Creating a Model Manually

You can create a blank ROI Model or Calculator when you want to build the business case yourself rather than generate the initial model with AI.

Manual creation gives you an empty model that you can develop and refine in ROI Studio.

Start a new model

From My ROI Models & Calculators:

1. Select + New.

2. Choose the option to create a model manually.

3. Configure the new model.

4. Create the model.

The new model is added to your ROI Models & Calculators workspace.

Choose the type of model

When configuring your new model, you can choose whether it will be an ROI Model or a Calculator.

Use the available model configuration options to choose the format appropriate for what you're building.

You can then develop the calculations and content in ROI Studio.

Manual models start unpublished

Unlike models created with AI, a manually created model starts unpublished.

This means it is created in your workspace but is not automatically placed into its published state.

You can publish the model when you're ready.

For more information about publication state, see Publishing Content.

Open the model in ROI Studio

Creating a manual model does not automatically open ROI Studio.

After creating the model, open it from your ROI Models & Calculators workspace when you're ready to start building.

ROI Studio is where you can develop the model's:

• Inputs

• Outputs

• Formulas

• Assumptions

• Results presentation

Detailed guidance for working inside ROI Studio is covered separately.

Build your model

Starting manually gives you control over the structure of the business case from the beginning.

Depending on what you're modelling, you might build:

1. Inputs for the business values and assumptions users can change.

2. Calculations that connect those assumptions to measurable outcomes.

3. Outputs for the results and KPIs you want to communicate.

For an ROI business case, these might ultimately include measures such as:

• Cost savings

• Productivity benefits

• Net benefit

• ROI

• Payback period

The metrics you choose should reflect the business case you're trying to demonstrate.

Manual creation vs AI creation

Both creation methods ultimately give you a model that can be refined in ROI Studio.

The difference is how you begin.

Create with AI	Create manually
Ekphrastic generates the initial model foundation	You start with a blank model
Based on your business-case description	Structure is created by you
Initial inputs, calculations and outputs are generated	You build the model yourself
Automatically published after successful generation	Starts unpublished
Uses AI allowance	Does not use AI generation for the initial model

Choose AI creation when you want Ekphrastic to accelerate the initial modelling process.

Choose manual creation when you already know how you want to structure the model or prefer to build it from scratch.

Publish when you're ready

Once the model is ready for its published state, use the model's publishing controls.

Remember that publishing and sharing are separate actions.

Publishing changes the model's publication state. Sharing provides a URL that you can send to someone.