What does AI automation actually cost?

Almost every automation provider hides the price behind a "book a call" button. We understand why, because the honest answer is "it depends," but that is not helpful when you are trying to plan. So here is the real version: what drives the cost, how a sensible build works, and how to know if it pays for itself before you commit.

A good build is not a blind leap. It starts with a short discovery that ends in a fixed scope and a fixed price, so there are no surprises. The work is then delivered in weekly sprints, so you see progress every week instead of waiting months for a big reveal. At handover you get the source code and a runbook. After that, an optional monthly retainer keeps automating the next workflow in priority order.

• How many steps the workflow has. A single follow up sequence is cheaper than a full lead to contract pipeline.
• How many tools it touches. Wiring into your CRM, calendar, email and signing tools each adds integration work.
• How much judgment is involved. Reading a call and drafting a proposal is more than moving a record from A to B.
• How custom the output has to be. Your branded proposal and contract templates take more care than a plain email.

The honest headline: a first, well scoped workflow is a project level investment, not an enterprise software budget, and you own what gets built rather than renting it forever.

Forget the sticker price for a second and do this calculation instead. Take the hours your team spends on a repetitive workflow each week, multiply by their loaded hourly cost, and multiply by 52. That is the annual cost of doing it by hand. A workflow that takes ten hours a week off a €60 per hour person is over €30,000 a year. Against that, a one time build that runs forever is usually an easy yes.

We give you a fixed price after a short discovery, so you know the exact number before any work begins. If you want that number for a specific workflow, book a free call and we will scope it with you.