How do you measure the return on investment of AI?
Answer
Measure hours, not impressions: time per task before AI, time after including review, multiplied by the fully loaded hourly cost, minus the full cost over the same period. For example, eight people who each save an hour and a half a week cover, over three months, a workshop, basic support and their licences, with a margin. If the result is only positive in the optimistic case, it is a gamble.
The classic mistake is to wait for an overall “AI ROI”: measure process by process, then add up. And hours freed only become money if they avoid an expense (a hire, overtime, outsourcing) or allow you to bill more.