Why Many SME-Led RPA Projects Falter—And How You Can Keep Your Bots Running 24/7 With RPA Sustain+

In recent years, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has become an increasingly attractive low-code/no-code solution for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to improve operational efficiency without the complexities and overheads of traditional IT projects.

Indeed, in Singapore, many SMEs are turning to the local polytechnics as a source of RPA talent—engaging interns or participating in programs like Republic Polytechnic’s goRPA initiative.

At first glance, this seems like an ideal arrangement: students get real-world experience, while SMEs gain access to affordable automation solutions. But as many have come to realize, this approach often comes with hidden costs and long-term challenges.

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The Reality Behind Polytechnic-Led RPA Projects

While polytechnic interns are enthusiastic and quick learners, many are relatively new to RPA themselves. As a result, the quality of the automation scripts can vary widely—from basic, hardcoded workflows to partially working scripts that are neither scalable nor reliable.

Here are some of the common issues SMEs face post-implementation:

• Inconsistent Script Quality: Many bots are built without taking into account coding standards and best practices, making them brittle and prone to failure.

• Lack of Business Understanding: Interns may lack the domain knowledge to fully grasp the nuances of the business processes, leading to flawed automation logic or missed edge cases. For example, a common observation is that the users frequently have to adapt their way of working to accommodate the bots rather than the other way round.

• No Continuity Post-Internship: Once the internship or RPA program ends, SMEs are often left without the technical expertise to support, fix, or improve their bots.

• Compliance and Licensing Risks: It’s not uncommon to find SMEs using community edition RPA tools in ways that violate licensing terms, risking audits and penalties.

Over time, as issues go unresolved and bot performance degrades, many SMEs end up abandoning their RPA solutions altogether—despite their initial potential.

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A Better Way Forward: RPA Sustain+ for SMEs

At CFB Bots, we understand the unique challenges SMEs face when adopting RPA. That’s why we’ve introduced the first-of-its-kind RPA Sustain+ tailored specifically for businesses that have embarked on their automation journey with limited resources. Our program offers peace of mind and long-term value through the following services:

🛠️ Bot Maintenance & Enhancements

We take over the support and upkeep of your existing RPA bots—including bug fixes, updates, and change requests—so your automations continue to run reliably as your business evolves.

🎓 User Training & Knowledge Transfer

We conduct hands-on training sessions to equip your staff with the skills to operate the bots confidently. Learn how to perform simple troubleshooting and make minor enhancements without external help. This is especially helpful in the event of staff turnover with the new staff having zero knowledge of the RPA bots.

🔍 Bot Audit & Compliance Check

Our team will review your bots to ensure they meet best practices in terms of:

• Process design

• Coding standards and best practices

• Security and data compliance

• Scalability and reliability

🔄 Technical Review & Enhancements

Where applicable, we’ll upgrade your bots to make them production-ready by incorporating enterprise features including:

• Robotic Enterprise Framework (REFramework)

• Proper exception handling to manage edge cases

• Audit logs to support transparency and traceability

📄 License Review & Management

We’ll assess your current license usage to ensure compliance with vendor terms and help you transition to the appropriate license tier if necessary—avoiding potential legal and operational pitfalls.

➕ Optional Add-Ons

• Migration support (e.g., from UiPath Community Edition to Enterprise or Microsoft Power Automate)

• Dashboarding and reporting for bot performance

• Centralized bot orchestration setup

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Let’s Keep Your Bots Working for You

If you've invested time and effort into deploying RPA bots but are now facing mounting maintenance issues or declining bot performance, don’t write off your investment just yet. With the right support, your automation initiatives can still deliver the ROI you envisioned.

Start with a complimentary bot audit—we’ll assess the current state of your bots, identify key risks, and recommend practical next steps to get them back on track.

Talk to an Expert