Streamlining Procurement Checks
Recently, a new employee has joined the ranks of the “Information Support Center” in St. Petersburg — a software robot. Crafted by specialists from the St. Petersburg Information and Analytical Center, who also happen to be its creators, this robot tackles a substantial volume of crucial tasks related to the material and technical support of the Committee for Economic Policy and Strategic Planning for the city. The center is also responsible for overseeing processes related to the issuance and servicing of “Unified Petersburg Card” electronic cards.
Given the substantial workload, including procurement tasks, the decision was made to entrust this role to a software robot. The robot’s tasks include connecting to various state registries and databases, verifying the reliability of potential contractors based on their TINs (Taxpayer Identification Numbers). Thanks to the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which combines software robots and artificial intelligence, the verification process has been accelerated by more than 80%.
The robot enables the swift generation of an up-to-date list of legal entities for procurement, reducing the workload on employees and allowing them to focus more on complex tasks. This innovation was implemented as part of the “Efficient Region” program.
“The ‘Efficient Region’ program continues to evolve step by step in the government bodies of St. Petersburg. The implementation of the robotics project in an institution subordinate to the Committee for Economic Policy and Strategic Planning of St. Petersburg has optimized the procurement process. This has significantly reduced the time spent by employees on routine tasks, enhancing the efficiency of the overall process,” commented Stanislav Kazarin, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg.
“It’s encouraging to see that software robots are increasingly becoming integral to our work, streamlining it. The key is to find a competent team ready to take on the implementation of the idea. Software robots can perform repetitive operations with high speed and accuracy, freeing employees from monotonous tasks and allowing them to concentrate on more complex and creative assignments. This directly impacts the increase in productivity and cost reduction for the company,” remarked IT specialist Mark Andreev. “I can’t help but note that such robots can work 24/7 without the need for rest, making them more efficient compared to a human who requires sleep and rest. This is especially useful in areas such as production, logistics, and customer service, where promptness is a critically important factor.”
Photo: freepik