The verdict in three sentences
Automating 5 high-friction administrative processes in an SME costs £8,000 to £22,000 depending on complexity and the number of software connections. The typical saving is 2 to 4 FTE-hours per day, meaning payback in under 12 months. The right strategy: prioritise by volume x pain, use no-code (Make, n8n) for the simple and custom builds for the critical.
Which processes should you automate first?
The rule is to start with high-volume, repetitive, low-value tasks. A London finance director usually maps candidates by crossing frequency, duration and error rate.
| Process | Manual time/day | Saving after automation | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier invoice entry | 90 min | 80 min | High |
| Overdue customer chasing | 60 min | 55 min | High |
| Expense claim approval | 45 min | 40 min | Medium |
| Weekly consolidated reporting | 120 min | 110 min | High |
| New-hire HR onboarding | 40 min | 30 min | Medium |
Adding the 5 processes together often exceeds 6 FTE-hours per day of manual work — nearly a full FTE for a 30-person SME.
How much does an automation project cost in 2026?
Budget depends mainly on the technical approach and number of integrations. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for the London market.
| Approach | Project cost (£) | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-code (Make, Zapier) | 3,000 - 7,000 | 2-4 wks | Simple flows, low volume |
| Advanced no-code (self-hosted n8n) | 6,000 - 13,000 | 3-6 wks | Sensitive data, medium volume |
| Custom workflow | 11,000 - 22,000 | 6-10 wks | Critical processes, ERP |
| RPA (software robot) | 14,000 - 28,000 | 8-12 wks | Legacy without APIs |
| Annual maintenance | 1,400 - 3,600/yr | — | All |
Self-hosted n8n no-code is often the best compromise for an SME: controlled cost, data kept in-house (GDPR compliance) and flexibility.
Mini case study
Sarah, finance director of a 35-person industrial SME in London, automates supplier invoice entry and customer chasing. Project cost: £13,000, plus £2,200/year maintenance. Measured saving: 2.5 FTE-hours per day, roughly 550 hours per year valued at £26 = £14,300/year. Payback reached in 11 months, then a net annual saving of £12,000 from year two.
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FAQ
Do you need an ERP to automate?
No. Many flows run through connectors (Make, n8n) between existing tools: inbox, spreadsheet, invoicing software. An ERP is only needed for the most integrated processes, from £18,000 upward.
No-code or custom: which to choose?
No-code covers 70% of needs for £3,000 to £13,000. Custom builds are justified for critical, high-volume processes or complex business rules, above £11,000.
How long before you see ROI?
For a well-prioritised project (volume x pain), payback lands in 8 to 12 months. Payment chasing and reporting often deliver the fastest ROI.
Does automation cut jobs?
No, it reallocates 1 to 2 FTEs from data entry toward analysis and customer relations. The value created is in freed-up time, not redundancies.
Can you automate gradually?
Yes, it's recommended. Start with 1 or 2 priority processes (£5,000-£7,000), measure, then expand. This limits risk and funds later phases from the savings.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your 3 most time-consuming processes: we'll quote a pilot between £8,000 and £22,000 with projected ROI. 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.
