Platform Costs, Implementation Costs, and Hidden Expenses

The Complete Cost Picture 

Understanding platform costs, usage fees, oversight time, and potential hidden expenses prevents budget surprises and enables accurate TCO calculation. 

Platform Subscription Costs 

AI Platform: $50-$150 monthly  

Voice Platform: $100-$200 monthly Workflow Platform: $150-$200 monthly 

Total Platform Base: $300-$550 monthly = $3,600-$6,600 annually 

Usage-Based Fees 

Voice calling: $0.05-$0.15 per minute  

Typical usage: 100-200 calls monthly = 200-400 minutes  

Monthly usage cost: $10-$60 

Staff Oversight Time 

Required: 3-5 hours monthly  

Loaded rate: $48/hour average  

Monthly cost: $145-$240 

Total Monthly Ongoing 

Platform subscriptions: $300-$550  

Usage fees: $10-$60  

Staff oversight: $145-$240 

Total: $455-$850 monthly = $5,500-$10,200 annually 

Hidden Cost Risks 

Scope Creep: +30-50% 

What happens: Adding processes or customer segments beyond initial scope 

Cost impact: $10,000-$20,000 per additional process 

Mitigation: Define scope clearly. Budget separately for expansion. 

Data Quality Cleanup: Variable 

What happens: ERP data requires cleanup before implementation works properly 

Cost impact: $0 if clean, $5,000-$15,000 if significant issues 

Mitigation: Data assessment during discovery phase 

Integration Complexity: $5,000-$15,000 

What happens: Custom ERP or limited APIs require additional development 

Mitigation: Technical assessment upfront. Standard ERPs typically no extra cost. 

The Reality 

Complete ongoing costs: $455-$850 monthly including platforms, usage, and oversight.  

Annual: $5,500-$10,200. 

Hidden cost mitigation through clear scope definition, data assessment, and technical evaluation before commitment. 

Total 3-year TCO: $43,000-$63,000 including all costs. 

About the Author: This content is published by ERP AI Agent. 

Published: January 2025 | Reading Time: 3 minutes