How much does AI workflow automation cost?

Most single-workflow builds fall between £2,000 and £10,000. Larger programmes covering several workflows start at £10,000. What moves the figure is how many systems are involved, how much of the work needs a rule versus a judgement call, and how clean the underlying data is. An optional assessment to map your processes and cost the options first runs from £1,500 to £5,000.

Do I need an AI automation assessment?

No, it's entirely optional. An assessment only makes sense if you want your current processes mapped end to end and every automation option costed and ranked before deciding what to build. If you already know which process you want automated, the free discovery call is usually enough to agree scope and go straight to a build.

How long does an AI automation project take?

A single workflow usually takes four to eight weeks from agreed scope to live use, with an assessment beforehand running two to four weeks. A programme covering several workflows runs in phases over several months, each one live before the next begins. Older systems and slower access to data are what usually stretch the timeline.

Can AI automation work with our existing systems?

Yes, in almost all cases. The work is built around the systems you already run — ERP, CRM, accounting, warehouse and logistics software — using the interfaces those products publish, with an AI model added at the specific steps that need interpretation rather than a fixed rule. Where a system has no usable interface, the work goes through its database or a custom service instead.

Who owns the AI we build?

You do. All code, prompts and intellectual property pass to you on payment, along with the accounts and credentials the AI and automation run on. Another firm could take it on from there, so continued support is not a condition of keeping what has been built, and documentation is handed over with the work.

What does AI automation cost to run afterwards?

Running costs sit apart from the build and are usually modest. They cover hosting, any platform subscriptions the work depends on, and usage charges for the AI model itself, which scale with how much volume it processes. These are estimated during the assessment, so the figure is known before the build starts rather than after.

AI Workflow & Automation Development UK

Every step, run by engineers who have built this before

Committing to a custom build is unfamiliar ground for most businesses. We have delivered more than 50 software and AI projects, and we will guide you through every stage of this one.

Book a free 20-minute consultation

A free first call

We start with a free call to go through the process you want automated, the systems it touches and the people involved in it. You leave with our view of what is worth automating, and we will say plainly when a custom build is not the right answer.
Costs, savings and payback

Before anything is built and before you commit any money, you get a written breakdown of what the work will cost, what it should save you and how long it takes to pay for itself. The scope is fixed and so is the price.
Delivered against agreed milestones

Development runs against milestones written into the contract, each with a date and a definition of what it includes. Payment falls due as each one is delivered, so what you are paying for is work you can already see running.
Support once it is live

We stay on hand after launch to adjust what has been built, fix anything that breaks and extend the parts that are working well. All code and intellectual property belongs to you on payment, so continued support is not a condition of keeping it.

Automation projects we have delivered

These are processes that ran on people copying between systems, and now run with a person stepping in only where judgement is needed.

Insurance claims platform

Published under NDA, with the sector changed: CodeLeap builds and maintains the web platform a claims operation runs on, carrying every claim from the day it is notified to the day the work is signed off.
Read more
CRM and Sales Automation for a Global Events Group

CodeLeap wired together a global events group's Pipedrive, SmartDocs and Xero so won deals raise Xero invoices, signed contracts update the CRM, and multi-event agreements split cleanly into per-event deals.
Read more
SBU

CodeLeap automated the full sales cycle for a client in the UK energy sector, from lead capture through to signed contract, increasing lead generation capacity by 5x in 3 months.
Read more

See more case studies

The tech

We automate inside the systems you already run rather than asking you to move, and where something new is needed we choose it on merit.

Language models

The steps that need a judgement rather than a rule run on OpenAI or Anthropic models, or on an open model we host for you where the data cannot leave.
Document and data extraction

Reading an invoice, a form or a scanned contract is handled with Azure AI Document Intelligence, Amazon Textract or a model, depending on how varied the documents are.
Automation platforms

Where a process is simple and the systems already connect, n8n or Make does the job at lower cost, and we will say when that is the better answer.
Python and custom services

Anything a platform cannot carry is written in Python, which is where the logic of your process lives when no existing tool can be made to handle it.
Databases and document search

A workflow needs its own record of what it has seen and done, and PostgreSQL holds that, along with the search behind anything that has to look information up.
Cloud hosting

A workflow that runs unattended needs monitoring and retries, so we host on AWS or Azure depending on how you already buy software, and on Supabase for smaller builds.
CRM and finance systems

Most workflows start or finish in Salesforce, HubSpot, Sage or Xero, so reading and writing those records correctly is usually the core of the build.
Email, documents and files

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are where a process usually begins, so a workflow often has to read from them and write its results back into them.
And much more

These are the systems that come up most often rather than the limit of what we work with. If your process runs on something older, more specialist or built in-house, we can still connect to it.

What our clients are saying

Real reviews from clients we have delivered for, on Clutch and elsewhere.

4.9 via Clutch

The enthusiasm, understanding of our mission, and passion from the first few minutes of the call were the deciding factors in choosing CodeLeap. Within 3 months of our app launching, we had over 1,500 downloads, appeared in leading publications from Forbes, The Metro, Marie Claire, Women's Fitness and many more, and started raising further investment.

Charlie CEO, Becon
They are incredibly diligent in the quality of work they produce, and go above and beyond when it comes to solving issues faced within the project, and to ensure we meet strict project deadlines. You never feel like you are one of many clients, and they ensure they are always there to help with any need you have, no matter how big or small.

Amelia Parmiter Marketing Manager, AWS - Marble
CodeLeap made me feel like my options were limitless in terms of what could be achieved, which was critical to me as we were creating something very unique. I'm glad I chose Codeleap over a large corporation as the personable approach resulted in a smooth and pleasant experience.

James CEO, Bearable
Working with CodeLeap was a very good experience from both a professional and personal point of view. These people know what they are doing and are both efficient and clever and made a good partner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend CodeLeap.

John CEO, Neurometrics-Diab
CodeLeap adds so much value and goes above and beyond what I expected. CodeLeap's team is very flexible with all the different requests we've put in front of them. They've also been great with the whole business side of things, and being able to forecast for this industry is really helpful. Overall, I'm completely satisfied with their work — they've been incredibly helpful.

Johanne CEO, Cherry
Their flexibility and focus on quality were outstanding.

Mike Fenna CTO, Kite Insights
Marcelo has been wonderful throughout the process and we are very happy.

Amrit Director, Energy Company
Absolutely FANTASTIC. This is very much what I had in mind. We're very pleased with your team, thank you all very much.

Rich Director, Legal Company

See all reviews on Clutch

Recognised by the industry

Independent rankings from Clutch, The Manifest, SME News and the National Digital Awards.

Flexible, transparent pricing

Automation assessment

Where automation pays off
- Two to four weeks, fixed price, no commitment beyond it
- Time spent with the people running each process
- The systems and data involved documented
- Processes ranked by what automating them would save
- A written recommendation you can act on
£1,500 – £5,000
Book a free consultation
Single process build

One process, end to end
- One process automated from start to finish
- Your existing systems connected rather than replaced
- Fixed scope and price agreed before building
- Milestone payments as each stage is delivered
- Handover, documentation and a month of support
£2,000 – £10,000
Book a free consultation
Automation programme

Automation across the business
- Several processes automated across your whole operation
- AI built in where judgement is needed
- A named team for the full engagement
- Delivered in phases, each one live before the next
- Ongoing support and development after launch
From £10,000
Book a free consultation
Other AI & automation services

AI · Data · Automation
Contact us

Any questions? We're here to answer

Everything you might want to know before starting a project with us.

Most single-workflow builds fall between £2,000 and £10,000. Larger programmes covering several workflows start at £10,000. What moves the figure is how many systems are involved, how much of the work needs a rule versus a judgement call, and how clean the underlying data is. An optional assessment to map your processes and cost the options first runs from £1,500 to £5,000.
No, it's entirely optional. An assessment only makes sense if you want your current processes mapped end to end and every automation option costed and ranked before deciding what to build. If you already know which process you want automated, the free discovery call is usually enough to agree scope and go straight to a build.
A single workflow usually takes four to eight weeks from agreed scope to live use, with an assessment beforehand running two to four weeks. A programme covering several workflows runs in phases over several months, each one live before the next begins. Older systems and slower access to data are what usually stretch the timeline.
Yes, in almost all cases. The work is built around the systems you already run — ERP, CRM, accounting, warehouse and logistics software — using the interfaces those products publish, with an AI model added at the specific steps that need interpretation rather than a fixed rule. Where a system has no usable interface, the work goes through its database or a custom service instead.
You do. All code, prompts and intellectual property pass to you on payment, along with the accounts and credentials the AI and automation run on. Another firm could take it on from there, so continued support is not a condition of keeping what has been built, and documentation is handed over with the work.
Running costs sit apart from the build and are usually modest. They cover hosting, any platform subscriptions the work depends on, and usage charges for the AI model itself, which scale with how much volume it processes. These are estimated during the assessment, so the figure is known before the build starts rather than after.