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# How to calculate the ROI of a process automation project
- URL: https://blog.jestor.com/how-to-calculate-the-roi-of-a-process-automation-project/
- Published: 2026-05-29T23:18:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-29T23:18:05.000Z
- Author: Bruno Bannach

Suggested slug: calculate-roi-process-automation Main keyword: ROI process automation

# How to calculate the ROI of a process automation project

Calculating the ROI of a process automation project starts by measuring the current cost of the manual process — in work hours, corrected errors, and delays — and comparing it with the cost of automation plus the hours saved. In most cases, payback occurs in under three months for processes with a high volume of repetitive tasks.

## Why many companies don't calculate ROI before automating

The most common mistake is treating automation as an efficiency cost without a baseline. The company implements it, feels it "got easier," but can't quantify how much was gained because the before wasn't measured.

Calculating ROI requires measuring before automating. Even a rough estimate — hours spent per week multiplied by cost per hour — is enough to make the decision with greater confidence.

## How to calculate process automation ROI — step by step

- **Map the current process cost:**

\- How many hours per week does the process consume from the team? - How many people are involved? - What's the average cost per hour for those people? - Is there an estimable cost of errors or rework?

- **Calculate the automation cost:**

\- Monthly platform license (per user or per plan) - Configuration time (team hours during implementation) - Estimated maintenance (hours per month for adjustments)

- **Estimate the reduction:**

\- What % of current hours will be eliminated by automation? - Is there an error reduction that translates to avoided cost?

- **Calculate the payback:** divide the total implementation cost by the estimated monthly savings

## Simplified example

An approval process that consumes 10 hours/week from two analysts at $30/hour = $2,400/month. If automation eliminates 70% of hours = $1,680/month saved. With a platform at $400/month, payback occurs in the first month.

## How Jestor makes ROI measurement easier

- Dashboards with volume and time per process before and after automation
- SLA tracked per step with history — data to calculate time reduction
- Chat with Data to query historical metrics in natural language

## Frequently asked questions

**Is there a ready-made spreadsheet to calculate process automation ROI?** Yes. The Jestor team can support the calculation during platform evaluation. Visit [jestor.com](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com).

**Which process has the fastest ROI to automate first?** Processes with a high volume of manual tasks and low variability — accounts payable approvals, internal request triage, onboarding.

**How do you measure ROI of automations that reduce errors, not just hours?** Estimate the average cost of an error — rework, reversal, penalty — and multiply by the frequency of errors before automation. This value enters the ROI equation.

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With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect departments, and build internal systems your way — all without code and with AI support. Discover Jestor at [jestor.com](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) and take your business operations to a new level of efficiency and integration.