What an automation really costs
The quote names one number, for building it. The calculation that decides whether it was worth it has four items, and three only show up after a year.
September 1, 2026 · 10 min readFROM THE BLOGStraight talk,
Straight talk,
no AI buzzword bingo.
Short, honest pieces on the questions that come up in nearly every first call: what pays off first? Does this really need an AI agent? And does custom software ever add up?
LATEST POSTAUTOMATION
ALL POSTS5 POSTS
n8n, Make or Zapier: what I build with, and when
All three connect your tools. The difference doesn't show up in the feature list, it shows up in how they bill, where your data sits, and who still understands the thing two years from now.
August 29, 2026 · 9 min read
Which tasks to automate first in your company
Not the most exciting task, but the most boring one. How to work out in an hour which process is actually worth automating, and which one isn't.
August 21, 2026 · 9 min read
AI agent or automation: what you need, and when
Both take work off your plate, but in very different ways and at very different costs. The difference in one sentence, plus a practical way to decide.
August 14, 2026 · 8 min read
Buy a tool or build your own? An honest calculation
Off-the-shelf software is cheaper, until it isn't. Where exactly the break-even sits, and which costs are routinely missing from both sides of the calculation.
August 7, 2026 · 8 min readNEXT STEP
Reading is good. Doing the math is better.
Send me two or three sentences about your process. You get an honest assessment of whether automation pays off — and if it doesn't, I'll say so just as plainly.