Everyone is talking about AI, but few are measuring it. This guide gives you a concrete framework to calculate the real impact of AI on your bottom line.
The Hype vs. The Ledger
Investing in AI tools—whether it's ChatGPT Plus, Midjourney, or custom automation—costs money and time. If you aren't tracking the return, it's just a shiny toy.
We move past the buzzwords to look at hard metrics: time saved, output increased, and error rates reduced.
The ROI Formula
We break down a simple calculator you can use today:
- Step 1: Baseline Measurement. How long does a task take manually? What is the hourly cost of the person doing it?
- Step 2: AI Implementation Cost. Subscription fees + implementation time + training time.
- Step 3: New Output Measurement. Time taken with AI + quality check time.
- Step 4: The Net Gain. (Old Cost - New Cost) - Implementation Cost = Your AI Profit.
"AI isn't magic; it's math. If the numbers don't work, the tool doesn't stay."
Where to Start
We suggest starting with high-volume, low-creativity tasks. Data entry, initial drafting, and customer support triage are the gold mines for immediate ROI.
This guide includes a downloadable spreadsheet template to help you audit your team's workflows and identify the highest-leverage opportunities for automation.