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Use the AI Traction formula to estimate potential returns from automating your business processes. Input your current costs and see projected savings.
Hours spent per task
0.5 hours
Tasks per month
Hourly labor cost ($)
$
Expected automation rate (%)
70%
Current Monthly Cost
$15,000
Projected Monthly Savings
$10,500
Projected Annual Savings
$126,000
Est. Payback Period
2 months
Customer Service
0.25h / task
5,000 tasks/month
$25/hour
70% automation
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Invoice Processing
0.5h / task
1,000 tasks/month
$35/hour
85% automation
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Content Creation
4h / task
100 tasks/month
$50/hour
60% automation
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AI Traction = (Automation Savings) + (Augmentation Revenue). This calculator focuses on automation savings - the cost reduction from AI handling repetitive tasks. For complete ROI including revenue augmentation, explore the full framework in the book.
FAQ
Start by identifying repetitive processes: document processing, customer inquiries, data entry, report generation. Calculate current costs (hours × rate × volume). Estimate automation rate (typically 60-85% for structured tasks). Subtract AI implementation costs for net ROI.
Automation rates vary by task type: Structured data tasks (invoices, forms): 80-95%. Customer service inquiries: 60-80%. Content generation: 50-70%. Complex decision-making: 30-50%. Start conservative and adjust based on results.
Include: AI software/API costs, integration development, training time, ongoing maintenance, and change management. Don't forget to factor in: reduced errors, faster processing, improved customer satisfaction, and employee reallocation to higher-value work.
Most successful AI projects achieve payback within 6-18 months. Quick wins (chatbots, document processing) often payback in 3-6 months. Complex integrations may take 12-24 months but deliver larger long-term returns.
Complete Framework
Discover the complete AI Traction framework with 50+ case studies in the book
