AI Automation ROI Calculator
Estimate net benefit and payback after implementation, monthly operating costs, and the work that still needs human review.
Net hours reclaimed / year
884
Gross labor value / year
$26,520
Total investment / year 1
$6,800
Net benefit / year 1
$19,720
Year-1 ROI
290.0%
Estimated payback
1.8 months
Scenario comparison
Scenario buttons change only coverage and human-review assumptions; all costs remain yours.
| Scenario | Work that automation can cover | Automated work needing human review or rework | Net hours / year | Year-1 net benefit | Estimated payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 30% | 25% | 468 | $7,240 | 3.9 months |
| Base case | 50% | 15% | 884 | $19,720 | 1.8 months |
| Optimistic | 70% | 8% | 1,340 | $33,386 | 1.1 months |
Transparent methodology
Methodology updated 10 July 2026- Net hours saved = people × repetitive hours × 52 × automation coverage × (1 − human-review allowance).
- Gross labor value = net hours saved × loaded hourly labor cost.
- Year-1 net benefit = gross labor value − implementation − 12 × monthly operating costs. ROI = net benefit ÷ total year-1 investment.
Payback uses monthly gross labor value minus recurring costs. Revenue uplift, tax, financing, change-management time and residual error risk are excluded. Validate the model with a measured pilot before approving a budget.
Planning estimate only—not a quote, guarantee, or accounting advice.