Last updated: 2026-10-19
ROI is baseline cost (consultant invoices plus loaded internal time for the same work) minus new cost (automation run costs, our fixed fee, and remaining human review time), tracked monthly after go-live — we publish the formula and require an ROI case before a sprint.
How do you measure ROI of AI automation?
Formula (simplified)
Net benefit = (Old consultant + internal hours × loaded rate + tools) − (API/run costs + our fee + remaining human time). Payback months = sprint fee ÷ monthly net benefit. We do not start without a case that clears your hurdle.
ROI floor
Outcome Sprints include a contract ROI floor. If measured return is below the floor 90 days after go-live, we keep working at no fee or refund the sprint fee — terms on the guarantee page.
Comparison
| Topic | Hourly consulting | Outcome + tuned AI |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | Invoices + time sheets | Measured before build |
| After | Hard to attribute | Monthly ROI report |
| Decision | Renew hours | Expand next workflow |
Related answers
The Outcome Layer — Free First Task · vs traditional consultancies · hello@theoutcomelayer.com