AI Workflow Assessment · Northwind Logistics
Audit deliverable · 6 processes reviewed · fictional company, sample dataHours / month in scope223 hacross 6 processes
Recommended to automate5 of 61 left manual on purpose
Est. hours saved / month147 hconservative estimate
Est. annual cost saved$52.9Kat $30/h loaded cost
Payback of first build5 weeksSupplier invoice entry
Estimated hours saved / month
Recommended first buildAutomate
Supplier invoice entry → accountingEmail intake, AI extraction with schema validation, 3-way match against POs, exceptions to a human queue. Built in n8n + Python on your Xero and Google Workspace.Scope: 3 weeks · Risk: low · Success metric: 85% straight-through rate.
Leave manual (and why)Leave manual
Contract negotiationLow volume, high judgement, high stakes. AI can draft a clause summary for the lawyer, but automating the decision would add risk, not save cost.
Process scorecard
| Process | Hours / mo | Automation fit | Effort · payback | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Supplier invoice entry1,900 / mo | 64 | S · 5 weeks | Automate | |
Inbound lead qualification620 / mo | 48 | M · 8 weeks | AI-assist | |
Weekly ops reporting4 / mo | 22 | S · 6 weeks | Automate | |
Customer onboarding emails75 / mo | 18 | S · 9 weeks | Automate | |
Support ticket triage2,400 / mo | 41 | M · 14 weeks | AI-assist | |
Contract negotiation12 / mo | 30 | L · — | Leave manual |