Summary
Key results
Significant cost-saving potential estimated at over 200 000 PLN annually
Possibility to reallocate freed full-time equivalents (FTEs) to more critical areas
Improving the process of preparing loan agreements
The team responsible for preparing corporate loan agreements consisted of more than 20 specialists handling a high volume of documentation. Despite strong expertise and established procedures, the organization wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how the team’s day-to-day work unfolded in practice, where delays, errors, and manual steps occurred, and which parts of the process could be simplified or standardized.
The organization needed an objective diagnosis based on direct observation, analysis of bottlenecks, and conversations with employees who had been performing operational tasks for years. It was essential not only to identify “quick wins” that could be implemented immediately, but also to define broader development directions, including assessing whether certain activities could be outsourced or automated using methods other than RPA.
The bank expected practical and reliable recommendations that would improve team efficiency, enable better resource allocation, and provide a foundation for long-term strategic decisions. Sii Poland was selected for the project due to its experience in supporting the transformation of operational processes in highly regulated environments, as well as its ability to deliver consulting engagements requiring close cooperation with client teams.
Comprehensive process diagnosis and development recommendations
Sii Poland conducted an in-depth audit and analysis of the process of preparing corporate loan agreements. The work covered both detailed examination of the team’s current operations and the development of improvement concepts – from quick operational changes to strategic enhancement options.
The analysis was carried out directly with a team of more than 20 people, allowing consultants to capture the real way tasks were performed and identify pain points not visible in documentation. In the first phase, Sii experts – including specialists with extensive experience in banking operations and process automation – observed the team’s day-to-day work, gathered information about operational challenges, and identified quick wins that could be implemented immediately.
In the second phase, the Sii team developed broader improvement concepts, including potential automation opportunities and assessment of which tasks could be transferred to an external provider. Consultants also proposed alternative automation approaches, which received positive feedback. All concepts were later presented and discussed with management responsible for corporate lending operations.
Scope of work included:
- Workday analysis and observation of operational activities related to loan documentation
- Identification of issues, bottlenecks, and tasks causing delays or errors
- Process mapping and preparation of 17 visual process diagrams
- Review of over 10 systems and applications supporting the process
- Development of a list of 45 quick wins
- Preparation of 3 high-feasibility concepts for further improvements
Practical improvements and long-term cost-saving opportunities
In the first phase of the project, Sii Poland identified numerous quick wins that could immediately improve transparency and workflow efficiency within the team preparing loan agreements. Streamlining operational activities and removing manual, repetitive steps helped reduce the risk of errors and shorten processing times for key tasks.
A detailed end-to-end process analysis also revealed opportunities for more advanced improvements. These included the potential to reduce operational costs by more than 200 000 PLN per year and recommendations for removing selected tasks from the team’s responsibilities, freeing up 5 FTEs to focus on areas of higher strategic importance.
The delivered reports, process maps, and recommendations gave the organization’s management full visibility into the current state of operations and provided a solid foundation for further operational transformation and future decision-making. The project was highly rated by the client for both the quality of the analysis and the value of the proposed development directions.
Key results
- Potential for significant cost reduction estimated at more than 200 000 PLN per year
- Ability to reassign 5 employees (FTEs) to more strategic tasks
- Reduction of human-error risk in the loan preparation process
- Delivery of detailed reports and process maps supporting data-driven decision-making