Automation ROI — Cobot Workstation
Payback and 5-year value of a cobot workstation from capex, labor displaced and throughput uplift.
Cobots flip the ROI structure: capex is a third of a guarded cell because fencing, safety PLCs and integration shrink. The model is deliberately honest about modest uplift — cobots seldom beat human speed; they win by never stopping and costing little to deploy.
Formula
Note: Simple-payback model — excludes financing, tax treatment, depreciation and redeployment value. Build the full case with finance before purchase.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Payback and 5-year value of a cobot workstation from capex, labor displaced and throughput uplift. A free industrial robot kinematics & cell design tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Automation ROI — Cobot Workstation
Automation ROI — Cobot Workstation computes the governing relationship payback = capex / (labor×FTE×hrs + uplift − opex) live as you type. Cobots flip the ROI structure: capex is a third of a guarded cell because fencing, safety PLCs and integration shrink. The model is deliberately honest about modest uplift — cobots seldom beat human speed; they win by never stopping and costing little to deploy. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Automation ROI — Cobot Workstation
- 1Enter your values — Installed cell cost, Loaded labor rate, Operators displaced (FTE), Annual hours per FTE and more (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Net annual saving, Simple payback, 5-year net value.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see payback = capex / (labor×FTE×hrs + uplift − opex) substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Automation ROI — Cobot Workstation?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula payback = capex / (labor×FTE×hrs + uplift − opex) with authoritative sources cited on the page (A3 (Association for Advancing Automation) — robot ROI methodology notes)
- ✓Cobots flip the ROI structure: capex is a third of a guarded cell because fencing, safety PLCs and integration shrink.
- ✓Niche-specific defaults give a meaningful worked answer the moment the page loads
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the automation roi — cobot workstation use?+
It evaluates payback = capex / (labor×FTE×hrs + uplift − opex), exactly as published. Sources: A3 (Association for Advancing Automation) — robot ROI methodology notes. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Cobots flip the ROI structure: capex is a third of a guarded cell because fencing, safety PLCs and integration shrink. Simple-payback model — excludes financing, tax treatment, depreciation and redeployment value. Build the full case with finance before purchase.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Payback and 5-year value of a cobot workstation from capex, labor displaced and throughput uplift. A free industrial robot kinematics & cell design tool. The model is deliberately honest about modest uplift — cobots seldom beat human speed; they win by never stopping and costing little to deploy. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool is pure client-side JavaScript: open the page and it works, offline once loaded, with no account, no quota and no data leaving your device.
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