ROI Reality Check: What 128 Case Studies Reveal About Technology Value

Nucleus Research analyzed 128 case studies published between 2021 and 2025 to identify patterns in how organizations generate measurable financial returns from technology investments. The data shows that 87.9% of implementations achieved more than 100% ROI, with 64.7% exceeding 200% annual ROI, placing technology projects well above typical costs of capital or bank rates, which are generally below 10%. These initiatives also deliver value quickly, with 70% reaching full payback in under six months. As a result, triple-digit returns and rapid value realization emerge as baseline outcomes rather than exceptions. Further analysis shows that high ROI is not vendor-specific, industry-bound, or dependent on long transformation cycles, but is instead the predictable outcome of disciplined investments in operational enablement, system integration, and process optimization, directly challenging the assumption that meaningful returns require extended implementation horizons or deferred value realization.