A Business Case Template

What decision makers need

Lead with a one-page summary: the problem and process, the proposal, the expected value as a range (median, P10, P90, chance of loss), payback, total cost of ownership, the top assumptions and how the pilot will test them, key risks and mitigations, and the decision requested (often: fund stage 1). Put the model, sources and detailed assumptions in an appendix. Write in plain language and show the realistic numbers alongside any optimistic ones stakeholders have heard.

Credible, clear, decision-ready

Package the analysis so decision makers can trust it and act on it.

One-page summary outline

Fill each line in plain language.

problem:     AP team spends 1,300 h/month keying invoices; 4% error rate
proposal:    AI extraction + PO matching with human review of flagged items
value:       3-yr NPV median ~$81k (P10 -$26k, P90 $211k); 17% chance of loss
point case:  $12.7k/month net at full use; payback month 5 (base assumptions)
costs:       $53k one-off; $3.0k/month; 3-yr TCO $162k
key drivers: realisation of freed time, volume, error improvement
risks:       payment fraud, model changes, integration (mitigations listed)
ask:         fund a 6-week pilot ($12k) with pre-agreed go/no-go criteria

Ask for the next stage only

Requesting pilot funding with clear criteria is easier to approve and more honest than requesting everything at once.

त्वरित जाँच: What should the value line of a business case show?

• A range with the chance of loss, not just one optimistic number
• Only the best case
• Only the token price
• No numbers at all