DE Contact Review your process

Intro

Process ROI calculator: what does automation really save?

Before you invest in an automation, you want to know whether it pays off. This calculator estimates in a few minutes how much time and money an automated process saves per year and after how long the effort pays back. It works with your own numbers, without needing prices from us. The result is an honest ballpark you can argue with internally and use to prioritize the first pilot.

Contact Review your process

What comes in: Current process, Time per case, Volume, Error rate, Systems, People involved. Assessment. Where it lands: Process list, ROI estimate, Roadmap, First pilot.

Interactive tool

Process ROI calculator

The calculator estimates how much time and money an automated process saves per year and after how long the effort pays back.

runs
Frequency unit
minutes
people
€
%

What share of the time falls away after automation.

%

Deducted from the automation share.

%

For the error-cost add-on.

minutes

For the error-cost add-on.

€

If empty, the calculator shows only the annual saving and no payback.

€

Your result

Hours saved per year
130 h
Cost saved per year (net)
6,500 €
Payback time
only with implementation effort and a positive net saving
ROI over 12 months
only with implementation effort

This process saves roughly 130 hours and 6,500 euros per year.

  • Without an implementation effort the calculator shows only the annual saving and no payback.

How we workServices

Review your process

All values are estimates based on your inputs and do not replace an assessment. No prices from us are included, the implementation effort is your own assumption.

The calculation runs only in your browser, nothing is transmitted or stored.

How the tool calculates
  • Runs per year: per day times 220 working days, per week times 52, per month times 12 (runsYear).
  • Manual minutes per year = runsYear times handling time times number of employees.
  • Manual hours per year = manual minutes per year divided by 60.
  • Manual cost per year = manual hours per year times hourly rate.
  • Net automation share = automation share minus remaining-time share, at least 0, at most 100.
  • Hours saved per year = manual hours per year times net automation share divided by 100.
  • Personnel cost saved per year = hours saved per year times hourly rate.
  • Error-cost add-on per year (optional) = runsYear times (error rate divided by 100) times (rework time divided by 60) times hourly rate times (net automation share divided by 100).
  • Operating cost per year = ongoing operating cost per month times 12.
  • Net saving per year = personnel cost saved per year plus error-cost add-on per year minus operating cost per year.
  • Payback time in months = one-time implementation effort divided by (net saving per year divided by 12); only if implementation effort is greater than 0 and net saving is positive.
  • ROI over 12 months in percent = (net saving per year minus one-time implementation effort) divided by one-time implementation effort times 100; only if implementation effort is greater than 0.

Assumptions

  • 220 working days per year, 52 weeks, 12 months.
  • The implementation effort is your own assumption, no prices from us are included in the calculator.
  • Defaults in the fields (20 runs per week, 15 minutes, 1 person, 50 euros, 50 percent) are example values, not benchmarks.

Recognize your own workflow here? Talk to us directly via our booking calendar, or write to info@prozessautomatisierung.co.

How the calculator thinks

The calculator compares the manual cost of a process today with the remaining cost after automation and relates the one-time implementation to it. You enter how often the process runs, how long one run takes and what a working hour costs. On top you estimate what share the automation takes over. From that come the annual time and cost savings, the payback time and a simple ROI over twelve months.

Input fields

  • Process name (free text, for orientation only).
  • Frequency: how often the process runs (count per day, week or month, unit selectable).
  • Handling time per run in minutes (manual, today).
  • Number of employees involved per run (default 1).
  • Hourly rate (fully loaded cost per working hour in euros).
  • Automation share in percent (what share of the time falls away after automation).
  • Remaining-time share for review and exceptions in percent (optional, deducted from the saving).
  • Error rate today in percent and average rework time per error in minutes (optional, for the error-cost add-on).
  • One-time implementation effort as an estimate in euros (optional; if empty, the calculator shows only the annual saving and no payback).
  • Ongoing operating cost per month in euros (optional).

Calculation logic

  1. Normalize runs per year

    perDay times 220 working days, perWeek times 52, perMonth times 12. Result is runsYear.

  2. Manual minutes per year = runsYear times handling time times number of employees.

  3. Manual hours per year = manual minutes per year divided by 60.

  4. Manual cost per year = manual hours per year times hourly rate.

  5. Net automation share = automation share minus remaining-time share, at least 0, at most 100.

  6. Hours saved per year = manual hours per year times net automation share divided by 100.

  7. Personnel cost saved per year = hours saved per year times hourly rate.

  8. Error-cost add-on per year (optional) = runsYear times (error rate divided by 100) times (rework time divided by 60) times hourly rate times (net automation share divided by 100).

  9. Operating cost per year = ongoing operating cost per month times 12.

  10. Net saving per year = personnel cost saved per year plus error-cost add-on per year minus operating cost per year.

  11. Payback time in months = one-time implementation effort divided by (net saving per year divided by 12); show only if implementation effort is greater than 0 and net saving is positive.

  12. ROI over 12 months in percent = (net saving per year minus one-time implementation effort) divided by one-time implementation effort times 100; show only if implementation effort is greater than 0.

Output

The calculator clearly shows four figures: hours saved per year, cost saved per year (net), payback time in months and ROI over twelve months. Plus a plain-text line, for example "This process saves roughly X hours and Y euros per year and pays back in about Z months." All values are estimates based on your inputs and do not replace an assessment. A note makes clear that no prices from us are included and that the implementation effort is your own assumption.

From calculator to pilot

The calculator gives you a direction, the assessment gives you certainty. If a process looks good on paper, we map it more closely in the process assessment, check systems, exceptions and integration and prove the ROI on the real pilot. That turns an estimate into a result you have seen. More on How a project runs and Services for process automation.

Ready to get your process moving? Book directly via our booking calendar, alternatively info@prozessautomatisierung.co.

Book a strategy call

Straight into the calendar

Book your strategy call via the calendar: Book a strategy call. Alternatively, reach us by email at info@prozessautomatisierung.co.

Or send an email to info@prozessautomatisierung.co

Review your process

FAQ

How accurate is the calculator?
It gives a solid ballpark, not a guarantee. Accuracy depends on your inputs, above all handling time, frequency and automation share. For a solid figure we map the process more closely in the assessment and check exceptions and integration, which the calculator deliberately simplifies.
Why does the calculator not ask for prices from you?
Because the implementation effort depends on the specific process and we do not quote flat prices. You can enter your own assumption to see payback and ROI, or leave the field empty and focus on the annual saving. We place the real effort in the strategy call.
Can I compare several processes?
Yes. Run the main candidates one after another and compare hours saved, saving and payback time. That way you find the process with the fastest ROI, which best suits the first pilot. This prioritization is exactly the point of the calculator.
Does the calculator also account for error costs?
Yes, optionally. If you enter the error rate and rework time, the calculator adds the saved error costs proportionally. Especially in accounting and order handling this matters, because avoided errors are often worth more than time savings alone.