Quick reference
| Setting | Value / behavior |
|---|---|
| Hours saved | tasks × minutes ÷ 60 × success rate |
| Net monthly value | hours × hourly value − operating cost |
| Simple payback | setup cost ÷ positive monthly net |
| First-year net | monthly net × 12 − setup cost |
Measure the work you can actually remove
Start with the number of tasks performed in a typical month and the minutes eliminated by a successful automation. Exclude time that remains necessary, such as final approval, exception handling or data preparation. Multiply by a realistic success rate rather than assuming every task completes perfectly. A short pilot with observed timings is more informative than a best-case demonstration. Use the same currency for labor value, recurring costs and setup cost.
Formula and example
Hours saved equals tasks per month multiplied by minutes saved per task, divided by 60, then multiplied by success rate divided by 100. Gross monthly value is saved hours multiplied by the value per hour. Net monthly value subtracts recurring operating cost. At 500 tasks, 10 minutes saved, 80 percent success and a value of 30 per hour, the tool estimates 66.67 hours and 2,000 gross value per month. Subtracting 100 operating cost gives 1,900 net. With 1,000 setup cost, simple payback is about 0.53 months.
Include the less visible costs
Recurring costs can include model usage, hosting, monitoring and ongoing maintenance. Setup cost can include implementation, migration, documentation and training. Add the cost of human review to either the saved-time assumption or operating cost, avoiding double counting. Failed runs can create cleanup work, so a success percentage alone may not capture every downside. The annual result assumes twelve identical months and subtracts the one-time setup cost once. It does not include discounting, taxes, financing, staff changes or seasonal traffic.
Use the estimate to compare options
Run a conservative scenario with fewer tasks, a lower success rate and higher operating cost. Compare it with a measured baseline before spending money. Saved staff time creates capacity; it does not automatically become a cash saving or justify reducing a team. Payback is shown only when the net monthly value is positive, because a non-positive value cannot repay setup cost under this simple model. All inputs stay in your browser, and the results are planning arithmetic rather than a promise of financial returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why is payback null?
The model cannot recover setup cost when monthly net value is zero or negative.
Does saved time equal saved cash?
Not necessarily. It can create capacity without reducing cash expenditure.
Can I use EUR or RON?
Yes. Keep all monetary inputs in the same currency.
About this tool
Built and maintained by Mihai at Void Fabric. This page documents the behavior of the current implementation. Found an error or an unclear assumption? Send a reproducible example with sensitive values removed.
Reference: Void Fabric field notes · Testing and editorial policy