n

Introducing Our Automation ROI Calculator

Ever wondered how much time (and money) your team spends on repetitive tasks each week? Meet our new Automation ROI Calculator — a fast, practical way to put numbers behind the work you know should be automated.

👉 Try it now: roi.heliumact.com.au

What the calculator does

The calculator helps you:

• Quantify manual work by task, frequency, duration, and labour cost.
• See the true annual cost of “small” tasks that quietly add up.
• Model automation scenarios by entering build/setup cost and any ongoing subscription/ops cost.
• Get instant ROI & payback period so you can prioritise the right automations first.

Who it’s for

• Owners & operators who want a clear business case before investing in automation.
• Team leaders who need to prioritise the biggest time sinks.
• Consultants & coaches who want evidence-based ROI conversations with clients.

How it works (step by step)

1. List a manual task — e.g. “Copy website form leads into CRM”.
2. Enter frequency & time — times per day/week/month and minutes per run.
3. Add hourly cost — loaded cost for the person doing the work.
4. (Optional) Add automation costs — one-off build/setup + any monthly or annual fees.
5. Review the results — annual manual cost, projected savings, and payback timeline.

You can add multiple tasks to see a portfolio view of where automation will have the biggest impact.

A quick example

Let’s say your team:

• Copies data from emails into a spreadsheet 3× per week
• It takes 20 minutes each time
• The effective hourly rate (loaded) is $60/hour

Manual cost

• Per occurrence: 20 minutes = ⅓ hour → $20
• Per week: $20 × 3 = $60
• Per year (52 weeks): $3,120

Automation scenario

• One-off build: $1,200
• Ongoing software: $19/month → $228/year

First-year net

• Savings: $3,120
• Costs: $1,200 + $228 = $1,428
• Net benefit (year 1): $1,692

Payback period

• Monthly saving: $3,120 / 12 = $260
• Net monthly after software: $260 − $19 = $241
• Payback on $1,200 build: $1,200 / $241 ≈ 5 months

Small task. Big upside.

Why we built it

At Helium ACT, our mission is simple: make the robots do the boring bits, so your people can focus on meaningful work. This calculator turns gut-feel into clear numbers you can use to plan, prioritise, and justify your automation roadmap.

Tips for getting the most from the tool

• Start broad, then narrow. List 5–10 repetitive tasks across the business before diving into any one solution.
• Use loaded rates. Include super, overheads, and on-costs to reflect true labour cost.
• Be conservative. Underestimate time saved and overestimate automation cost — if the ROI is still strong, you’ve found a winner.
• Prioritise by payback. Favour automations with < 6-month payback and repeatable value.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need exact numbers? No. Reasonable estimates are fine - the goal is directional clarity to guide decisions.

What about quality and risk savings? The calculator focuses on time and direct cost. Many automations also reduce errors, compliance risk, and rework; consider these as upside.

Does Helium ACT build the automations? Yes. We can take you from ROI estimate → design → build → support. Start with the calculator, then we’ll help scope the highest-value opportunities.

Try it now

Ready to see where automation will pay for itself?

➡️ Open the Automation ROI Calculator

If you’d like a second set of eyes on your inputs (or help turning the results into a delivery plan), reach out - we’ll prioritise the quick wins first.