Your Fractional Chief
Automation Officer
A complete automation department under one monthly fee. We identify opportunities, prioritize by ROI, build automations, and run them — continuously.
What is a Fractional CAO?
Senior leadership, no overhead
A senior automation leader embedded in your business. The strategic thinking of a C-suite hire without the full-time salary, benefits, and management overhead.
Results, not reports
Not a consultant who delivers a report and leaves. We identify opportunities, build automations, deploy them, and keep them running. You see results every month.
Compounding returns
Every automation we ship frees up time and reduces errors. Month 12 looks radically different from month 1. The value compounds because the work stays running.
Strategy, build, and operations
Three functions, one monthly fee. No per-process quoting, no surprise bills.
Strategy
- ✓ Biweekly strategy sessions with your leadership
- ✓ Automation Prioritization Roadmap with ROI modeling
- ✓ Quarterly ROI review with leadership team
- ✓ Build vs. buy guidance for every opportunity
- ✓ Vendor evaluation and technology selection
Build
- ✓ 1–2 new automations shipped per month
- ✓ Custom apps and dashboards as needed
- ✓ No per-process quoting — everything is included
- ✓ Integration with your existing tools and platforms
- ✓ Process documentation and training
Operations
- ✓ 24/7 monitoring of all deployed automations
- ✓ Proactive maintenance and fixes included
- ✓ Vendor change response — we adapt when APIs change
- ✓ Monthly performance reporting
- ✓ Secure Canadian infrastructure
How it works
From first conversation to continuous value. Here's how we build your automation function.
Step 01
Discovery Sprint
We map your processes across departments, identify the highest-ROI opportunities, and build your Automation Prioritization Roadmap. This becomes the operating document for everything that follows.
$3,500–$5,000 CAD, credited toward your first month
Step 02
Prioritize
Together we rank opportunities by ROI and business impact. We define what gets built first, second, and third — so every dollar of automation spend is intentional.
Included in your monthly engagement
Step 03
Build & Ship
We build 1–2 automations per month, deploy them to our infrastructure, and get them running in your business. No waiting for quarterly releases. You see results every month.
1–2 automations delivered monthly
Step 04
Monitor & Optimize
Every automation is monitored 24/7. When something breaks or a vendor changes an API, we fix it. Quarterly, we review the full portfolio with leadership and adjust the roadmap.
Continuous improvement, always included
Who is this for?
The Fractional CAO is built for mid-market businesses that want a real automation function without building an internal team.
Mid-market companies
$5M–$50M in revenue without in-house automation expertise. You know you need automation but don't have the team to build and run it.
Disconnected systems
Running QuickBooks, CRMs, Buildertrend, Expensify, and industry-specific platforms that don't talk to each other. We connect them.
Beyond point solutions
You've tried Zapier or hired a freelancer for one-off automations. Now you need a strategic, ongoing approach that compounds over time.
No full-time hire needed
You want a real automation function without hiring a full-time automation leader, developers, and DevOps. We are your team.
Fractional Chief Automation Officer
$4,000 – $6,000/mo
CAD, scoped during Discovery Sprint
- ✓ Strategy + build + operations — everything included
- ✓ Discovery Sprint fee credited toward first month
- ✓ 1–2 new automations shipped per month
- ✓ Scale down to Managed Automation anytime
- ✓ No lock-in, no per-process quoting
Flexible by design
Most CAO clients run the engagement for 12–18 months during active building, then shift to Managed Automation (from $1,000/mo) when things stabilize. When new opportunities come up, they scale back up. No penalties, no lock-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from hiring a full-time automation person?
A full-time hire gives you one person. The Fractional CAO gives you a senior strategist, builders, and an operations team — all for less than the cost of one full-time salary. You get the complete function: strategy, build, deploy, monitor, and optimize. Plus, you can scale down to Managed Automation anytime you hit steady state.
What does the Discovery Sprint involve?
A 5–6 hour deep dive across your departments. We walk through your key processes, identify automation opportunities, model the ROI for each one, and deliver a full Automation Prioritization Roadmap with a phased build plan. The fee ($3,500–$5,000) is credited toward your first month of CAO engagement.
How many automations do you ship per month?
Typically 1–2, depending on complexity. Some months it's two quick-win automations; other months it's one complex, multi-system integration. The roadmap keeps everything prioritized so we're always working on the highest-value opportunity.
Can I scale down later?
Yes. Most CAO clients run the engagement for 12–18 months during active building, then shift to Managed Automation at a lower monthly rate when things stabilize. When new opportunities come up, they scale back up. There are no penalties for moving between tiers.
What industries do you work with?
Construction, equipment dealerships, healthcare, and mid-market businesses doing $5–50M in revenue. We specialize in connecting disconnected systems like QuickBooks, Buildertrend, Expensify, and industry-specific platforms.
What happens to my automations if I cancel?
All automations are built and hosted on DigitalStaff infrastructure. If you move to Managed Automation, everything keeps running at a lower monthly cost. If you cancel entirely, we work with you on a transition plan. IP transfer and on-premise deployment are available as premium options.