RPA developers: the next professionals you’ll want to add to your team

RPA is here to stay

Robotic Process Automation, RPA, is one of the fastest-growing enterprise solutions and it will remain in the spotlight for at least the next decade. RPA uses software robots to mimic human workers and automate repetitive tasks allowing humans to focus on value-added work. Over the years, RPA has grown more sophisticated and evolved into what Gartner has dubbed “Hyperautomation".

By combining its capability to replicate repetitive processes with AI functionalities, end-to-end automation will be able to process less structured data, extend to more complex, long-running tasks, and become smarter and more widely adopted by companies of all sizes. AT&T, Walmart, and Deutsche Bank are among those praising the benefits of streamlined, error-free business processes.

A growing job market

It should come as no surprise that the global RPA market is forecast to reach USD 30.85 billion by 2030. Consequently, RPA professionals are now in high demand and among the highest paid in the technology industry. The most common job titles are RPA developers, RPA consultants, solution architects, RPA analysts, support engineers, or trainers. According to industry leader, UiPath, 68% of respondents in the State of the Automation Professional Report 2023 confirmed their company had increased the number of people working in software automation in the past 12 months.

Compared to three years ago, when the majority of jobs were in-house positions, in 2023 over 40% were RPA consultants. This number accurately reflects the current reality of both smaller companies in need of on-demand experts who can design and implement solutions, and very large enterprises that contract additional members for digital transformation projects.

At the same time, remote work has given companies access to new talent pools and while Asia still holds the largest number of RPA developers, Europe is now a close contender. Central and Eastern Europe, in particular, is an excellent region to hire RPA developers in.

The sought-after skill set

Being a strong RPA developer requires a mixture of different skill sets, including technical, analytical and soft skills. Based on our experience interviewing professionals and working with companies hiring these roles to their teams, here is our shortlist of the most important skills to look out for:

Tool knowledge

The obvious one is familiarity with RPA tools. A sound understanding of their functionalities, and knowledge of how to successfully implement automation solutions is critical. Apart from entry-level positions, most jobs will require hands-on experience with one of the providers such as UiPath, Automation Anywhere, or Blue Prism. Obtaining certifications from RPA providers or completing specialised courses can add credibility to someone’s CV. Some people become experts in one platform. Although coding languages will differ across platforms, a lot of the skills are transferable across platforms so being specialised in one tool doesn’t prevent people from adapting to another.

Programming skills

Proficiency in Python, Java, C#, or other scripting languages used in RPA tools will be necessary for understanding the platforms used and for creating and maintaining more and more complex implementations. However, as the number of RPA developers is increasing, so is the number of experts from different backgrounds. Many providers such as UiPath offer low-code to no-code tools, so minimal knowledge of programming languages may be enough in some cases.

Understanding the process

As a developer, an essential part of working with RPA lies in the ability to analyse complex business processes across different departments and teams, and identify areas where automation can be implemented efficiently. Understanding workflows, patterns, and repetitive tasks is crucial for choosing the best solution for the business.

It’s the most important skill, apart from knowing how to build software robots, and one bound to turn any developer into a valuable member of the team: one who can eliminate tedious, mind-numbing, and error-prone tasks from everyone’s work.

Problem solving

Things don’t always go smoothly, so an excellent RPA developer must have the capacity to troubleshoot issues and optimise processes. The ability to mitigate risks, learn from past incidents, and foresee problems before they develop are all crucial to RPA developers’ success. Testing workflows and documenting procedures consistently will play an important role in preventing and solving problems.

Communication skills

Technical experts will often find themselves in the position of explaining technical concepts to non-technical individuals. Effective communication is vital for understanding business requirements, getting stakeholder buy-in, and collaborating with teams that can benefit from automation.

Ethical awareness

Awareness of ethical considerations related to automation and data privacy is increasingly important. These are factors experts must consider when designing and implementing automated solutions.

Team player mentality

It should go without saying that a willingness to collaborate is essential for all jobs which necessitate working as a group. This becomes even more critical for positions that involve cross-functional teams. Being a team player and understanding the dynamics of teamwork is mandatory.

How to get started

Automation is a field where success is noticeable so professionals who have, or are willing to develop, these skills will add significant value to your team while also building a rewarding career path. If you’re looking for pre-screened on-demand RPA professionals, reach out to us and we’ll help you build your team.

Carbon is the go-to staffing specialist for Eastern European and North African technical talent. Trusted by the biggest names in technology and venture capital, Carbon’s hyperlocal expertise makes entering new talent markets for value-seeking global companies possible.

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