Automation Audit: Tasks to Delegate to AI in 2026
A scoring matrix and payback formula to identify which advisory tasks deliver the highest ROI when automated.
A structured automation audit — scoring each task by repetitiveness, rules-based clarity, and judgement requirement — typically reveals that 30–50% of non-client-facing advisory time involves work suitable for AI or rule-based automation. This guide provides the scoring framework, time-value calculations, and a decision matrix to prioritise where to start.
The Automation Scoring Matrix
Rate each task on three axes, each scored 1 (low) to 5 (high):
| Dimension | Scoring guidance |
|---|---|
| Repetitiveness | Daily = 5 · Weekly = 4 · Monthly = 3 · Quarterly = 2 · Ad hoc = 1 |
| Rules-based clarity | Fully rules-based = 5 · Mostly = 4 · Partially = 3 · Rarely = 2 · Never = 1 |
| Judgement (inverted) | No judgement needed = 5 · Expert judgement always required = 1 |
Score = Repetitiveness + Rules clarity + (6 − Judgement) 12–15: Automate immediately 8–11: Evaluate case by case Below 8: Retain human ownership
Task Inventory with Scores
| Task | Rep. | Rules | Judg. (inv.) | Total | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting transcript → CRM entry | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 | ✅ Automate |
| Portfolio drift alert generation | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | ✅ Automate |
| KYC document pre-population | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | ✅ Automate |
| Client review reminders | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | ✅ Automate |
| Performance report generation | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | ✅ Automate |
| Suitability letter drafting | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | ⚠️ Evaluate |
| Investment recommendation | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 🚫 Retain |
| Complaint resolution | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🚫 Retain |
Time-Value and Payback Calculation
Annual saving (€) = Σ [Hours saved per task × Advisor rate × Weeks]
Payback period (months) = Implementation cost
÷ (Monthly hours saved × Hourly rate)At €18,000 implementation cost: payback = 18,000 ÷ (36,600 ÷ 12) = 5.9 months.
What-If Scenarios
Total saving drops to €21,960. Payback extends to ~9.8 months. Compelling, but more sensitive to platform cost.
Annual saving = €9,150. Against a €6,000 platform cost, net benefit = €3,150/yr. ROI = 52.5%. Time freed may have strategic value beyond the monetary figure.
If 1 in 5 automated drafts requires significant correction (avg. 30 min each), effective time saving reduces by ~25%. Quality thresholds in tooling are as important as the automation itself.
Open the matching calculator to apply the guide to your own numbers.
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