GENEVA – 19 May 2025

The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) has successfully supported the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in streamlining and enhancing one of its core financial processes, the Mission Funding Request (MFR). This was achieved using intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA+), enabling greater efficiency in how IOM’s Treasury team allocates funds to field missions worldwide, ensuring that resources are available where and when they are needed.

This initiative is part of UNICC’s expanding HyperAutomation service portfolio, aimed at helping United Nations agencies and other international organizations simplify complex business operations, reduce manual workloads, and modernize systems.

In early 2024, as IOM prepared for a system-wide migration to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, the opportunity arose to revisit and optimize key automation, beginning with the Mission Funding Request (MFR) process. The objective was clear: to deliver more efficient, flexible, and resilient automation with fewer manual steps, stronger exceptional handling, and improved reporting.

Tangible results
The enhanced MFR process has already delivered measurable results for IOM’s Treasury team:

• Reduced processing time: The request processing time has been reduced from 25-45 minutes to just 2 minutes.
• Decreased manual effort: The effort required by the IOM Treasury team has been reduced from the equivalent of five full-time staff members to just half a person’s time, freeing up valuable staff capacity to focus on more meaningful tasks.
• The capture of business exceptions has increased from 20% to 90%, empowering IOM to autonomously manage process changes.

These results not only enhanced efficiency but also gave IOM’s Treasury team more time to focus on more strategic priorities.

By leveraging Robotic Process Automation, we have reduced manual efforts, gained flexibility to manage process changes, and established a scalable framework for future enhancements. UNICC’s support was key, demonstrating a strong understanding of IOM’s needs.

Malcolm Grant, Chief of Treasury, IOM

The results were made possible through the implementation of new automation for the MFR workflow, which included:

• Increased business autonomy: A custom automation message system was introduced, allowing IOM to manage and update automation logic independently, without relying on external support.
• Redesigned automation architecture: The process was restructured using UNICC’s enhanced automation framework, improving scalability and ensuring that tasks are handled efficiently through a streamlined, component-based approach.
• Priority-based task management: A transactional queue was implemented to prioritize tasks based on urgency, enabling faster turnaround for critical activities while automating non-urgent tasks.
• Improved exception handling: Application checks and clearer business rules were integrated into the system, significantly reducing the need for manual intervention when processing errors occur.
• Stronger audit trail: Key automation steps are now automatically recorded, including screenshots and video logs, improving traceability and supporting troubleshooting.
• Enhanced reporting capabilities: The process is now compatible with UiPath Insights, allowing the development of custom dashboards and performance indicators to measure benefits and identify further opportunities for improvement.

The success of the MFR project was built on a foundation of strong collaboration, adaptability, and shared technical ownership. The enhanced MFR process not only meets today’s needs but also lays the foundation for future automation initiatives and reflects the broader potential of HyperAutomation to transform the way international organizations work.

UNICC offers a comprehensive suite of HyperAutomation services designed to enhance efficiency and reduce manual intervention across any business domain. This portfolio supports partners and clients throughout their automation journey, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Agentic Automation (AI & ML), Test Automation, Integration Platform, Process Mining, Low-code – No-code tools, and Intelligent Robotic Process Automation.

• For more information about this service, please contact a Business Relationship Manager at [email protected].
• For general information about UNICC, please contact: [email protected].