Hire the role
A capable operations or automation hire is a full salary plus employment costs, and at this size the work is not a full week. You also carry the recruitment, the ramp and the single point of failure.
You own the person, and the gap when they leave.
A consultancy project
Paid once, delivered once. The build lands, the invoice closes, and the upkeep returns to the firm. Nobody is watching it a year later.
You own the artefact, and the maintenance.
A managed service
A monthly service priced by how much is actively operated and improved. What is live stays monitored, the next most valuable process gets built, and your team keeps approval, priorities and judgment.
You own the output. We carry the upkeep.