Methodology
We analyzed projected outcomes from our industry research across 14 verticals between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, drawing on published industry benchmarks (McKinsey Global Institute AI adoption data, Gartner automation market analysis, and Forrester RPA/AI comparison studies) combined with our own deployment analysis. All figures represent projected outcomes based on typical implementations.
Each industry benchmark includes five metrics: percentage of manual processing time eliminated, projected annual cost savings (USD), average deployment timeline from kickoff to production, ROI payback period, and the primary automation use case driving the largest gains. Savings figures are normalized to a mid-market company (100–500 employees) to enable cross-industry comparison.
ROI by Industry: The Complete Data
The following table presents our full benchmark dataset across all 14 industries. Time saved reflects the reduction in manual processing hours for the primary automation use case. Annual savings include direct labor, error reduction, and compliance cost avoidance.
| Industry | Time Saved | Annual Savings | Deployment | Payback | Key Automation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 45% | $180,000 | 8 weeks | 3.8 months | Patient scheduling & follow-ups |
| Finance | 52% | $340,000 | 6 weeks | 2.1 months | Reconciliation & compliance |
| Legal | 70% | $250,000 | 6 weeks | 2.9 months | Document processing & contract review |
| E-Commerce | 80% | $210,000 | 4 weeks | 2.3 months | Customer service AI |
| Manufacturing | 28% | $190,000 | 8 weeks | 5.1 months | Predictive maintenance |
| SaaS | 40% | $280,000 | 6 weeks | 2.6 months | Churn prediction & onboarding |
| Hospitality | 35% | $160,000 | 6 weeks | 4.5 months | Guest services & booking |
| Insurance | 65% | $290,000 | 8 weeks | 3.3 months | Claims processing |
| Education | 50% | $140,000 | 6 weeks | 5.2 months | Admin workload & enrollment |
| Logistics | 45% | $220,000 | 6 weeks | 3.3 months | Order processing & routing |
| Restaurant | 35% | $120,000 | 4 weeks | 4.0 months | Labor scheduling & ordering |
| Real Estate | 38% | $170,000 | 6 weeks | 4.2 months | Lead nurturing & showings |
| Retail | 42% | $195,000 | 6 weeks | 3.7 months | Inventory & customer insights |
| Digital City | 60% | $310,000 | 10 weeks | 3.9 months | Permit processing & citizen services |
Source: DSM.promo industry research, Q4 2025–Q1 2026. Figures based on published benchmarks from McKinsey Global Institute, Gartner, and Forrester, combined with DSM.promo deployment analysis. Savings normalized to mid-market companies (100–500 employees).
Key Patterns Across Industries
Four patterns emerged consistently across all 14 verticals in our analysis:
AI Automation vs. Traditional RPA: ROI Comparison
Our research consistently shows AI automation outperforming traditional RPA on long-term ROI, despite higher initial setup costs. The following comparison summarizes the five dimensions where the difference is most measurable.
| Dimension | Traditional RPA | AI Automation |
|---|---|---|
| Time Savings | 20–35% (structured tasks only) | 28–80% (structured + unstructured) |
| Setup Cost | $15K–$40K per workflow | $25K–$60K per workflow |
| Annual Maintenance | 30–50% of setup cost (UI-dependent) | 10–15% of setup cost (API-based) |
| Adaptability | Breaks on process changes | Adapts to new data formats and edge cases |
| 3-Year ROI | 1.5–3x initial investment | 4–9x initial investment |
For a detailed comparison of capabilities, decision frameworks, and migration paths, see our full analysis: AI Automation vs. Traditional RPA.
How We Measure ROI
Our ROI calculations follow a standardized framework covering four components:
- Direct labor savings — hours eliminated multiplied by fully loaded labor cost, verified against pre/post time tracking data.
- Error reduction value — cost of manual errors (rework, corrections, customer impact) measured before and after deployment.
- Compliance cost avoidance — audit preparation time, regulatory penalty risk reduction, and documentation automation savings.
- Revenue acceleration — faster processing cycles that directly reduce time-to-revenue (e.g., faster claims processing, shorter sales cycles).
Payback period is calculated as total deployment cost (setup + first 90 days of operation) divided by monthly savings run rate. All figures exclude one-time consulting fees to isolate the automation platform ROI.
For the complete calculation methodology with worked examples, see our full methodology documentation.
This research is reviewed quarterly by DSM.promo's founding team. Last validated: February 2026. See our methodology for data collection details.
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