Growth decision tools
Marketing Automation ROI Calculator
Build a business case for one recurring workflow. Include review, exceptions and ongoing cost, and keep recovered capacity separate from cash savings.
Automation business case
Separate recovered capacity, realizable cash benefit, full cost and payback.
Recovered time is capacity. It becomes cash savings only when costs actually change.
Set your assumptions
Automation business case
Illustrative sampleRecovered capacity and realizable cash benefit are distinct, with every stated implementation/run cost included.
Monetary amounts use USD; no exchange-rate conversion. Display values are rounded to two decimals. CSV exports retain returned numeric values.
- Gross capacity valuation
- $24,900
- Annual modeled cash benefit
- $0
- Full first-year costs
- $9,700
- First-year net cash impact
- -$9,700
- Cash payback
- Not within12months
- Modeled cash ROI
- Not monetized
Adoption and cash schedule
| Month | Adoption% | Recovered hours | Cash benefit | Run cost | Cumulative net cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 350 | -5,850 |
| 2 | 50 | 28 | 0 | 350 | -6,200 |
| 3 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -6,550 |
| 4 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -6,900 |
| 5 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -7,250 |
| 6 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -7,600 |
| 7 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -7,950 |
| 8 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -8,300 |
| 9 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -8,650 |
| 10 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -9,000 |
| 11 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -9,350 |
| 12 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 350 | -9,700 |
Assumptions and limits
Assumptions used
- Editable scenario inputs; not measured outcomes or benchmarks.
- Build and training charged once; platform/model/maintenance charged every month. Negative recovered effort is included as added loaded labor cost.
- Cash realization is an explicit user assumption, not staff-reduction evidence. No double-counting review/exception effort as both saved time and cash savings.
What this does not establish
- No guarantee of business results.
- Payback is only checked in this12month schedule; no extrapolated guarantee. Capacity value is not cash.
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Hours returned are valuable, but they are not automatically cash saved
A lead-routing, reporting or lifecycle workflow can consume substantial recurring effort. An automation proposal needs more than the cost of the model call. Include adoption, human approvals, exceptions, maintenance and the actual use of the time that becomes available.
Method and assumptions
Estimate monthly instances and manual handling time. Apply realistic automation coverage and adoption, then subtract review and exception work. Multiply recovered hours by the loaded labor rate for capacity value. Calculate implementation and recurring operating costs separately. Only call a benefit cash savings when a corresponding cash expense actually changes.
An illustrative example
An illustrative workflow with 1,000 monthly instances and six manual minutes starts with 100 hours of effort. If only half the handling can be automated, the upper starting point is 50 hours before adoption, review and rework. Hosting, maintenance and implementation costs can make the first-year cash case negative even when capacity improves.
Turn the result into a useful next step
Choose one workflow, measure the current baseline and define an exception owner. Run a bounded pilot, inspect quality and realized time, and replace assumptions with observations. I personally design and deploy automation and AI-agent workflows, with optional ongoing monitoring and improvement.
What the result can establish
Estimated time value is not a headcount reduction or guaranteed economic return. The model does not certify an AI system’s accuracy, safety, reliability or autonomy. A negative benefit or no positive monthly net saving means there is no modeled cash payback.
Questions before you use the result
Are recovered hours the same as cash savings?
No. Recovered time is capacity. Cash savings require an actual reduction in expense or another explicitly measured monetizable benefit.
Which costs should I include?
Implementation, platform and model usage, maintenance, human review, exception handling and any additional recurring support cost.
What if payback is never reached?
A workflow can still improve capacity or quality, but it should not be sold as a positive cash-return project. Review its purpose and alternatives.
Can this decide whether an AI agent is safe?
No. The business case complements a separate assessment of permissions, data handling, failures, approvals and operational monitoring.
Do I need to leave my email to use the result?
No. The core tool works without an email gate. Contacting me about an engagement is an optional next step.
Who delivers the consulting work?
I do. I personally lead and deliver the agreed work. Your business retains its own responsibilities and access approvals; the scope is agreed with me directly.
Connect the decision to action
Work with me on the next decision
I personally review the business problem, agree the scope with you and deliver the work. Bring the questions the tool helped you identify.