Run your numbers
The buttons fill in example numbers for you to replace. They aren't benchmarks: only your own figures tell you anything.
We'll tell you whether the case holds and where we would start.
An estimate from the numbers you enter, not a promise of savings. Uses 4.33 weeks in a month and leaves out tax, financing and the time your team spends on the project.
How to calculate the ROI of an AI project
The sums are simple. The hard part is being honest about the inputs, so here is exactly what the calculator does.
- Hours freed a month. Hours a week on the work, times the share automation could take, times 4.33 weeks.
- Monthly saving. Hours freed, times the cost of an hour, plus other savings, minus the running cost.
- Payback. The quote to build it, divided by the monthly saving.
- Three-year result. The monthly saving times 36, minus the quote.
A worked example, with made-up numbers
A team spends 40 hours a week on a process, at $45 an hour with benefits, and automation could take half of it. That frees about 87 hours a month, worth about $3,900. Every $10,000 of build cost then takes about 2.6 months to pay back, before any running cost.
What to count, and what to treat with care
Measure the real time
Time the work for a week or two instead of guessing. Include interruptions, rework and the time spent chasing missing information.
Use the full cost of an hour
Pay alone understates it. Add benefits and payroll costs, so the figure reflects what an hour really costs you.
Keep time for review
Someone still checks results, especially at the start. Enter a share that leaves room for that rather than the share a demo suggests.
Freed time isn't always cash
Hours only save money if they replace overtime, avoid a hire or move to work that earns more. Otherwise you have gained capacity, which is useful but different.
Count the running cost
Model usage, hosting, monitoring and support continue after launch. Volume drives model usage, so estimate it per task.
Allow for a slow start
Most projects take time to reach their full share as exceptions surface and people learn to trust them. The half-results test shows how much room you have.
Before you rely on the result
Check you're ready
See whether your data, process and owner are in place before you spend on a build.
AI readiness checklistTest it on real work
A small pilot on your own examples replaces your estimate with a measured share.
AI proof of conceptKeep measuring
Decide what you will track, and what result would make you stop, before the project starts.
How to measure AI ROIAI ROI calculator FAQs
How do you calculate ROI for an AI project?
Work out the monthly saving: hours freed times the cost of an hour, plus other savings, minus the running cost. Divide the build cost by that saving to get the payback in months. For a longer view, multiply the monthly saving by 36 and subtract the build cost.
What is a good payback period for AI automation?
There is no standard figure. It depends on your cash position and how certain the savings are. Set your own limit before you collect quotes, then check that the case still works at half the expected result.
What costs do businesses tend to forget?
Time spent reviewing results, model usage that grows with volume, hosting and monitoring, cleaning up data, training staff and maintaining the system as your process changes.
Should freed-up hours count as savings?
Only if they replace overtime, avoid a hire or move to work that earns more. If people simply have more time, count it as capacity. You can test this by entering a lower share.
Does this calculator save what I enter?
No. The sums run in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. If you choose to send your numbers to our team, they appear in the form first, so you can see and edit them.
How is this different from the project estimate?
The project estimate gives ranges for what a build could cost and how long it could take. This calculator shows whether the savings justify that cost. Many people use the estimate first, then bring its figure here.
Want a second opinion on your numbers?
Tell us about the process and what you entered. We will tell you whether the case holds and where we would start.