Automation & digital products
Automation ROI & Readiness Calculator
Estimate released capacity, cash savings, costs, payback and 36-month return.
Current process
What automation changes
Costs and delivery
Process readiness
These answers are independent of the financial model. A good ROI does not establish that a process is ready to automate.
Capacity and cash at full operation
36-month business case
View monthly cash flow
| Month | Ramp | Cash benefit | Running cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0% | ₹0 | ₹0 | -₹3,50,000 |
| 2 | 0% | ₹0 | ₹0 | -₹3,50,000 |
| 3 | 33% | ₹18,125 | ₹21,000 | -₹3,52,875 |
| 4 | 67% | ₹36,250 | ₹21,000 | -₹3,37,625 |
| 5 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹3,04,250 |
| 6 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹2,70,875 |
| 7 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹2,37,500 |
| 8 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹2,04,125 |
| 9 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹1,70,750 |
| 10 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹1,37,375 |
| 11 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹1,04,000 |
| 12 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹70,625 |
| 13 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹37,250 |
| 14 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | -₹3,875 |
| 15 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹29,500 |
| 16 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹62,875 |
| 17 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹96,250 |
| 18 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹1,29,625 |
| 19 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹1,63,000 |
| 20 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹1,96,375 |
| 21 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹2,29,750 |
| 22 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹2,63,125 |
| 23 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹2,96,500 |
| 24 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹3,29,875 |
| 25 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹3,63,250 |
| 26 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹3,96,625 |
| 27 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹4,30,000 |
| 28 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹4,63,375 |
| 29 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹4,96,750 |
| 30 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹5,30,125 |
| 31 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹5,63,500 |
| 32 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹5,96,875 |
| 33 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹6,30,250 |
| 34 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹6,63,625 |
| 35 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹6,97,000 |
| 36 | 100% | ₹54,375 | ₹21,000 | ₹7,30,375 |
Break-even check
Compare this with the share of tasks that can reliably be automated.
Pilot readiness
Readiness not established- Unknown: System access, permissions and data handling are approvedConfirm evidence and assign an owner before a pilot.
- Action needed: Pilot acceptance criteria and an accountable process owner are agreedConfirm evidence and assign an owner before a pilot.
Assumptions to review
- Capacity value is released work time. Only the cash-realized share of positive capacity is counted as cash benefit. Net added labour is charged in full at the loaded hourly cost.
- Volume and costs remain constant. Implementation is paid at month 0; running costs start at launch. No taxes, financing or new revenue are included.
How to calculate workflow automation ROI
Build an automation business case that distinguishes released staff capacity from cash savings. The calculator includes human review, exceptions, implementation cost and ongoing maintenance rather than assuming every saved hour reduces spending.
- Enter monthly task volume, handling time and loaded hourly cost. Set the automation share, exception rate, review effort and the share of released time you can realise as cash savings.
- Add implementation and monthly running costs, maintenance effort, launch delay, ramp-up and an annual discount rate.
- Compare released hours, cash benefits, payback, 36-month ROI and net present value. Review the self-reported pilot-readiness checklist and export the cash-flow model.
When to use this tool
- Evaluating repetitive invoice, reporting or back-office workflows before committing implementation spend.
- Comparing a capacity-improvement case with an expense-reduction case.
- Testing how exception handling, maintenance or a slower launch changes the investment case.
For a source-validated engagement, explore our Workflow Automation service.
Method and limitations
Attempted tasks = monthly volume × automation share. Successful tasks = attempted tasks × (1 − exception rate). Net hours released = successful tasks × (manual minutes − review minutes) ÷ 60 − exception tasks × extra exception minutes ÷ 60. Positive cash benefit = hours released × loaded hourly cost × cash realisation share. Net added labour is charged in full, without reducing it by the realisation share. Running cost includes software and maintenance labour. Ramp-up scales benefits linearly after launch; full running costs apply from launch. ROI = (36-month cash benefits − total costs) ÷ total costs. NPV discounts each month's net cash using the annual rate, with implementation paid at month 0. A separate self-reported checklist flags process, access and pilot-preparation gaps; it does not certify readiness.
Released time becomes cash saving only when an expense is avoided or removed; enter the share you can realise. The model assumes constant volumes and costs. It excludes tax, financing, new revenue and unentered rework costs. Payback is the first cumulative break-even within 36 months and can later reverse if the scenario changes.
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Common questions
Why are capacity value and cash savings different?
Saving time does not automatically reduce payroll or other spending. Capacity value shows the value of released hours; cash realisation specifies the portion that becomes an actual avoided expense.
Are exceptions and human review included?
Yes. Review effort reduces the saving on successful tasks, and extra exception effort adds work. Exceptions retain the original manual handling time in addition to the extra effort you enter.
What does ‘payback not reached’ mean?
The cumulative cash balance never becomes non-negative during the 36-month model. It is not proof that payback can never occur.
Take the result further.
Work with SCULTRA to validate the evidence and turn the findings into a practical next step.