Rule of thumb: good operational automation breaks even in 3-6 months. If your payback is past 12 months, you are usually either buying more tool than you need or automating a process that is not actually costing you much. Automate the expensive, repetitive process first - not the one that looks impressive.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate automation ROI?
ROI = (annual gains - annual cost) / annual cost x 100. Gains are mostly reclaimed labor hours (hours saved per week x hourly cost x 52) plus the value of errors avoided. Cost is the software license plus implementation and training.
What is a good payback period for restaurant software?
Most well-chosen operational software breaks even in 3-6 months. If your estimated payback is longer than 12 months, it is usually a sign you are solving the wrong problem or buying more tool than you need.
Can hospitality software actually reduce operating costs?
Yes, when it targets a high-frequency manual process. The savings come from reclaimed labor hours and fewer costly errors, not from the software itself. The calculator shows whether the math works for your specific operation.