Automation has become a game-changer for modern businesses. By taking care of repetitive tasks, it allows your team to focus on the work that drives growth and innovation.

But here’s the challenge: how do you know if your automations are working well?

We asked automation experts from XRay.Tech and WeMakeFuture to share the most important metrics you should track to measure automation performance. Here are six that every business should monitor.

1. Time Saved

One of the most obvious benefits of automation is saving time.

By comparing how long it takes to complete a process manually versus automatically, you can measure exactly how much time your team is gaining back daily, weekly, and monthly.

👉 The more time saved, the greater the return on your automation investment.

2. Error Ratio

Manual processes are prone to human error. Automation helps minimize mistakes and ensure consistency.

Error ratio measures the difference between errors in manual processes and those in automated workflows. A lower error rate means greater accuracy and reliability.

3. Deviation Rate

Even the best workflows sometimes need human intervention. Deviation rate measures how often you have to step in and adjust an automated process.

  • High deviation rate = workflows need optimization.
  • Low deviation rate = your automation is efficient and reliable.

4. New Work Created

Automation isn’t just about doing things faster — it’s also about creating opportunities for higher-value work.

Ask teams how many new tasks, projects, or responsibilities they’ve been able to take on thanks to automation. This qualitative metric highlights its impact on innovation and productivity.

5. Cost Savings

One of the biggest wins of automation is reducing operational costs.

Calculate the labor hours saved by automation, multiply by employee hourly rates, and compare against tool costs. This will show how much money automation saves — and how it contributes to revenue growth.

6. Bounce Rate

Some automations are customer-facing, such as onboarding flows or self-service processes. Tracking bounce rate (the percentage of users who exit before completing the process) helps you measure whether your workflows are intuitive and seamless.

👉 A lower bounce rate means your automations are delivering a better user experience.

Why These Metrics Matter

Tracking automation metrics allows you to:

  • Prove ROI on your automation investments.
  • Identify weak spots in workflows.
  • Continuously optimize processes.
  • Unlock more time, money, and opportunities for growth.

If you’re just starting out, focus on the fundamentals: time saved, new work created, and cost savings. As your automation strategy matures, layer in error ratio, deviation rate, and bounce rate for a complete picture.