The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, automating a time-consuming admin process costs between 8,000 and 30,000 EUR depending on whether you stay on an iPaaS (Make, n8n) or build custom software. The typical gain is 10 to 25 hours per week recovered from data entry, chasing and reporting. With a loaded labour cost around 35 EUR/h, the payback lands between 4 and 9 months.
What automation costs in London
The budget depends on flow complexity, the number of tools to connect and the reliability required. A simple Make scenario (automatic payment reminder) goes live in days; a consolidated reporting engine pulls several sources and needs development.
| Automated process | Approach | 2026 cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overdue invoice chasing | iPaaS Make/n8n | 8,000 - 12,000 | 3 weeks |
| Orders into ERP | iPaaS + connector | 12,000 - 18,000 | 4-5 weeks |
| Weekly consolidated report | Custom | 18,000 - 28,000 | 6-8 weeks |
| Supplier onboarding | Custom | 15,000 - 25,000 | 5-7 weeks |
| Bank reconciliation | iPaaS + rules | 10,000 - 16,000 | 4 weeks |
| Full 3-process suite | Hybrid | 25,000 - 30,000 | 8 weeks |
On top of that comes a recurring cost: iPaaS licences of 20 to 500 EUR/month depending on operation volume, plus evolutive maintenance of 300 to 900 EUR/month if you outsource the run.
ROI: hours saved and payback
The real lever is not the licence, it is the human time freed. A loaded admin role in London runs to around 35 EUR/h (salary plus overhead). Every automated hour is an hour reassigned to value-adding work.
| Process | Hours/month saved | Value/month (35 EUR/h) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice chasing | 24 h | 840 EUR | 12-14 months |
| Order entry | 40 h | 1,400 EUR | 9-11 months |
| Weekly reporting | 48 h | 1,680 EUR | 6-8 months |
| Bank reconciliation | 32 h | 1,120 EUR | 9-12 months |
| 3-process suite | 100 h | 3,500 EUR | 4-6 months |
The more processes you automate within one build, the shorter the payback: connectors and authentication are shared.
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 45-person manufacturing SME in London, spent 22 h/week (she and an assistant) on chasing, order entry and a Monday-morning Excel report. We automate all three flows for 26,000 EUR, plus 250 EUR/month in licences and run.
Gain: 88 hours/month freed, i.e. 3,080 EUR/month of value. Annual recurring cost: 3,000 EUR. Net year-1 benefit: (3,080 x 12) - 26,000 - 3,000 = 7,960 EUR, then 33,960 EUR/year after. Payback is reached in 8.4 months.
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FAQ
Make/n8n or custom development?
For a standard flow between tools that expose an API, iPaaS is enough and costs 8,000 to 18,000 EUR to set up. Custom (18,000 to 30,000 EUR) is justified when business logic is complex or volume is very high.
How long to see a return?
The average payback of a targeted project is 4 to 9 months. A well-chosen three-process suite often drops below 6 months.
Which processes should we automate first?
Those that are repetitive, rule-based and time-consuming: chasing, entry, reconciliation, reporting. A one-day audit (about 900 EUR) identifies the 3 highest-ROI flows.
What recurring cost should we budget?
Budget 20 to 500 EUR/month for iPaaS licences by volume, plus 300 to 900 EUR/month of maintenance if you outsource the run.
Do we have to replace our current software?
No, in most cases: automation plugs into your existing tools via their APIs. That is precisely its advantage over an ERP replacement.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your 3 most time-consuming processes, your current stack and an indicative budget (8,000-30,000 EUR): we compute the payback. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
