Calculate voice AI cost per completed customer task

Voice AI cost per resolution equals the full cost of the automated service divided by verified completed tasks. The numerator should include platform, telephony, implementation, integration, support, quality review and human handling after transfer.

Required inputs

Start with real numbers from your contact centre: monthly volume for the chosen intent, current agent cost per handled minute or per call, voice AI platform and telephony costs, implementation and integration effort, and ongoing quality review and handoff cost.

A modelled example

This is a modelled example for illustration. Your actual costs will differ.

Suppose a team handles 50,000 calls per month for a single intent. The current agent cost is £3.50 per call, giving a monthly baseline of £175,000. A voice AI system handles 80% of these calls to completion, with the remaining 20% transferred to agents.

Add a downside case

Run the same model with lower automation rates and higher transfer costs. A downside case helps set expectations with finance and avoids overcommitting before live traffic data is available.

Compare the same work

A valid comparison measures the same task, not the whole contact centre. If you automate balance enquiries, compare the cost of handling balance enquiries today against the cost of handling them with AI.

Bring your current call costs to a 30-minute Butter Labs ROI review.

Reviewed 2026-07-27