How to read this calculation
The calculator makes no assumptions on your behalf. It applies simple arithmetic to the figures you enter:
- occurrences per year = your frequency scaled up to a year, based on the period you chose;
- hours per year = occurrences per year x duration in minutes, divided by 60;
- annual cost = hours per year x cost of an hour of work;
- potential savings = annual cost x automatable share.
The result is an order of magnitude, not a quote. Its value isn't in dirham-precise accuracy, but in putting a number on something that usually stays invisible in the books, because that time is already paid for through salaries.
The classic mistake on hourly cost
Many business owners enter the net salary. That's the main bias that leads to underestimating the real cost. An hour of work costs the company the gross salary, plus employer contributions, plus the share of fixed overhead that person consumes. If you're unsure, take the monthly gross salary, add about a third, then divide by the number of hours worked in the month.
What this calculation doesn't measure
Two effects stay outside the number shown, and they both push in the same direction. First, the cost of errors: repeated manual entry produces mistakes, and fixing them takes time that isn't counted here. Second, the opportunity cost: hours freed up don't disappear, they shift toward higher-value work. On the other hand, the calculation also ignores the cost of setting up and maintaining the automation, which needs to be weighed against it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the ROI of an automation?
Start with the time actually spent on the task. Count how many times it's done, per day, week, or month, then how many minutes it takes each time. That gives you a number of hours per year. Multiplied by the cost of an hour of work, it gives the annual cost of the task. The gain corresponds to the share of that time that an automation could take over.
What should I put as the cost of an hour of work?
It's the real cost of an hour of work for the company, not the net salary. It includes gross salary, employer contributions, and overhead. If you don't know it precisely, take the monthly gross salary, add about a third, then divide by the number of hours worked in the month.
What share of the task can be automated?
It depends entirely on the task. Data entry that's identical every time lends itself to near-complete automation. A task that requires human judgment at every step lends itself much less. The calculator's slider is deliberately left open: set it to whatever seems realistic for your case.
Is the calculator's result a commitment from Powabu?
No. The calculator applies an arithmetic formula to assumptions you enter yourself. It's meant to put a rough figure on the problem and help you decide whether it's worth digging into. A real estimate requires looking at your tools, your volumes, and your constraints.
Do I have to pay or leave my email to use the calculator?
No. The calculation is free and the result appears immediately, with no sign-up. Your contact details are only requested if you want to receive the detailed report by email.