Begin with gross task cost
Estimate the people, hours, frequency, and fully loaded labor rate associated with the current task. This is the baseline exposure, not the expected benefit.
Apply automation and adoption separately
The share of a task that can be automated differs from the share of users who sustain the new workflow. Both reduce realized benefit.
Use a financial capture rate
Released capacity becomes value only when it avoids hiring, reduces paid labor, increases measurable throughput, or is redeployed to evidenced work.
Model cash flow, not a headline ratio
Implementation cost, recurring support, ramp time, benefit growth, discount rate, NPV, IRR, and payback provide a more reviewable decision.
Apply the method
The related Greywake application exposes the inputs, assumptions, and output structure described in this article.