Most owners who want to use AI to cut repetitive work start with the same question: what will it cost? The answer depends on what you automate, but the cost structure is simple. There are three parts.
1. The one-off build
This covers understanding your current process, designing the workflow, connecting your tools and testing.
Three things drive the build cost:
- How complex the process is. Sorting enquiries is simpler than reading PDFs, extracting data and drafting replies.
- How many systems are involved. Email, Google Sheets, accounting or booking software: each integration adds work.
- How tidy the data is. Consistent formats are easier to automate; messy inputs need more testing.
For example, Sipp’s AI Workflow, one workflow with an AI step and up to two integrations, starts from HK$22,000 and takes about 2–3 weeks. If you want the workflow looked after long term, the Sipp Premium Plan (HK$15,800 a month) includes one AI workflow with monthly maintenance.
2. Monthly running costs
Once the workflow is live there are small ongoing costs:
- AI usage, which scales with how much you process.
- Software subscriptions, such as an automation platform or related cloud services.
The exact amount depends on volume, so we estimate your monthly running cost before we start. These costs are billed at actual use and paid directly by you.
3. Future adjustments
Businesses change, and so do processes. If you switch booking systems or want to add a step, the workflow needs adjusting. It is worth setting aside a small budget, or agreeing an ongoing support approach at the start.
Is it worth it?
The simplest test is to measure the time you spend today.
Example: if a colleague spends 5 hours a week answering enquiries one by one, at HK$100 an hour that is roughly HK$26,000 of staff time a year.
If automation brings those 5 hours down to 1, that time goes back into following up customers or other higher-value work. That is why the first step of our AI Workflow is measuring your current weekly time: you need a starting point to see what changed.
Start with one process
You do not need to automate everything at once. Pick the most repetitive, most time-consuming process first, see the result, then expand.
Wondering whether your process is a good fit? Let’s talk — 20 minutes is enough to find out.