Situation
12 analysts prepare monthly finance packs. Assumed baseline: 20 hours each per month plus 24 team hours of corrections.
Size · Think with AI
Build the business case before you build the AI system.
An AI pilot can look productive and still fail a finance review. Test one initiative against costs and cash benefits your organisation can defend.
Who it is for
For leaders who must defend an AI spend decision.
Built for operations, finance, strategy, and transformation leaders who need to decide whether one AI workflow deserves funding.
The problem it solves: pilot results often count released staff hours as cash savings. A finance reviewer then rejects the case, or approves it on a return that never appears. The calculator separates capacity from cash so the decision rests on spending you can actually remove.
Expected inputs
- One defined workflow and its monthly volume
- Current handling time and rework estimates
- Loaded hourly staff cost
- Implementation and monthly running costs
- Adoption and time-reduction assumptions
- Spending you can actually cancel, if any
Estimates are fine to start. Keep them marked as draft until you have evidence.
What you receive
One decision, with its assumptions visible.
- 12-month model with conservative, base, and upside scenarios.
- Separate views of staff capacity released and cash benefit.
- First-year net benefit and steady-state payback after recurring costs.
- Assumptions register to add, edit, validate, or remove assumptions.
- CFO summary template, management-deck outline, completed fictional example, and input guide.
Delivery: after payment, sign in to My products with your purchase email to download the pack.
How the calculation works
Every figure traces back to an input or a named assumption. Released hours stay as capacity unless you enter spending that will actually fall. The same inputs always produce the same outputs.
Illustrative report
A finance case that needs one important check.
Fictional Kuala Lumpur shared-services example. Every financial figure below follows assumed inputs. This is not a customer result, benchmark, or forecast.
Capacity
At 80% adoption and 50% handling-time reduction, the assumed base case releases 105.6 team hours monthly.
Cash
RM7,128 monthly cash benefit is counted only if that much paid support or overtime can be removed.
Decision
Assumed first-year net benefit: RM63,336. Assumed steady-state payback: 2.3 months. Verify time logs and cancellable spending before approval.
If spending cannot fall, the cash benefit in this example is zero. Released hours remain capacity.
See all six fictional casesAssumptions and limitations
For a defined AI workflow, not a whole programme.
Use a separate workbook copy for each initiative. The pack does not produce a finished board deck or prove positive ROI. It does not estimate model tokens, compare vendor rate cards, or provide legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice.
Outputs are informational drafts. A competent person must review every figure and assumption before anyone relies on the result. The decision to proceed, revise, or stop stays with you. See Responsible AI and Use of Outputs in the Terms.
The spreadsheet runs on your own device. Do not enter personal or confidential records.
Common questions
Can I assess more than one initiative?
Yes. Make a separate copy of the workbook for each.
Is a finished presentation included?
No. A CFO summary template and a 10-slide management outline are included.
Is installation or custom modelling included?
No. This is a self-serve pack with no calls or implementation.
Which software do I need?
A spreadsheet application that opens .xlsx files, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Does buying this unlock other products?
No. Each product is licensed separately.
Support and refunds
Questions about access, payment, or the calculation go through the Support page. We reply by email within 2 business days. Refunds follow the Refund Policy.