Bestrateo · Free tool

AI Automation ROI Calculator for SMEs

Before automating a process, it's worth knowing whether it pays off. Enter six numbers you already know about your operation and get the hours freed up, the errors avoided, the 12-month return, and how many months it takes to pay back the investment.

Access the calculator

Two minutes and six numbers you already know. Nothing to install.

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1

The process you want to automate

60 %

Be conservative. In SMEs, a well-scoped administrative process usually lands between 50% and 70%. Above 80% is rare without redesigning the whole process.

2

Errors and rework

70 %

A missed appointment, a quote never sent, a mistyped field, a duplicate order. Estimate the average cost including the time it takes to fix it.

3

What it costs to automate it

The initial investment covers consulting, setup and team training. The recurring cost covers licences, tools and maintenance.

Your result

Hours freed up
—per year
Net savings
—year 1
Year 1 ROI
—on investment
Payback
—months
ItemYear 1
Savings from hours freed up—
Savings from errors avoided—
Recurring cost (12 months)—
Initial investment—
Net result year 1—

From year 2 onward the initial investment disappears: recurring annual net savings would be —.

How to read this number without fooling yourself

Hours freed up are only savings if they get reinvested. If no one decides what that time is used for, it dissolves into day-to-day work and the ROI stays on the spreadsheet.

  • Decide before you start what the freed-up hours will go toward: more clients, less overtime, deferred tasks.
  • Measure the process before automating it. Without a baseline there's no before and after.
  • An automation with no owner on the team degrades within months. Budget for maintenance.
  • This estimate assumes the process is already well organised. Automating chaos amplifies it.

Does your result make sense?

In 30 minutes we'll go through your numbers against your real process and I'll tell you whether the pilot pays off or not. No obligation.

Book 30 minutes free