Why partial automation is hard to sell

I’ve noticed that clients rarely pay for “almost automated” workflows. If they still have to read documents, extract data, or write from scratch, the value feels questionable. From their perspective, it’s still work.

The moment automation removes the work and leaves only review or approval, the conversation changes. It’s no longer about tools, but about time saved and control kept. In practice, I’ve found that one missing step often makes the difference between a helpful template and a sellable service.

Where do you draw the line between assistance and real automation in your own projects?

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