What could automation give back?
Estimate the time an automated workflow could release, its running costs and a simple payback period. A practical starting point for UK businesses exploring AI and automation.
How the numbers work.
- Annual hours released = tasks × eligible percentage × (current minutes − review minutes) × working weeks ÷ 60. Non-eligible tasks stay manual. Negative hours mean review adds more work than the automation removes.
- Capacity value = released hours × your loaded hourly cost. Annual net value subtracts 12 months of running cost. First-year net value also subtracts setup.
- Simple payback = setup ÷ positive monthly net value. First-year ROI = (annual net value − setup) ÷ setup × 100. Zero setup has no meaningful ROI percentage.
All money values are GBP. Keep VAT treatment consistent across inputs. Outputs are indicative, not a quote or a guarantee. Model reviewed October 2026.
Explore ai & automationBefore you decide.
Does this guarantee staff cost savings?
No. Time released may improve capacity or service quality without reducing payroll. Treat the result as a planning scenario and validate it in a small pilot.
What costs should I include?
Include implementation, training, human review, usage charges, monitoring, maintenance and error handling. Use conservative inputs and compare the result with keeping the task manual.
Is this only for AI?
No. It can also compare a rules-based automation or system integration. Choose the simplest approach that meets the task reliably.