RoboKind utilizes robots to support diverse and inclusive education for all students. The small, but growing company currently does business in 39 states and 16 countries. With the impending retirement of its bookkeeper, the company turned to Armanino for business outsourcing services for both day-to-day tasks and on-demand, CFO-level advisory services.
Milo never gets tired or impatient and can repeat lessons as often as learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) need it. That’s because Milo is RoboKind’s socially advanced robot, whose proven effectiveness with learners with ASD surpasses 80% (compared to 3% for traditional therapy).
Founded in 2011, RoboKind’s mission is to create cost-effective and inclusive education for all. Working with experts in the autism community and school systems around the world, the Dallas-based company’s products give children opportunities to realize their full potential and pursue their passions and interests.
While the company has robots in 39 states across the U.S. as well as a growing presence in 16 other countries, Richard Margolin, chief technology officer and co-founder of RoboKind, wants to reach as many children as possible.
As the company’s growth strategies started yielding results, the need for expert financial guidance and robust processes and systems became more critical. When a trusted bookkeeper decided to retire, Margolin knew the time had come to explore alternative models for scaling the RoboKind back office and providing the metrics and data that leadership needs to make the best decisions for the business as it grows.
Recognizing that the company was not yet ready for a full-time chief financial officer, Margolin chose another option: business outsourcing services from Armanino LLP. Armanino, one of the 25 largest independent accounting and consulting firms in the U.S., had been providing audit services to RoboKind since its inception.
“We already had a good relationship with Armanino and had been relying on the firm for audit and advisory services,” says Margolin. “Going with a fractional team would give us day-to-day accounting support as well as access to CFO-level expertise.”
Armanino worked to make the transition to an business outsourcing services function as seamless as possible for RoboKind. “Change is never easy, but Armanino’s existing knowledge of our complex business model certainly helped make the adjustment easier and faster,” says Margolin.
The Armanino team began refining processes, automating previously manual tasks, implementing improved audit trails, reorganizing the chart of accounts, and streamlining communications and approvals. Over a two-year period, they:
With Armanino providing support for its day-to-day accounting needs, on-demand advisory services and annual audit, RoboKind achieved far more than replacing a trusted bookkeeper. “When we started this engagement with Armanino, we were just worried about taking care of basic accounting,” says Margolin. “Armanino has done so much more than that. Our processes are more efficient, with better checks and balances, with as little time and effort required from me as possible. I can focus more time on business development, vision and leadership.”
Margolin sees Armanino as a valuable partner in the success of the business. “I can ask Armanino questions about how a decision such as leasing or buying hardware will affect the balance sheet, and get the answers I need,” he says. “Armanino put metrics in place that give us visibility into company performance that we never could have done ourselves.”
RoboKind views its outsourced Armanino team as an extension of company staff, available when they’re needed. “Armanino provides us a team of people so we’re not just relying on one person,” says Marissa Moyer, executive assistant and director of culture at RoboKind. “Armanino is always responsive, which is really important for a small company stretched thin in resources.”
As RoboKind positions itself for continued expansion in sales and staff, Margolin views Armanino as a trusted partner in helping make the company’s strategy successful. “Being able to talk through things like which key performance indicators we should be tracking is immensely valuable as we evolve the business,” says Margolin.
For the immediate future, RoboKind is working with the Armanino team to continue refining and automating processes to better support the company now and as it grows in employees, partners, customers and complexity.
Download Case StudyJanuary 03, 2020
