ROI calculator: WhatsApp bot vs human rep

Fill in the fields with your real operation and see in real time how much you spend today on human support vs how much you'd spend with the MercaBot bot — plus the monthly return. Conservative math, based on 2026 market averages.

Start with a typical scenario

How the math works

To be transparent, the formula:

• Human cost: reps × salary × (1 + overhead/100).
• Bot cost: MercaBot plan + Meta estimate (~$0.03/conversation conservative, mix of utility/service/marketing).
• Reps needed in hybrid: bot covers X% of volume → the rest needs humans proportionally, rounded up.
• Hybrid cost: plan + Meta + remaining reps × salary with overhead.
• Savings: current cost − hybrid cost.
• Payback: bot cost ÷ monthly savings × 30 (days).

Why "hybrid" and not "100% bot"

Selling a "kill your human rep" promise is dishonest. A well-configured bot solves 50-70% of conversations (repeat questions, FAQ, simple scheduling). The remaining 30-50% — complaints, complex decisions, emotional cases — need a human. The hybrid model is what actually delivers. Forcing 100% bot drives customers away.

3 mistakes that skew the math (and how to fix them)

1. Ignoring overhead. "The rep costs $440" — no. With overhead (payroll taxes + benefits + PTO + 13th month / bonuses + termination risk) it lands around $620-770/month even at modest US/EU rates, more in CLT-style countries. Use at least 40% in the overhead field.
2. Ignoring queue cost. A human rep handles 1 customer at a time. A bot handles 1,000 simultaneously. At peak, the human bottleneck costs you in lost customers, which doesn't show in the direct calculation but exists. Allow 5-15% of volume as "customers who bail on the queue."
3. Average vs peak volume. If you have 2,500 conversations/month but 80% happens Friday-Saturday, size the team for the peak (not the average). A bot scales at no extra cost; a human doesn't.

When the math does NOT work in your favor

Being honest: a bot doesn't pay off in these scenarios:

• Tiny volume (< 50 conversations/month). The Solo plan at $19 might still be worth it for the 24/7 bot, but savings are marginal.
• Very complex support where 95% of conversations need a human (e.g. case-by-case legal consulting).
• You're the only rep and you actually enjoy answering — the bot removes that proximity.