AI Workforce ROI Calculator

Founders buy automation for outcomes, not for "AI features."

If your dashboard only shows message volume, you are measuring activity, not value.

This guide gives a simple ROI model for role-based AI employees:

• Sales AI
• Support AI
• HR AI

If you are early in rollout, read the AI Workforce Guide for SMBs first.

Why Most ROI Calculations Fail

Teams usually make one of three mistakes:

• They count all AI conversations as value.
• They ignore human oversight cost.
• They mix lead quality with lead quantity.

ROI must connect to operating and revenue outcomes, not only engagement numbers.

Core ROI Formula

Use this base formula:

`ROI % = ((Recovered Revenue + Cost Savings - Total AI Cost) / Total AI Cost) * 100`

Where:

• `Recovered Revenue`: deals captured because response time improved.
• `Cost Savings`: reduced manual handling hours multiplied by loaded hourly cost.
• `Total AI Cost`: subscription + integration cost + supervision time.

Sales AI ROI Model

Inputs

• Monthly inbound leads
• Lead-to-demo conversion before AI
• Lead-to-demo conversion after AI
• Average deal value
• Close rate from demo to win

Example

• 1,200 leads/month
• Conversion before AI: 8%
• Conversion after AI: 11%
• Deal value: INR 22,000
• Demo close rate: 24%

Incremental demos:

`1,200 * (11% - 8%) = 36 extra demos`

Incremental wins:

`36 * 24% = 8.64 wins`

Recovered revenue:

`8.64 * 22,000 = INR 190,080`

Even after tooling and supervision, this is a material revenue delta.

Support AI ROI Model

Inputs

• Monthly ticket volume
• Average manual handling time per ticket
• Percent of tickets resolved by AI
• Loaded support hourly cost

Example

• 4,000 tickets/month
• 8 minutes/ticket
• AI resolves 52%
• Hourly cost: INR 520

Saved hours:

`4,000 52% 8 / 60 = 277.3 hours`

Cost savings:

`277.3 * 520 = INR 144,196`

Read Support Automation for Service Businesses for implementation detail.

HR AI ROI Model

Inputs

• Monthly applicants
• Screening minutes per applicant
• AI screening coverage
• Recruiter hourly cost

Example

• 1,800 applicants
• 7 minutes/manual screening
• AI screens 65%
• Hourly cost: INR 700

Saved hours:

`1,800 65% 7 / 60 = 136.5 hours`

Cost savings:

`136.5 * 700 = INR 95,550`

For a process setup model, see HR AI Screening Framework.

Payback Period Calculation

Use:

`Payback (months) = Total AI Setup Cost / Net Monthly Benefit`

If setup is INR 80,000 and monthly net benefit is INR 160,000, payback is:

`80,000 / 160,000 = 0.5 months`

What to Track Weekly

H2: Revenue Metrics

• Lead response latency
• Qualified lead rate
• Deal progression rate

H2: Cost Metrics

• Hours replaced by AI
• Escalation ratio to human teams
• Supervision hours per role

H2: Quality Metrics

• First response relevance score
• Escalation accuracy
• Customer sentiment changes

Implementation Tip

Use separate ROI tracking per role.

Do not combine Sales AI and Support AI into one number until both are stable.

This prevents false confidence and exposes weak training blocks faster.

Final Recommendation

ROI is not automatic. It appears when the system is role-based, trained with real business knowledge, and measured with financial discipline.

The fastest path is one role, one channel cluster, one KPI owner.

CTA

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