Is this automation worth building?

Enter the task details below to see how much build time can be justified — before you spend more than you save.

The Task

Time saved per run How much time does this task take that automation would replace?

Frequency How often is this task performed?

Caution flags

⚠️ This process changes often The workflow is still being tested or changes frequently. Automating early risks locking you into maintaining a broken or outdated system.

Your Results

✅ Strong Yes

—

Automation pays for itself within 2 months. Build it.

⚠️ Proceed with Caution

—

Breaks even within 6 months. Justified if this is a bottleneck or error-prone.

🚫

Not Recommended

If your build time exceeds the 6-month threshold, automation is unlikely to pay off.

💡

These thresholds are calculated from the break-even formula: Build Time = Time Saved Per Run × Runs Per Month × Months. The xkcd chart that inspired this tool visualizes the same math across a 5-year window.