QuoteClerk AIQUOTECLERK AI / QUOTATION GUIDE
When does quotation automation pay for itself?
ROI starts with the value of working time actually released, minus the service fee and additional operating costs. Include draft review, corrections and handover in the calculation. A faster first response alone does not prove a financial return.
What should the pilot measure?
For requests of comparable difficulty, measure total active handling time: extraction, product search, pricing, review, correction and handover. Record waiting time separately because waiting for a customer and a colleague actively working are different measures.
Break results down by document format and product family. Include unsuccessful cases so difficult requests do not disappear from the average. Agree acceptance thresholds before measuring results.
The calculation
- Monthly hours released = monthly requests × minutes saved per request ÷ 60.
- Monthly capacity value = hours released × fully loaded internal hourly cost.
- Monthly net operating benefit = capacity value × financially realised share − monthly service fee − additional operating costs.
- Simple payback period = one-time implementation fee ÷ positive monthly operating benefit.
Released time represents capacity value, not automatic cash savings. The financial effect depends on how that capacity is used and which costs actually change.
A transparent fictional example
At 500 monthly requests and 8 minutes saved per request, the workflow would release 66.7 hours. At an internal hourly cost of £30, that is £2,000 in monthly capacity value. Assuming 100% financial realisation of the released capacity, the £1,290 monthly fee for up to 500 requests and no other additional cost, the difference is £710 a month. The £5,950 one-off onboarding would then pay back in about 8.4 months.
Pricing and the decision to proceed
How the paid pilot works and what it costs ↗
Proceed when a meaningful benefit remains after review time, errors can be handled, and handover to the target system is verified. Download the scorecard or try the homepage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are the example savings guaranteed?
No. The example uses fictional assumptions. Measure your own result using total handling time and actual costs.
Is the pilot fee charged twice?
No. The £1,490 pilot fee is credited in full against the £5,950 onboarding, so £4,460 remains if you continue.
