"Will automation pay off?" is the right question to ask. The answer is usually yes, but you should see the numbers before committing.
The simple formula
Monthly savings = hours saved per month x hourly cost of the person doing it
ROI = (monthly savings x 12 - project cost) / project cost
A worked example
A team member spends 2 hours a day entering orders and sending updates.
- Hours saved: 2 hours x 22 working days = 44 hours a month
- Hourly cost including overhead: 600 BDT
- Monthly savings: 44 x 600 = 26,400 BDT
- Yearly savings: 316,800 BDT
If the automation costs 80,000 BDT to build, the ROI is roughly 3x in the first year, and it pays for itself in about three months.
Don't forget the hidden gains
The formula only counts time. Real projects usually add:
- Fewer errors such as wrong addresses, missed orders and double bookings
- Faster responses that win more leads
- Happier staff who spend time on meaningful work
- Scalability: handling twice the volume without hiring
Start with the highest-value task
List your repetitive tasks, estimate the hours each one takes, and rank them. The top of that list is where automation returns the most.
In our free automation audit we do this exercise with you and give you a clear, numbers-first plan.
Ready to automate?
Ellevix builds AI automations, websites and custom software for growing businesses. Book a free automation audit and we'll show you where automation saves the most time, or contact our team.