When we talk to educators at various colleges, universities and higher education establishments in the United States and across the globe about our Academia Program — designed for students to develop skills in robotic process automation (RPA) and intelligent automation (IA) — they first want to know why they should invest time in teaching and preparing students for this type of skill? When they are really looking for answers to the following questions:

• What is the market demand for this type of skill?
• What kinds of future jobs can my students expect to step into with skills in RPA/IA?
• How can the SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program help students learn about and secure these types of jobs?

Let’s explore this further!

Market Demand

You don’t have to dig that deep to see what industry thought leaders and business analysts are telling us about the RPA market. The market demand for RPA and IA skills is experiencing significant growth, driven by the need for increased efficiency and scalability in business operations.

Several factors contribute to this surge in demand:

Adoption across industries

RPA and IA are being widely adopted in a wide range of sectors, including banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, manufacturing and retail. The BFSI sector, in particular, leverages RPA for regulatory reporting, balance sheet reconciliation and compliance management.

Technological integration

The integration of AI and cognitive technologies with RPA expands the scope and scale of automation, enabling the automation of more complex and value-added processes​. This integration drives further demand for skills combining RPA with AI, machine learning and data analytics.

Regional growth

North America holds the largest market share due to significant investments in advanced technologies and supportive government initiatives. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, with substantial investments in digital transformation across industries in countries like China, India and Japan​.

Skill shortages

Despite the high demand, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the RPA and IA fields. Skills in RPA platforms — such as SS&C Blue Prism — are particularly sought after. Other in-demand roles include project managers, business analysts, systems architects and developers with experience in cognitive technologies.

In summary, the market for RPA and IA skills is booming, driven by widespread industry adoption, technological advancements and regional growth. This trend presents significant opportunities for professionals with relevant skills and experience. Just check out the huge number of available jobs on LinkedIn that are under robotic process automation!

Job Roles

The good news is that students with skills in RPA/IA can expect to enter a variety of roles across different industries and job markets. Here are some common job roles that leverage RPA skills that you can see, and show students, posted in most of the major career-seeking channels:

• RPA developer: This role involves designing, developing and implementing RPA solutions. RPA developers create bots to automate repetitive tasks and ensure these bots function correctly within various systems. Skills in platforms like SS&C Blue Prism are highly valued​.

• Business analyst: Business analysts in the RPA field focus on identifying business processes that can be automated. They work closely with stakeholders to gather requirements and design automation workflows. Strong analytical skills and an understanding of business processes are crucial for this role​.

• RPA consultant: RPA consultants provide expert advice on RPA implementation and optimization. They help organizations identify automation opportunities, develop strategies and manage RPA projects. This role requires a deep understanding of RPA tools and best practices​.

• RPA solution architect: Solution architects design the overall RPA solution framework and architecture. They ensure RPA solutions are scalable, secure and integrated with existing systems. This role often requires experience in software architecture and system integration​.

• Project manager: Project managers oversee the planning, execution and delivery of RPA projects. They coordinate with various teams to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Skills in project management methodologies and a good understanding of RPA technologies are essential​.

• Automation engineer: Automation engineers focus on testing and maintaining automated processes. They ensure that RPA bots function as intended and troubleshoot any issues. This role requires a strong technical background and problem-solving skills​.

• Process analyst: Process analysts examine business processes to determine their suitability for automation. They document existing processes, identify inefficiencies and propose automation solutions. This role combines analytical skills with an understanding of RPA capabilities​​.

• RPA trainer: Trainers educate employees and other stakeholders on how to use RPA tools and technologies effectively. They develop training materials and conduct workshops or training sessions. Good communication and expertise in RPA tools are important skills for this role​​.

These roles span various industries, reflecting the broad applicability of RPA/IA. Students can leverage their RPA/IA skills to enter these dynamic and growing fields, contributing to the efficiency and innovation of businesses.

SS&C Blue Prism University has a great page dedicated to job roles related to RPA/IA! Check out our Meet the Persona page, where we list the job roles, their main responsibilities and associated technical skills, as well as suggested courses and certifications users can take for this type of role.

Academia Program to Prepare Students for Future of Work

Great news for students! SS&C Blue Prism’s Academia Program can significantly aid students in securing jobs in the field of RPA and IA by providing them with the necessary skills, resources and certifications. Here’s how our Academia Program can help students:

Comprehensive training

The SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program offers a structured curriculum that covers various aspects of RPA, including the basics of SS&C Blue Prism, advanced development techniques and best practices for automation. This comprehensive training ensures students gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with RPA tools​.

Industry-recognized certification

Completing the SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program allows students to earn highly regarded industry certifications. These certifications validate their expertise and make them more attractive to potential employers.

SS&C Blue Prism certified developers are among the top 16% of earners, per Certification Magazine. SS&C Blue Prism’s Developer Certification also came in 57 out of 900 certifications. The top 75 list was drawn from the certifications held by the largest number of survey respondents and then ranked by salary.

Access to learning resources

Students enrolled in the SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program have access to a wealth of learning materials, including online courses, webinars and tutorials. These resources help them stay updated with the latest developments in RPA technology and continuously improve their skills​.

Practical experience

The program emphasizes practical experience by providing students the opportunity to explore and work on real-world projects and case studies. This hands-on approach ensures students can apply their theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios — preparing students for the workforce upon graduation.

Collaboration with industry partners

The SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program often collaborates with industry partners, offering students exposure to real business environments. These partnerships can lead to internships, apprenticeships and job placements — providing a direct pathway to employment​​.

Networking opportunities

Being part of the SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program allows students to join a community of RPA professionals and alumni. Networking with peers, instructors and industry experts can open job opportunities and provide valuable career guidance​.

Soft skills development

In addition to technical skills, the program also focuses on developing essential soft skills such as problem-solving, project management and communication. These skills are crucial for roles such as RPA consultant, project manager and business analyst​.

Supporting Students for the Future Work

The SS&C Blue Prism Academia Program helps deliver on the promise of a better future of work by supporting its academic partners. To help students prepare for the future, pathways are created — from skills development to job opportunities — providing them with the job-ready knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Register here to learn more about our program and how to become an SS&C Blue Prism Academia Partner.

Watch out for more blog posts from the Academia team informing you about the state of our growing learning ecosystem, announcements around new partnerships, events like hackathons and webinars, and any new courses/programs that become newly published!

Until then, happy learning!