roi·August 5, 2026·5 min read
How to calculate the real ROI of an AI project
A simple model for hours saved, error costs avoided and payback period — without optimistic vendor maths.
The three numbers that matter
1. Hours saved. Cases per month × minutes per case × automation rate.
2. Quality gains. Errors per month × cost per error × expected reduction.
3. Total cost. Licences, integration, change management and internal time — for twelve months, not one.
Payback period Divide the implementation cost by the monthly net benefit. Anything under nine months is a strong case in an SME context; anything over eighteen months needs a strategic reason.
Be honest about adoption A tool used by 40% of the team delivers 40% of the benefit. Model adoption explicitly instead of assuming it.
Use the evolvAI ROI calculator to run these numbers for your own processes in two minutes.