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AI Automation ROI Calculator
Find out whether automating a recurring task with AI pays off, with review time and running costs included rather than ignored.
Result
- Hours saved per month
- 40
- Value of time saved per month
- $1,800
- Net benefit per month
- $1,650
- Payback period
- 2.4 months
- First-year ROI
- 272%
- Net benefit over 3 years
- $55,400
- Break-even volume
- 25 tasks / month
ROI = (value of time saved in year one − setup cost − 12 months of running costs) ÷ (setup cost + 12 months of running costs). Saved time only turns into money if it is used for other valuable work or reduces paid hours.
Runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to a server.
How it works
- Pick one recurring task, such as answering standard enquiries or preparing reports, and enter how often it happens per month.
- Enter how long the task takes today and how long it will take with AI, including the time someone spends checking the output.
- Set the share of cases AI can realistically handle and the fully loaded cost of an hour of staff time.
- Add monthly running costs and the one-time setup cost.
- Read the hours saved, net benefit, payback period and first-year ROI. Change one input at a time to see which assumption matters most.
FAQ
What does fully loaded hourly cost mean?
It is what an hour of work really costs the business: gross salary plus employer contributions, benefits and a share of overheads, divided by the hours people actually work productively.
Why should review time be included?
AI output usually needs checking. If you leave out review and correction time, the calculator overstates the saving, and the business case falls apart once the system is live.
Is saved time the same as saved money?
Only if the hours are used for other valuable work or reduce paid hours such as overtime or temporary staff. Otherwise the saving is real capacity but not cash.
What is a good payback period for AI automation?
There is no universal benchmark. Many businesses look for payback within a year for small automation projects, but the right threshold depends on risk, strategic value and your cost of capital.
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