The true cost of answering calls
Every call counts. But what does it
really cost?
Your team’s time is valuable. See what you’re spending on answering calls — and what an AI alternative could look like.
Three simple inputs. Instant results. No email required.
More than a conversation.
Salary. On-costs. Time away from other work.
Your numbers. A clearer picture.
What does answering your calls cost you?
Use an hourly rate or an annual salary. We’ll turn it into an estimated annual and per-call comparison.
02 / YOUR COMPARISON Estimated first year
Your Potential Cost Saving
Complete the inputs to see your estimate.
An indicative comparison, not a quote or guaranteed saving. Staff may perform other duties; reduce the allocated percentage to reflect this. Freed capacity only becomes a cash saving if actual costs are reduced.
See exactly how your estimate is calculated
Annual salary is your entered salary, or hourly pay × paid hours per day × days per week × 52. Human cost adds the entered super and payroll-tax percentages and any enabled extra leave allowance, then applies the share allocated to calls.
Annual call volume = calls per day × days per week × (52 − weeks absent). Both options use this same call volume. AI cost = calls × minutes per call × AI price per minute + 12 monthly fees + the year-one setup fee.
- Base annual salary
- $49,400.00
- Super allowance
- $5,928.00
- Payroll-tax allowance
- $1,482.00
- Extra leave allowance
- $0.00
- Staff cost allocated to calls
- 100%
Defaults follow the HGi Australia spreadsheet: $25/hour, 10 calls/day, 5 days/week, 38 hours/week, 6 weeks absent and a five-minute call at $1/minute. AI pricing is illustrative and must be confirmed in a tailored quote. No GST, overtime, recruitment, equipment, ongoing human supervision or other unentered costs are modelled. Salary is assumed to exclude super. The default allocates 100% of staff cost to calls and excludes the spreadsheet's additional leave allowance.
Modelled talk time: 0.8 hours per working day. The 100% cost allocation is independent of talk time; consider other duties and administration.
Beyond the cost per call
Let your people
focus on people.
Routine calls can interrupt valuable work. An AI answering workflow could handle the first conversation, collect the essentials and help your team focus on the enquiries that need their expertise.
Three simple inputs. Instant results. No email required.
Give your team room to focus
Explore shifting repeat questions and initial enquiry capture away from staff, so they have more time for customers and core work.
Look beyond office hours
Discuss after-hours and overflow coverage for callers who reach you when your team is unavailable.
Keep a human in the loop
Plan clear handoffs for sensitive, complex or high-value enquiries. Good automation starts with knowing when a person should take over.
Your next step
See what AI answering
could do for you.
Share a few details with HGi Australia to request a tailored conversation about your calls, your workflow and your costs.
Your estimate: $56,810 human vs $11,500 AI per year, across 2,300 calls. Potential Saving of $45,310 per annum.
Design preview: this enquiry form is not connected yet. No enquiry will be sent.
A few things worth knowing.
Does this mean I can replace a receptionist?
Not necessarily. A receptionist may welcome visitors, manage appointments and handle tasks beyond phone calls. Use the allocation percentage to compare the part of their cost attributable to answering calls. AI suitability and actual cash savings need a separate assessment.
Why does my cost per call change with call volume?
Staff cost is spread across the calls answered during the working year. More calls spread the same annual staff budget further. AI usage cost increases with call minutes, so AI is not always the lower-cost option.
Is the AI price a confirmed quote?
No. The default is the illustrative $1 per minute in the source spreadsheet, with a five-minute average call and no monthly or setup fee. Adjust these assumptions or request a quote for your actual requirements.
Do I need to give you my details to see results?
No. The calculator works in your browser. You only need to share contact details if you choose to request a consultation.
HGi Australia · Better conversations. Clearer costs.
True Cost calculator · AUD · Indicative estimates