Is AI and Automation Really Delivering ROI? Or Are Companies Just Burning Cash?
The ROI Question Every Board Is Asking
AI has been hyped as the cure for inefficiency, complexity, and even the world’s problems. Yet, the headlines tell a different story. Reports from major consultancies claim that 80–95% of AI projects fail to deliver ROI.
So, what’s going wrong? Is AI a waste of money, or are businesses simply approaching it the wrong way?
Jamie Claret, CEO of Autonomate and keynote speaker on AI and automation, argues it’s not the technology that’s failing—it’s the implementation.
The Technology Works. The Problem Is Execution.
There’s no doubt about the power of AI:
Smarter than a PhD student at certain tasks.
Able to process and understand data at lightning speed.
Continuously evolving with new capabilities.
But businesses are struggling because:
They chase shiny tools without a plan.
They expect plug-and-play results.
They fail to align projects with business outcomes.
The result? Lots of demos and pilots. Very little measurable ROI.
The Reality: Operational Efficiency Still Drives Value
AI is not magic. It’s a tool. And like every tool in business, it only delivers value when applied to the right problem with the right measurement.
Real ROI comes from:
Operational efficiency – making processes faster and leaner.
Measurable outcomes – reducing costs, increasing revenue, or both.
Alignment with strategy – fitting into the business plan, not sitting outside it.
Without this, AI and automation projects risk becoming expensive experiments.
The Discovery Process: How to Prove ROI Before You Start
At Autonomate, every project begins with discovery. That means:
Mapping processes and systems end-to-end.
Measuring current costs, time, and effort.
Building a baseline KPI of where you are now.
Projecting what the same process would look like with automation and AI.
Only then can you answer the ROI question honestly:
Will this make us more efficient?
Will this cut costs or increase revenue?
Is this aligned with our business strategy?
If the answer is no—don’t do it. If the answer is yes—you’ll see measurable benefits.
Why Businesses Struggle With This Step
Many businesses have never had to ask these questions before:
How much does this process cost us?
How long does it take?
How much of our people’s time is lost to inefficiency?
It can feel uncomfortable, but this is the only way to make AI and automation accountable. Without hard data, you’re flying blind.
Autonomate’s Approach: ROI Before Hype
Every client engagement focuses on ROI first, technology second. That means:
No chasing the latest shiny tool.
No one-size-fits-all deployments.
Transparent calculations of cost, time, and savings.
Confidence that automation will deliver measurable value.
This is why Autonomate positions Intelligent Automation as a managed service—not a tool sale. Because outcomes, not software, are what matter.
Conclusion: AI ROI Is Real—If Done Right
AI and automation can absolutely deliver ROI—but only when:
They’re tied to your strategy.
They target operational efficiency.
They’re measured with clear before-and-after data.
Without that, businesses risk joining the 80–90% of projects that burn cash without results.