Frequently asked questions
Do we have to replace our current software?+
No. We connect to what you already use. See what we automate.
Why can't we just use Zapier or Power Automate?+
Often you can, and we will tell you so. Real prices for all six main tools, when buying beats building, and the arithmetic to work it out yourself, including the part where the answer is keep the tool.
Will this replace our staff?+
It removes the repetitive part of the work. In practice teams handle more volume rather than shrink. We are not going to promise a headcount saving we cannot measure, and if that is the only reason for the project, the numbers usually disappoint.
How long does the first automation take?+
30 days from the start of the build, after a free 30 minute fit call. Week by week.
What does it cost to run every month?+
Hosting, any third-party licence, and maintenance if you want it, stated in writing in every proposal, at your real volume rather than the entry tier. Rules-based automation has no per-use model cost, which is the main reason it is cheaper than the AI version.
What if the process changes later?+
We build it so it can be changed, and the rules are handed over in readable form so your own team can adjust the simple things. The monthly plan covers the rest. If your process is still moving right now, wait.
Will we be locked in to you?+
No. Code, rules and documentation are yours, the accounts are in your name, notice is 30 days, and the handover is recorded. All seven commitments.
Our staff are not technical. Will they cope?+
That is the part most of these projects get wrong. We map the process with the people who actually do the work, run the automation alongside them before it replaces them, and train the real users in a session they keep a recording of. Two published adoption numbers.
Do we need AI for this?+
Probably not, and that is good news. Rules are cheaper, faster and give the same answer every time. AI earns its place only where the input is genuinely messy: free text, scanned documents, exceptions. See AI Agents & Automation for where the line falls.
What if it breaks at 2am?+
Rules-based automation fails loudly and predictably, which is one of its advantages. You get alerting, a full log, and a manual override so the work can still be done by hand while it is fixed. Response times depend on the plan you are on, and we will write them down rather than imply them.
Can you automate something that involves reading documents or emails?+
Partly. If the documents are consistent, rules handle them. If they are messy, scanned, handwritten, free text, every supplier's invoice a different shape, that needs AI Agents & Automation, and it costs more. We will tell you which one your documents are before you commit.
How do we know it is actually saving anything?+
Because we measure the same number before and after. Days 1 to 5 are a baseline: hours per week, cost per month, error rate. If we cannot measure the process, we say so before you spend anything. An unmeasurable saving is not a saving.
Who owns the code?+
You do, on final payment, on accounts in your name.
We are a small business. Is this worth it for us?+
Sometimes yes, often no, and we will be honest about which. There is no minimum contract size here, but there is a minimum volume where a build pays for itself. See section on when to say no.
