Virginia Information Technologies Agency operates as a component of the commonwealth consolidated information technology organization dedicated to provides information technology and services that enable the government to serve the citizens of the commonwealth. Here are a few details of how the agency has launched the country’s first public sector end-to-end service offering of RPA.
The first-of-its-kind RPA service offering, powered by industry partner UiPath, opens expanded potential for efficient and modern processes across a wide range of essential statewide operations. Using customized code, RPA can complete tasks and processes automatically to allow Virginia’s public servants in the executive branch to redirect their time and efforts toward strategic work. With the service now launched into VITA’s enterprise portfolio of services, 65 agencies can now benefit from exponential, compounding benefits both immediately and over time.
The VITA team conducted market research and pilot projects to meet customer agencies’ growing business needs, starting with its own internal financial system and expanding to partner with other state agencies to respond to needs prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. VITA’s financial system pilot, which focused on running financial reports on agency invoices, yielded successful results.
With a small investment of 16 business hours to write the customized script, the team immediately realized the results of 100% accuracy and the ability to retroactively check previous financial reports. The team will save hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars in just the first year of deployment.
“Together with our partners at UiPath, the VITA team conceived and developed this innovative service offering. I’m both proud of and grateful to VITA Deputy Chief Operating Officer Demetrias Rodgers and VITA Enterprise Services Manager Jamey Stone for their leadership and collaboration.”
Jonathan Ozovek, Chief Operating Officer, VITA
The RPA service was expanded to assist the Virginia Department of Health as it responded to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year. In the pilot program, VDH is working with the tool to digitally transform paper health lab reports received from providers across the Commonwealth into electronic forms, with a goal of workflow improvements.
Along with the service, the VITA team is launching an RPA Center of Excellence, which offers valuable training opportunities, builds a network of partners across the enterprise, and develops a library of RPA code to deploy and customize for individual agencies’ needs.
“The VITA RPA service offering is a true example of innovation in action that will create real-world, positive outcomes for all residents of Virginia. It is a model approach in making RPA accessible and immediately impactful in many different areas of state government. We’re proud to be Virginia’s trusted partner in implementing automation and accelerating its digital transformation.”
Jim Walker, Chief Technology Officer and Public Sector Evangelist, UiPath