{"head":{"title":"Workflow Automation ROI Calculator | OceanLab","description":"Work out the payback of automating a workflow from runs per month, minutes per run, the share automated and the errors it removes, with a sensitivity row.","canonical":"https://oceanlab.in/tools/workflow-automation-roi"},"tool":{"slug":"workflow-automation-roi","path":"/tools/workflow-automation-roi","name":"Workflow automation ROI","h1":"Workflow automation ROI calculator","lede":"Enter how often a workflow runs, how long it takes and how often it goes wrong, and see the payback of automating it.","category":"decisions","categoryTitle":"Plan and decide","method":["Hours saved per month = runs × minutes per run × share automated ÷ 60.","Error saving per month = runs × error rate × errors removed × cost per error.","Net monthly saving = hours saved × loaded hourly cost + error saving − running cost. Payback = build cost ÷ net monthly saving.","The sensitivity row repeats the result with the saving 25% lower and higher. The defaults are example inputs, not benchmarks."],"sources":[],"faq":[{"question":"Should I count error savings?","answer":"Yes, if errors cost you money: rework, refunds, late fees or penalties. Leave the cost per error at 0 if you cannot put a number on it."},{"question":"Why not automate 100%?","answer":"Most workflows keep exceptions and checks that people handle. Measure the share on a pilot."},{"question":"How is this different from the AI automation ROI calculator?","answer":"That one looks at one task done by AI. This one adds error costs and a sensitivity row for any automated workflow, AI or not."},{"question":"Is anything I enter sent anywhere?","answer":"No. The tool runs in your browser and there is no sign-up. Nothing leaves the page unless you choose to email your result to OceanLab."}],"updatedAt":"2026-10-25"},"related":[{"href":"/tools/ai-automation-roi","label":"AI automation ROI","detail":"Put in one task your team does by hand and see the monthly saving, the payback period and the net result over three years."},{"href":"/tools/internal-tool-roi","label":"Internal tool ROI","detail":"Enter who will use the tool and how much time it saves them each day, and see the payback period and the net result."},{"href":"/tools/build-vs-buy","label":"Build vs buy","detail":"Compare SaaS seats with a custom build year by year, find the break-even point, and check the reasons that are not about cost."}],"studies":[{"meta":{"slug":"dawuro","industry":"internal","projectType":"Approval workflow engine","country":"gh","tags":["enterprise"],"compliances":["Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843)","Public Procurement Act (Act 663, as amended)","L.I. 2516 procurement thresholds","Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921)","Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772)","Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989)"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/dawuro/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Dawuro - Approval Workflow Engine for a Ghanaian Public University","description":"Designed and built a clickable approval workflow engine for a public university in Accra: request forms routed by amount, cost centre and the department hierarchy, an approvals inbox and two-tap decision screen designed phone first, delegation and out-of-office cover, and a route and history on every request that shows who approved what, and when.","category":"Internal Tools / Approval Workflows","client":"Kpeshie Ridge University"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"pravah","industry":"accounting","projectType":"Accounts payable automation","country":"in","tags":["fintech","tax","enterprise"],"compliances":["CGST Act 2017","GST e-invoicing","E-way bills","Income-tax Act (TDS)","Section 43B(h)","MSMED Act 2006","DPDP Act 2023"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/pravah/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Pravah - Accounts Payable Automation with GST, TDS and MSME Rules Built In","description":"Designed and built a clickable accounts payable platform for an Indian auto components maker with four plants and a GSTIN in each state: invoice capture with field confidence, three-way matching against POs and goods receipts, GST and TDS per invoice, MSME due dates from the acceptance date, an exceptions queue and GSTR-2B reconciliation.","category":"Accounting & Tax / Accounts Payable Automation","client":"Vindhya Auto Components Ltd"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"sampan","industry":"banking","projectType":"KYC refresh automation","country":"hk","tags":["fintech","enterprise","saas"],"compliances":["AMLO Cap. 615","HKMA AML/CFT Guideline","Companies Ordinance Cap. 622","UNSO Cap. 537","UNATMO Cap. 575","PDPO Cap. 486","Code of Banking Practice","WCAG 2.1 AA"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/sampan/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Sampan - KYC Refresh Platform for Periodic and Trigger Reviews","description":"Designed and built a clickable KYC refresh platform for a Hong Kong bank's existing customers: periodic reviews by risk tier, reviews opened by trigger events, pre-filled case files that show what changed, risk re-rating and a fair, documented ladder for customers who do not respond.","category":"Banking / KYC & Compliance Operations","client":"Lantern Peak Bank"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"kladde","industry":"accounting","projectType":"SME bookkeeping with AI","country":"de","tags":["fintech","tax","ai","saas"],"compliances":["GoBD","UStG (§14, §13b, §19)","EN 16931 e-invoicing","AO and HGB retention","StBerG","PSD2","GDPR"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/kladde/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Kladde - AI Bookkeeping for German Freelancers and Small Firms","description":"Designed and built a clickable AI bookkeeping product for German freelancers, sole traders and small GmbHs: a bank feed with a suggested booking and confidence score on every payment, a receipt inbox that validates e-invoices and checks §14 UStG fields, and a VAT advance return previewed box by box and submitted through ELSTER.","category":"Accounting & Tax / SME Bookkeeping","client":"Brückstein Software GmbH"}}}],"more":[{"href":"/case-studies/industry/internal","label":"Internal tools & ops case studies","detail":"Every OceanLab product build in Internal tools & ops."},{"href":"/case-studies/industry/accounting","label":"Accounting & tax case studies","detail":"Every OceanLab product build in Accounting & tax."},{"href":"/case-studies","label":"All case studies","detail":"Every OceanLab product build."},{"href":"/ai-automation","label":"AI automation","detail":"AI built into real business workflows, with people in charge."}],"today":"2026-10-25"}