step 8: Deployment

  • Overview: Obtain trial licenses and establish and configure UiPath Orchestrator (or selected platform) environment. For automations with attended bots, install local agent. For unattended automations, provision bot machine. Conclude with deployment and testing of the bot.

  • Timeframe: Up to one week.

Our RPA Leadership Team

Photo of Shayne Pendergast, Senior RPA Developer for Garnet River

Shayne Pendergast

Practice Lead

Headshot of Ken Hausam, Chief Technology Officer for Garnet River

Ken Hausam

CTO & Senior Consultant

Photo of Bethany Savage, Lead of Garnet River's Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Practice

Bethany Savage

Senior BA