— Tool · Free
AI automation ROI calculator.
— In short
A free calculator for the business case behind an AI automation project. Enter the hours it would save each week, the loaded hourly rate of the people doing that work, how many people benefit, the size of the work and the ramp time. You get the year-one value, build cost, payback period and 12-month ROI for four sizes of engagement, from light tool setup to a multi-team rollout. Build costs use SolvSpot starting prices.
Hours saved per week
8 hrs
Loaded hourly rate (USD)
$75/hr
Team members benefiting
5 people
Size of the work
Ramp time (weeks to full capacity)
2 wks
— Recommended: Single automation
Year-1 value
$147k
2.0k hrs saved
Payback
2 wks
Build: $4.8k
12-mo ROI
29.6×
Vs. build cost
Steady-state value (year 2+, no ramp): $150k per year.
— Compare across paths
Tool setup and light automation
Not recommended$1.5kbuild · 1 wk payback
Year 1: $147k · Steady: $150k
Your scope goes beyond configuring existing tools. A custom automation fits better.
Single automation
★ Best fit$4.8kbuild · 2 wks payback
Year 1: $147k · Steady: $150k
AI implementation program
Not recommended$12.8kbuild · 1 mo payback
Year 1: $147k · Steady: $150k
A single automation covers this. A program is for three or more connected workflows.
Multi-team rollout (custom)
Not recommended$35kbuild · 3 mo payback
Year 1: $147k · Steady: $150k
A single automation or a program covers your scope.
Build costs use SolvSpot starting prices, so your quote may be higher. 50 working weeks a year, linear ramp. Real returns depend on the workflow and on how well the team adopts it.
— Want a second opinion?
Payback in 2 wks. Want us to check the assumptions?
Leave your email and we'll reply with an honest read of these numbers: what looks right, what we'd question, and what it would cost with us.
One reply from a person. No newsletter. Or book a free call.
— Methodology
The four sizes map to SolvSpot starting prices: tool setup and light automation (from $1,500), a single automation (from $4,800, one workflow in production in about two weeks), an AI implementation program (from $12,800, several connected workflows with shared monitoring), and a multi-team rollout (illustrated at $35,000, always quoted individually). Your own quote may be higher than the starting price, so treat payback as a best case.
Annual value uses 50 working weeks per year (allowing 2 weeks for holidays / PTO). Ramp time is modelled linearly: during ramp the automation delivers ~50% of full-capacity hours, reaching steady state at the end of the ramp period.
Payback period = build cost ÷ weekly steady-state value. ROI multiple = (year-1 value − build cost) ÷ build cost. Steady- state year-2+ value excludes ramp losses — the recurring annual return once the automation is fully adopted.
For the framework behind which automation belongs at which tier, see When to build vs buy AI automation and What it actually costs to run an AI automation in production.
— Want an exact number?
A calculator gives a range. We give a quote.
A free 20-minute call is enough for us to understand the workflow and follow up with a fixed price and timeline in writing.