Why You Should Invest in Operational Process Automation with the Help of European Funding

Why you should invest in operational process automation with the help of European funding is no longer just a strategic reflection for companies in Romania—it is a real opportunity for growth, efficiency, and alignment with European market trends. In a competitive and digital economic environment, integrating automation solutions is essential for sustainable business scaling. Non-reimbursable funding provided by the European Union for digitalization and innovation offers SMEs the chance to implement technologies like RPA (Robotic Process Automation) without bearing the entire financial burden.

What is Operational Process Automation and What Are Its Benefits?

Operational process automation refers to the use of technology to automate repetitive, time-consuming, and resource-intensive tasks. These include activities such as order processing, invoicing, inventory management, data entry, or customer interaction through chatbots.

Intelligent automation solutions, like those offered by ROBORA, use technologies such as RPA, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to improve operational performance, reduce human errors, and boost productivity.

Key benefits of automation include:

Reduced operational costs
Increased execution speed
Elimination of human error
Freeing up human resources for strategic tasks
Enhanced scalability
Improved process compliance and traceability

European Funding – A Strategic Resource for Digitalization

For Romanian SMEs, access to non-reimbursable European funds is one of the most valuable financing sources for digitalization and automation projects. The European Union supports digital transition through various programs such as:

The PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan)
The Digital Europe Programme
Funding under the Regional Operational Programme (ROP)
Programs for innovative SMEs or businesses undergoing digital transformation

These programs often cover between 60% and 90% of the eligible investment value, significantly reducing financial risks for entrepreneurs. ROBORA supports companies interested in accessing non-reimbursable funding through consulting, project drafting, implementation, and post-implementation support.

Why You Should Invest in Automation NOW

1. Your competitors are already doing it

Many companies in Western Europe have integrated RPA and AI into their operational workflows. Romania risks falling behind if these technologies are not adopted quickly. SMEs that invest in automation now will gain a significant competitive edge in the medium and long term.

2. European funds have deadlines

EU programs have limited application windows. Missing a funding round could mean postponing a digitalization project for 1–2 years. ROBORA offers free consulting to assess the eligibility of digitalization projects and identify the most suitable solutions.

3. Costs will rise due to inflation and labor shortages

Automat ion can ease pressure on human resources and compensate for the lack of qualified personnel. The costs for developing IT solutions will continue to rise in the future, so now is the ideal time to invest with non-reimbursable support.

Examples of Processes That Can Be Automated with European Support

Automation is applicable across industries and departments. Here are some real-world examples:

Department	Automatable Processes	Technologies Involved
Finance	Invoicing, bank reconciliation, tax reporting	RPA, OCR
HR	CV processing, onboarding, time tracking	RPA, AI
Logistics	Inventory management, order tracking, deliveries	RPA, IoT
Sales	CRM updates, automated offers, client analysis	RPA, AI
Customer Support	Chatbots, ticketing, customer feedback	ChatBot AI, NLP

All of these services can be customized and rapidly implemented with the help of the ROBORA team, which specializes in intelligent automation and digital solutions for modern businesses.

Automation Technologies with Maximum Impact

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – The Versatile Solution

RPA is a technology that enables the automation of repetitive, rule-based tasks, giving companies the possibility to optimize processes without interfering with existing systems. At ROBORA, software robots interact with applications and systems just like human employees, but they do it faster, without errors, and operate 24/7.

Processes that can be automated with RPA include:

Invoicing and document management
Data collection and processing
Account reconciliation and payment processing
Sales order processing
Customer relationship management
Supplier approval and contract management

Conversational AI and Chatbots

Implementing conversational artificial intelligence solutions can completely transform the customer experience and operational efficiency. These technologies allow the automation of customer communication, reducing response times and improving satisfaction. ROBORA’s services include the development of intelligent chatbots that can handle large volumes of simultaneous interactions.

Calculating ROI for Automation with European Funding

Short- and Long-Term Financial Benefits

Calculating the return on investment for automation becomes even more attractive when European funding is available. Studies show that companies achieve an average ROI of 250%, recovering their initial investment in six to nine months after implementing RPA. This ROI can even reach 380% in optimal cases.

When the investment is 90% funded by European Funds, the profitability becomes exponentially higher, as the own capital invested is minimal. Microsoft Power Automate demonstrated in Forrester studies that clients achieved savings of $9.5 million in operational costs, with a three-year ROI of 248% and a payback period of less than six months.

Key Metrics for Measuring Success

To effectively measure the ROI of automation, companies must monitor:

Cost savings through reduced manual labor hours
Productivity growth through a higher volume of processed tasks
Error reduction and associated correction costs
Indirect savings such as reduced training costs

How ROBORA Can Help You Automate with European Funding

At ROBORA, we offer a complete 3-step process:

Free Consulting – We assess your company’s eligibility for funding and identify the most suitable digital solutions.
Development and Implementation – We build and deploy custom automation solutions, from RPA to artificial intelligence.
Post-Implementation Support – We ensure that the solutions remain functional, updated, and optimized for maximum performance.

Find out more about our process here.

Case Studies and Real Impact of Automation

According to McKinsey’s report The Future of Work After COVID-19, companies that implemented RPA and AI reported:

a productivity increase of up to 30%
a cost reduction of up to 40%
a process acceleration 2–3 times faster

Another study by Deloitte shows that over 73% of European companies plan to invest in RPA in the next 1–2 years. Romania is still in the early stages but has enormous potential—especially through the available European financial support.

Common Mistakes in Automation Without a Strategy

Underestimating the complexity of internal processes
Lack of an experienced technology partner
Failure to access available funds
Absence of a scaling and maintenance strategy

With ROBORA, all these risks are mitigated. You benefit from complete expertise, meticulous planning, and scalable technical solutions, designed for sustainable businesses.

Conclusion: Investing in Automation Through European Funding Is a Smart Choice

Why you should invest in operational process automation with the help of European funding is simple: it’s one of the most effective ways to modernize your business with minimal financial effort and significant impact. In a digital world where speed and efficiency make the difference, companies that proactively adopt technology will dominate the markets they operate in.

If you want to learn how to start automating your business with European support, contact us here and request a free consultation.

External Sources Used in This Article:

McKinsey & Company – The Future of Work After COVID-19
Deloitte – Deloitte Automation Survey
European Commission – Digital Europe Programme
Forrester – Forrester Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) of Microsoft Power Automate