Introducing Software Robots 2.0: CloudStorm Enterprise Software Integration and Automation Tool

Project Information

CloudStorm

Grant agreement ID: 823219

DOI

10.3030/823219

Project closed

EC signature date 18 June 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 31 October 2021

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 2 300 266,25

EU contribution

€ 1 610 186,38

Coordinated by

VIRTUAL SOLUTIONS KFT
Hungary

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CloudStorm (Introducing Software Robots 2.0: CloudStorm Enterprise Software Integration and Automation Tool)

Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2021-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Cloudstorm software makes robotic process automation (RPA) accessible for the mass market. With enterprise-wide software integration and a unique automated process discovery algorithm, Cloudstorm enables employees to increase their productivity by innovating their daily practices.
Most commonly used enterprise software is rigid and difficult to use. Millions of employees spend their work days on redundant tasks that result from missing integrations between the different software – e.g. copy-pasting data between SAP and Excel. When it comes to automating such processes, by far the biggest cost factor with current technologies is finding the processes worth automating, and having to use analysts to do the consultation work. Cloudstorm eliminates such need for manual process mapping and expensive consultant hours.
The flexibility of our technology allows implementing an innovative business model, where smaller companies can be billed per use instead of having to pay high prices for large and bulky software packages. We enter the market through selected industries (Banking, finance & insurance; Pharmaceuticals; Telecommunications) where operations are highly regulated, and as a result, there is an abundance of repetitive workflows and complex IT systems that Cloudstorm can simplify.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1
● We developed the toolset to "teach" our system to automate tasks, execute already existing automations, and retrieve the output of previous executions
● We designed the user experience of the next generation End User Innovation tool
● A Workflow Service was created to orchestrate automation
● We implemented the next generation of our App Builder module
● We created integrations for different kinds of enterprise software
● Implemented integration functionalities to the core systems
● Developed cross-cloud management capabilities
● Implemented Terraform based provisioning for the entire Cloudstorm stack
● Implemented advanced Secret Management facilities
● Created capabilities for single tenant and multi tenant installations
● Updated the SW delivery process following GitOps methodology
● The toolset covers a business automation and integration process end to end

WP2
● Defined a Product development roadmap
● Defined an MVP feature set and developed an MVP of Nika to collect feedback from pilots
● Implemented an opt-in discovery process based on customer feedback
● Conducted User Experience research, in particular on AI-aided chatbot usability
● Developed all of the UI of Nika
● Identified Key User Personas, -Journeys and -Stories
● Augmented our cloud and on-premise hosting capabilities and the End User Innovation Tool to become the basis for the Nika Process Discovery product.
● Created the Analytics Infrastructure to support data collection and analysis
● Developed the automation assessment scoring algorithms for Nika
● Developed the Nika conversational AI technology to collect process insights
● Developed the advanced analytics and intelligence features for Nika both in the back-end and front-end side
● Developed and launched the feature-complete version of Nika
● Installed Nika in operational environments in large Enterprises internationally

WP3
● Won and conducted paid RPA pilot projects successfully
● Validated Cloudstorm efficiency gains through pilot projects
● Attained valuable public references from satisfied pilot partners to be used in commercialisation activities
● Executed Nika pilot projects
● Created a robust legal framework to support the exploitation of the project results
● Finalised our data security strategy involving legal and security experts
● Created implementation guidelines documents
● Created interview templates, the “RPA Workshop” and the “RPA canvas” tools to aid pilot preparations
● Created “RPA readiness scoring” of processes to aid pilot preparations
● Collected invaluable feedback on our product roadmap that have influenced WP2 developments significantly
● Collected input from Customers for Nika branding, pricing and marketing communications
● Adjusted the Nika product development roadmap to accommodate feedback from pilots, in particular through usability testing and UX research activities
● Attended and won several international pitch competitions which resulted in pilot negotiations with large enterprises

WP4
● Created content marketing and sales materials
● We established several automated online marketing channels to distribute this content
● We executed numerous successful online campaigns, demonstrated by a high number of relevant inbound leads
● Our RPA-as-a-service business model got validated: we could engage in a commercial relationship with companies of all sizes: SME-s and enterprises alike
● We have convinced several RPA pilot partners to become customers already
● We have established and developed the branding for the new product, Nika Process Discovery Tool
● Tested, compared and validated several online traction channels for Nika, creating an efficient lead generation engine for RPA decision makers interested in process discovery
● Refined the commercialisation plan for Nika market entry
● Created the “Process Discovery Framework” concept and associated whitepaper: “The Modern Guide to Scale RPA Process Discovery” and other sales and marketing material, specifically for Nika
● Maintained interest in COVID times thanks to our online presence
● We have created demand for our services by potential resellers

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The growth in full-time employment brought along sophisticated internal processes in both SW development and business development, as well as in operations.
Thanks to the project, we have become more technology-independent and complete, considering both the technical architecture and the technology offered. We became ready to service all customer projects in our own infrastructure.
Building on this, we focused on creating and marketing a novel approach to RPA Process Discovery, the most time-consuming and important part of RPA implementation in large companies. We have successfully applied lean startup product development practices and started to build commercial traction for the resulting product, the “Nika” Process Discovery Tool.
Market feedback makes us confident that the potential impact of the project will be long lasting on both our company and the professional services industry at large. Findings from pilot projects with customers indicate that the innovative approach of Nika can be beneficial not just in the field of RPA. Nika can also be utilised as a general “digital consultant”; an automated research agent for consultancy and process improvement projects.
Thus, further impact and exploitation of the results is expected by adapting the technology and methodology developed in the project to other industries, supported by high interest received by investors throughout the project.
We are aware of the increasing socio-economic issue of automation threatening job security. To reflect on this and to address the matter, our novel Process Discovery approach makes it possible for any employee to suggest automation ideas from the bottom up. This way we are effectively creating buy-in for automation at all levels of enterprises and turning employees from potential “victims of automation” to competent stakeholders in the future of automation at their company.
More information: www.nikarpa.com

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