ROI and business case
How to calculate the ROI of automating a process with AI
The best time to calculate the ROI of an automation is before you start building it. It is not just financial prudence: it is what separates the projects that survive from those that get canceled.
Why the business case is decisive
Gartner forecasts that more than 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled before the end of 2027, largely due to unclear business value. And it is not a new problem: Stanford HAI’s AI Index 2025 notes that, despite corporate AI investment of $252.3 billion in 2024, the real return on many deployments remains unclear. The conclusion is clear: without a baseline figure, the project wobbles.
The basic formula
Multiply the number of cases per month by the average time each takes and by the team’s cost per hour. Apply the percentage of the process that can be automated and you get the estimated monthly saving.
- Hours/month = (cases per month × minutes per case) ÷ 60
- Saving/month = hours/month × % automatable × cost per hour
- Payback = project cost ÷ monthly saving
Where the biggest value is
McKinsey estimates generative AI could add between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion annually, concentrating most of the value in four areas: customer operations, marketing and sales, software engineering and R&D. If you are looking for where to start, prioritize high-volume processes in those functions.
Beyond the hours
Time savings are only one part. A good automation also reduces errors, speeds up customer response and frees your team for higher-value work. Watch also the hidden cost of traditional RPA: between 70% and 75% of spend goes on implementation and maintenance, according to industry data. A platform that adapts to change reduces that drag.
In high-volume processes, payback with Twinny usually arrives in under 6 months.
Calculate it in seconds
We built an ROI calculator: move four sliders and it gives you the monthly and annual saving plus the hours freed. If you want, we send you the detailed calculation and a business case for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Why are so many AI projects canceled?
According to Gartner, more than 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled before 2027, mainly due to costs and unclear business value. A business case upfront prevents it.
Which processes give the most ROI?
High-volume ones with many manual steps between systems. McKinsey places the biggest value in customer operations, marketing and sales, software and R&D.
How long does it take to recover the investment?
In high-volume processes, usually under 6 months. It depends on volume and the current cost of the process.
References
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