Automation ROI calculator

Put real numbers in, get a defensible estimate out. Change any input to see how sensitive the result is.

Tasks per month

How many times is the task done?Minutes per task today

Measure it, do not guess.Share the automation handles (%)

Be realistic. 60 to 80 is common, not 100.Loaded hourly cost

Salary plus benefits and overhead, per hour.Monthly cost of errors avoided

Rework, credits, penalties. Enter 0 if unsure.Tool or platform cost per month

Subscription, usage fees, API costs.Maintenance hours per month

Monitoring, fixes and updates.One-time build cost

Build hours × hourly cost, plus setup fees.

How the numbers work

Hours saved per month = tasks per month × minutes per task × share automated ÷ 60.
Monthly benefit = hours saved × loaded hourly cost, plus any monthly error cost you avoid.
Monthly running cost = tool or platform fees plus maintenance hours × hourly cost.
Payback = one-time build cost ÷ monthly net benefit.

Be conservative. Use the time people actually spend today, not the time they think they spend, and include the maintenance an automation needs. If the case only works with optimistic inputs, it is not a strong case. For more on choosing between approaches, read Build vs. Buy for operations software.

This is an estimating aid, not financial advice. Savings in time are only real savings if the freed hours are redirected to valuable work or reduce paid hours.