Put numbers on automation
A chatbot saves money when it fully resolves conversations that would otherwise take an agent's time. Enter your monthly conversations, the share the bot can realistically resolve, the average handling time and what an agent hour costs you.
Add the bot's monthly fee and setup cost to see the monthly net saving, the first-year ROI and how many months it takes to pay back the setup.
How to estimate chatbot ROI
- 1
Enter your volume
Conversations per month.
- 2
Set a realistic automation rate
The share resolved without a human.
- 3
Enter time and cost
Minutes per conversation and cost per agent hour.
- 4
Add chatbot costs
Monthly fee and one-time setup.
Key features
Automation-aware
Only resolved conversations count as savings.
Payback period
Months to recover setup costs.
First-year ROI
Including setup and subscription.
Staffing view
Hours saved as full-time agents.
Common uses
- Support leaders: Build a business case for automation.
- Agencies: Show clients the value of a chatbot project.
- Small businesses: Decide whether a bot is worth it yet.
Tips and good to know
- Start with a conservative automation rate (20–40%) and measure it after launch.
- Include the time your team spends maintaining the bot's answers.
Frequently asked questions
How is chatbot ROI calculated?
Hours saved = conversations × automation % × minutes ÷ 60. Savings = hours × hourly cost. ROI compares a year of net savings with setup and subscription costs.
What automation rate is realistic?
Many support bots fully resolve 20–60% of conversations, depending on how repetitive the questions are.
Does this include revenue gains?
No. It counts only support-time savings, so benefits like 24/7 availability or extra sales come on top.