Define a baseline, include operating costs and distinguish released time from financial return.
Establish the baseline
Measure the current task volume, completion time, review effort and failure rate where practical. If the baseline is estimated, label it and record how it was derived.
Measure useful output
Track completed, accepted work. Include rework and human review. A faster draft can still cost more overall if it creates downstream correction. Compare equivalent workloads and quality requirements.
Separate different types of value
Released time, added capacity, avoided expense and new revenue are different outcomes. Time released becomes a cash saving only under particular operating decisions. Revenue may depend on factors beyond the implementation.
Use the result to decide
Compare implementation and recurring costs with the outcomes that have actually been observed. Where evidence is incomplete, present scenarios and ranges. Agree who owns measurement and when to review the assumptions.
Prepare a useful conversation
Bring the business goal, current setup, information requirements and any known budget or operating constraints. We can help assess the options and scope the appropriate work. A high-level description is enough to start; leave out confidential records and credentials.
