ROI helps recruiting teams determine whether a new screening tool is worth the time and money needed to adopt it. For AI interviews, the calculation should include both software charges and the work recruiters still perform. Start with the current workflow Record monthly applicant volume, number of first-round interviews, average call length, preparation and documentation time, and recruiter hourly cost. As an example, 120 interviews lasting 20 minutes each amount to 40 hours of conversation. That excludes scheduling, note-taking and follow-up. Estimate the new workflow List software subscriptions or credits, integration fees, candidate support, quality review time and exceptions requiring a human interview. Measure actual completed, usable interviews. Invitations alone do not represent a successful screening outcome. A simple formula Net monthly benefit = estimated workflow cost avoided − new workflow costs. ROI (%) = (net benefit ÷ new workflow costs) × 100. If time saved has no realistic ability to reduce expense or increase productive capacity, describe it as capacity released rather than guaranteed cash savings. Example with hypothetical numbers Imagine the previous process costs $1,000 per month in time attributable to initial screening. A new workflow costs $400 in software and $250 in continued human review and support. Estimated net monthly benefit is $350. Against the $650 new cost, the illustrative ROI is approximately 54%. Real outcomes can differ significantly based on completion rates, workload and quality requirements. Look beyond hours Monitor candidate satisfaction, interview completion, evaluation consistency, accessibility, hiring-team workload and whether suitable applicants advance successfully. Pilot before scaling Test with one role for several hiring cycles and compare against a sensible baseline. Document assumptions and revise the model using observed results. Conclusion A sound AI interview ROI calculation measures useful outcomes and full costs, not just the number of calls an AI system conducts. Related reading: AI Interview Software Pricing and How to Automate First-Round Interviews. Next step: Compare HiringGenie's available plans with your monthly hiring volume, see how the workflow runs and estimate the complete workflow cost.
