Start with total team hours
Ask how many hours the team spends on the work in a normal week — combined, not per person. Then multiply by 52. That gives you the annual hours sitting inside the process before anyone talks about software.
Use a fully-loaded hourly cost
Wages alone understate the cost. If you know payroll costs or benefits, include them. If you do not, an estimate is still more useful than skipping the question. The point is capacity, not a precise accounting exercise.
Do not assume the whole job can be automated
Some of the work will still need a person. Set the automation percentage yourself. A conservative number is more useful than a claim that everything can be handed over.
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