What does process automation cost?
Updated: 2026-11
The cost of process automation is driven less by tools than by the processes themselves: how many variants and exceptions exist, which systems are connected, how good the data is and who runs the flows afterwards. Per-user licences and the effort for changes over several years often outweigh the rollout.
Automation is often equated with the price of a tool. That leads to poor decisions: a cheap tool can become expensive if every exception needs coding, and a pricier one can pay off if it covers many processes without development.
Since the end of SharePoint 2013 workflows in Microsoft 365 the question is concrete for many organisations. The cheapest part of the project is often dropping things: flows nobody uses do not need rebuilding.
What drives the cost
Number and complexity of processes
A simple approval flow is quick; a process with many variants, delegations and deadlines is not.
Exceptions
The rule is cheap, the exception expensive. Cleaning up exceptions before automating saves most.
Interfaces
Integrations with ERP, HR, accounting or business applications often account for most of the technical effort.
Licensing model
Per-user or per-flow licences add up over the years and belong in every comparison.
Data quality
Automation exposes poor master data. Clean-up is often necessary groundwork.
Operations and governance
Who looks after the flows, who changes them, what happens when the creator leaves?
How we price
- 01
Fixed-scope evaluation
Inventory, requirements and platform recommendation as a basis for decision.
- 02
Implementation in process packages
Fixed price per clearly defined package, prioritised by benefit.
- 03
Operations and evolution
Allowance for changes and support after rollout.
We deliberately publish no online prices: every case differs. After a short first conversation you receive a binding fixed price or clear frame.
Parent service: Digital Transformation
Matching offers
Workflow platform evaluation
We evaluate which platform should carry your approval and business processes: an inventory of existing flows, requirements gathered from the process, a comparison of Power Automate, third-party platforms, BPM engines and custom development against weighted criteria including lifetime cost, and a reasoned recommendation, as a HERMES study if required.
Process automation
This package automates recurring manual processes: we analyse the processes, automate the suitable steps and connect the systems involved. The result is time your team gets back — away from error-prone routine, towards work that genuinely creates value.
Microsoft 365 governance
We develop a governance concept for Microsoft 365: who may create teams and sites, how they are named, classified and archived, how guest access works, which retention and sensitivity rules apply and how Power Automate and Power Apps grow under control. With roles, policies and an implementation plan for your IT.
FAQ
Is Power Automate the cheapest solution?
Often for simple flows when licences already exist. For complex processes another platform or custom development can be cheaper over the lifetime.
Is automation worthwhile for small companies?
For frequent, error-prone flows, yes. For rare special cases, seldom.
How quickly does it pay off?
It depends on frequency and effort of the processes. We quantify the benefit per process together rather than make blanket promises.