The verdict in three sentences
A business process automation project for an SME in London costs in 2026 between 8,000 and 30,000 EUR depending on complexity, and ships in 3 to 8 weeks. Each high-volume, low-variability process typically frees up 5 to 20 hours per week, or 0.2 to 0.6 FTE redeployed to higher-value work. ROI is usually reached in 4 to 9 months when you prioritise data entry, collections and reconciliation over exotic edge cases.
How much does an automation project cost in 2026?
The budget depends mainly on the number of processes, monthly volume and the level of integration with your existing tools (ERP, CRM, bank, accounting). Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Scope | Approach | 2026 cost (EUR) | Lead time | Weekly hours saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 simple process | No-code (Make/n8n) | 8,000 - 12,000 | 3-4 wks | 5-8 h |
| 2-3 linked processes | No-code + connectors | 12,000 - 20,000 | 4-6 wks | 10-15 h |
| Critical custom process | Development | 18,000 - 30,000 | 6-8 wks | 12-20 h |
| Platform subscription | Make/n8n cloud | 20 - 500 /mo | ongoing | - |
| Annual maintenance | Support + changes | 1,500 - 4,000 /yr | ongoing | - |
A well-scoped no-code project covers 70 to 80 % of an SME's needs. Custom development is only justified for complex business logic or high volume.
Which processes should you automate first?
The rule is simple: high volume, low variability, clear rules. These criteria maximise return and minimise costly exceptions.
| Process | Typical volume | Hours saved/wk | Complexity | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order entry | High | 6-12 h | Low | High |
| Payment reminders | High | 4-8 h | Low | High |
| Bank reconciliation | Medium | 3-6 h | Medium | High |
| Weekly reporting | Medium | 2-5 h | Low | Medium |
| Client onboarding | Low | 2-4 h | Medium | Medium |
| Rare contract cases | Low | 1-2 h | High | Low |
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 45-employee industrial SME in London, has 320 orders keyed manually each month and 90 invoices chased. Two assistants spend 28 combined hours a week on this. A no-code project at 16,000 EUR automates entry and reminders, removing 18 h/week. At a loaded cost of 32 EUR/h, annual savings reach 18 h x 32 EUR x 45 weeks = 25,920 EUR. The investment pays back in 7.4 months, and freed time is redeployed to management control.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
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How long before I see a concrete return?
The first hourly gains appear at go-live, within 3 to 8 weeks. Full financial ROI usually arrives in 4 to 9 months depending on volume.
No-code or custom development?
No-code (Make, n8n, Zapier) is enough for standard, moderate-volume flows at 20 to 500 EUR/month. Above 10,000 monthly operations or for complex logic, development becomes more reliable and cheaper to run.
Do I need to replace my ERP or CRM?
No, in 90 % of cases we connect existing tools via API or connectors. Replacement is only considered if the data source is closed or obsolete.
What happens on an exception or error?
A good workflow includes alerts, logs and manual fallback. We automate 90 % of cases and route the remaining 10 % to a human, never blocking the chain.
How much is annual maintenance?
Budget 1,500 to 4,000 EUR/year for support and changes, plus cloud platform subscriptions. It is marginal against the hours saved.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your 2-3 most time-consuming processes, your monthly volume and an indicative budget, and we will cost the automation and its 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.
