The business where you work had a sales pitch from a company automating some document handling processes at a cost of R500 000 per year for the next 5 years. It is estimated that doing so will save the company R2 000 000 in today’s terms. Assume a discount rate of 5% is applicable. Would it be worthwhile for the company to go for the automation process or retain its current practice?
Let’s compute present value of annual cost using formula for PV of annuity.
PV = P x [1-(1+r) -n]/r
PV = Present value of deposits
P = Periodic cash flow = $ 500,000
r = Rate of return = 0.05
n = Number of periods = 5
PV = $ 500,000 x [1- (1+0.05) -5]/0.05
= $ 500,000 x [1- (1.05) -5]/0.05
= $ 500,000 x [(1- 0.783526166468459)/0.05]
= $ 500,000 x (0.216473833531541/0.05)
= $ 500,000 x 4.32947667063082
= $ 2,164,738.33531541 or $ 2,164,738.34
It will be worthwhile for the company to retain its current practice, as the present value of expenses for automation is more than present value of savings.
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