AI business case builderBoard-ready business cases in minutes
SilkFlo’s business case builder turns an idea into a costed case: one-off investment, running costs, benefits, ROI and payback, with every formula visible. Ready-made models for rollouts like Microsoft Copilot mean a first draft takes minutes, and every case uses the same structure, so finance can compare them like for like.
Live in days. No long forms. Everyone else joins free.
Net annual benefit, three-year ROI and payback for one AI initiative.
Cost, benefit and ROI in one place
“SilkFlo simplifies cost/benefit analysis and ROI tracking in one click. Exactly what’s needed to streamline innovation management and communicate value to stakeholders.”
Bianca AgostonAI & Automation Leader- 4x faster from idea to investment-ready business case
What is a business case builder?
A business case builder turns the costs, benefits and risks of a proposed project into a case a funding panel can approve. SilkFlo’s is built for AI and automation: it links benefits to value drivers, calculates ROI and payback, and keeps the forecast as the baseline for benefits realisation after go-live.
Scenario plan every cost, one-off to recurring
Build the case with one-off investment, recurring running costs and anything in between, including capital and operating spend. Change the scenario, such as fewer seats or a phased rollout, and see the effect straight away, so the case reflects what you could actually fund.
- One-off and recurring costs in plain labels
- Test scenarios side by side before committing
- Every formula visible in the Calculations tab
An instant view of net benefits, hard and soft
As you build the case, SilkFlo shows the net benefit straight away. Hard benefits such as labour savings sit beside soft ones such as employee experience and customer satisfaction, so the case tells the whole story and not just the spreadsheet half.
- Hard and soft benefits in one view
- Net annual benefit updates as you type
- Benefits tied to the six value drivers
Start from a ready-made model, not a blank sheet
Models for Microsoft Copilot, Salesforce Agentforce, RPA and agentic AI prefill typical costs and benefits, drawn from a price book of labour, licences and services. You adjust them to your organisation, so a first draft takes minutes and every case has the same structure.
- Draft a case in minutes
- Same structure for every initiative
- Adjust any assumption to match your organisation
Payback and ROI that finance can compare like for like
Year 1 ROI, three-year ROI and payback sit side by side for every case. Finance compares investments on the same basis, so there is no argument about whose spreadsheet to trust.
- Year 1 and three-year ROI
- Payback period at a glance
- Assumptions finance can check, not rebuild
Get buy-in and approval in fewer rounds
With costs, benefits and payback laid out the same way, approvers see value against effort for every case on one screen. Decisions are made on evidence, and the forecast becomes the baseline that benefits are tracked against after go-live.
- Compare every case awaiting approval
- A clear record of who approved what
- Forecast carried forward into benefits realisation
From idea to proven return
Questions about the business case builder
What should an AI business case include?
The problem and the value driver it addresses, one-off and running costs, expected benefits with the assumptions behind them, payback period and ROI, the main risks, and how benefits will be measured after go-live. That last item is the one most business cases miss. Public sector bodies will also recognise this structure from HM Treasury’s Green Book.
How long does it take to build a business case in SilkFlo?
With a ready-made model, a first draft takes minutes. Ideas reach an investment-ready business case up to four times faster than with traditional methods.
What’s the difference between a business case builder and an ROI calculator?
An ROI calculator gives a quick estimate for one idea. A business case builder keeps the full case: costs, benefits, assumptions, risks and approvals, in the same structure for every initiative, and tracks it after go-live. Try the free AI ROI calculator for a first estimate.
Can finance check how the numbers were calculated?
Yes. The Calculations tab shows every formula behind net benefit, ROI and payback, so finance reviews the assumptions instead of rebuilding the model.
What happens to the business case after a project goes live?
It becomes the baseline for benefits realisation. SilkFlo compares the forecast with actual results every month, with actuals pushed in by API from your own systems. See how SilkFlo tracks benefits realisation.
Can I use the business case builder for projects that aren’t AI?
Yes. The same business case builder works for automation, process improvement and other change projects. Six value drivers cover cost reduction, revenue growth, productivity, customer experience, risk and compliance, and employee experience.
Can I plan one-off and running costs separately?
Yes. Investment (one-off) costs and running costs per year are listed line by line, from labour and services to software licences. You can pick items from a price book of common costs at illustrative rates and edit them to your own. Change the scenario, such as fewer seats, and net benefit, ROI and payback update straight away.
Does the business case include soft benefits?
Yes. Hard benefits such as labour savings sit beside soft ones such as employee experience (eNPS) and customer experience (NPS), each tied to one of the six value drivers. Approvers see the whole value of the project, not only the cash.
Build your next business case in SilkFlo
See how SilkFlo turns an idea into a costed, board-ready business case, then tracks the return after go-live.
Free, and built around your own initiatives.