Banks globally are spending billions on digital transformation, yet many fail to see meaningful returns. In 2023, global enterprises spent $1.3 trillion on digital transformation—and a staggering $900 billion of that delivered no sustained value. (Source: Harvard Business Review)
In Africa and MENA, the situation is equally pressing. Fewer than 30% of banks in the region consistently measure the impact of their digital initiatives. (Source: EY Future of Banking Report, 2024)
Yet data shows that banks that measure and report digital ROI outperform peers by up to 25% in revenue growth.
(Source: Accenture Digital Value Index)
Why Does ROI Go Unmeasured?
Many digital projects begin in IT departments without strategic business alignment. KPIs are often defined too late or remain disconnected from broader organizational goals. According to McKinsey, nearly 70% of digital transformation initiatives fall short of ROI expectations due to lack of business-IT integration.
The PwC Middle East Financial Services Survey (2024) further reveals that 54% of FS executives in the region say they don’t have a solid framework for assessing digital value.
Core Challenges:
- Business and IT teams operate in silos
- KPIs are tracked reactively, not proactively
- Legacy systems can’t track real-time performance
What High-Performing Banks Do Differently
According to Accenture, banks that align digital initiatives with financial KPIs are nearly three times more likely to realize meaningful ROI. These organizations embed ROI tracking into project design, integrate data across platforms, and ensure stakeholders are aligned from day one.
Key Actions:
- Start with business KPIs, not just features: Define value up front.
- Embed ROI checkpoints in every sprint: Evaluate value iteratively.
- Integrate your tech stack: Real-time reporting is essential.
- Use platforms that track outcomes, not just system uptime
Gartner reports that banks that take this approach are 3x more likely to exceed expected returns. For example, a 2024 IDC study found that MENA banks deploying integrated CRM and ERP solutions improved operational ROI tracking by 12–15% in just 12 months.
The Stakes Are High
Transformation budgets in the GCC are projected to grow 13.4% by 2025 (Statista). But without ROI as a design principle, those investments risk falling into the same $900 billion trap.
Every dollar spent on digital should have a value story. Can yours?
Don’t just digitize. Monetize.
📩 Contact Cubic today—We help banks in MENA and Africa build digital ecosystems where ROI is a built-in outcome, not an afterthought.