Every day, companies try to reduce contractor risk by seeking answers to questions such as: what does the company do, does it hold the required permits and licenses, what is its financial situation, and sometimes even whether it actually exists. In general opinion, it seems relatively easy to find information about a given contractor today. Companies indeed have open access to many data sources and data collection methodologies. Unfortunately, these sources are diverse (the need to check multiple websites, the “white list” of VAT taxpayers, and sanction lists) and often inconsistent, with data frequently incomplete. Accessing them—usually via a web browser—means employees must spend a great deal of time on this. As a result, companies often outsource contractor screening to business intelligence agencies, generating even greater costs. All this makes the entire process not only more expensive but also more labor-intensive. The reports resulting from such analyses also come in various forms and structures and still require manual processing.

According to SAIO experts, businesses that—due to the nature of their operations—establish and maintain relationships with many suppliers and clients are in a particularly difficult situation. Proper CDD (Customer Due Diligence) is thus becoming an increasing challenge for them.

Robotic automation speeds up processes and reduces costs

Many technology-aware global companies are therefore increasingly turning to robotic process automation (RPA)—a fast and relatively inexpensive technology to implement. It imitates human actions by mimicking mouse movements or keyboard input. An example is SAIO’s *Roboverifier*—a tool based on RPA and artificial intelligence that automatically, and without human errors, collects information about a company’s potential and current contractors. The robot can automatically browse multiple data sources and extract information from them, then present it in a clear and structured way for further processing. According to SAIO experts, it is a plug-and-play solution, meaning it does not require developing separate programs, and integration with company systems is very easy. Most importantly, it can shorten verification time to as little as 2 minutes while eliminating potential human errors.

Robotic automation opens the door to additional improvements in companies

In addition to the above benefits, implementing business robots can unlock entirely new possibilities in verifying contractors, such as:

1. Integration with databases

Collected data can be easily integrated with information the company already holds. This may include data from internal sources (e.g., the contractor’s payment history, contract fulfillment history) as well as from external sources—such as KRS, CEIDG, CRBR, KRD, business intelligence platforms, or credit insurance providers. The robot will then combine the data, prepare it for analysis, and finally present it in a way that optimizes the decision-making process about starting, continuing, or ending cooperation with the contractor.

2. Early warning system

Accelerating the process of gathering data on new partners also enables monitoring of relationships with existing suppliers and customers. Databases can be regularly updated with new information, allowing quick reactions (e.g., adjusting credit limits, changing settlement terms, or suspending shipments) if concerning signals appear.

3. Additional sources of information

Automation helps expand the scope of information sources to include those rarely used due to lack of time or resources. These include sanction lists, bailiff bulletins, industry press websites, employee forums, or business intelligence reports.

4. Easier access to information

The speed and ease with which the robot retrieves and compiles contractor data allow a wider group of employees to verify contractors themselves, rather than relying on the team responsible for it. For example, a sales department employee could independently initiate verification at an early stage of talks with a potential partner to ensure it is worth pursuing further sales activities with them.

5. Additional functions

Automating tasks previously performed manually can also impact other processes. For instance, AI tools can classify retrieved data, determine its relevance, or analyze the sentiment of online posts about a company. This allows an analyst to check how a company is perceived by customers, employees, or other partners. Meanwhile, registry data collected during verification can, for example, be used to automatically generate headers when preparing contracts with contractors.

“On a daily basis, we automate a wide range of processes—from financial to HR and customer service systems. We can support almost any industry and department, since nearly all repetitive computer-based tasks can be automated. Moreover, as part of the ING Group, we come from the financial sector, where secure relationships are particularly important. From conversations and inquiries, we know that clients are seeking solutions that help verify business partners and address many daily challenges. The *Roboverifier*, which assists in contractor verification, is precisely the answer to their needs. If it allows entrepreneurs to quickly eliminate human errors, reduce business risk, shorten verification time, and thus lower costs, it is hard not to see this tool as real support in daily business operations. It is a clear example of how modern technologies can help business every day,” says Przemysław Lewicki, CEO of SAIO SA.