How Companies Unlock Real ROI by Applying Change Management

In today’s fast-moving landscape, technology and process changes are essential—but even the best initiatives fail without employee adoption. That’s where Change Management (CM) directly drives ROI. By preparing and supporting people through change, organizations boost adoption, reduce resistance, and accelerate business results. Here’s a quick look at how CM delivers ROI, plus a real case study to show the impact.

Why Change Management Directly Impacts ROI

Effective change management accelerates employee adoption of new systems, boosts overall usage, reduces productivity loss and support costs, and fosters greater engagement, all of which contribute to faster and more sustained ROI.

Case Study: How an Automotive Manufacturer Achieved ROI

Client Scenario

A global automotive manufacturer rolled out a digital quality management system across 5 plants to reduce defects and streamline inspections.

• Project Cost: $6.5M

• Change Management Investment: $420K
  (stakeholder analysis, communications, training, floor support, adoption measurement)

Expected Annual Benefits (at 100% Adoption)

Benefit Area

Value

Reduced rework & scrap

$5M

Faster quality audits

$1.2M

Automated reporting productivity

$900K

Lower warranty claims

$2.5M

Total Annual Benefits

$9.6M

With Change Management

Structured CM activities included readiness assessments, targeted communication, hands-on training, leader engagement, and on-site support.

Adoption achieved: 87% in 180 days
Benefits realized: $9.6M × 87% = $8.35M

ROI Calculation

Year 1 Net ROI

$8.35M – ($6.5M + $0.42M) = $1.43M net gain

ROI % Calculation

ROI % = ($1.43M ÷ $6.92M) × 100
ROI % ≈ 20.66%

Year 1 ROI = ~20.7%