Beyond the Buzz: How to Measure ROI in AI Projects That Actually Drive Growth

Is AI worth it?

That’s the question every decision-maker is asking. In a world obsessed with innovation, AI projects can quickly turn into costly experiments without a clear path to value. At Augusto, we believe measuring ROI for AI isn’t optional; it’s essential. Henry Pray’s “Three Layers of ROI for AI Agents” is a useful reference, and we’ve built on ideas like these with a practical lens rooted in what actually drives business growth. Whether you're automating tasks, expanding capabilities, or reshaping strategy, AI should always deliver measurable impact, and fast. Here's how we make that happen.

The Three Layers of ROI in AI

1. Cost Efficiency

This is the most visible and straightforward layer of AI ROI. Automating manual tasks, reducing the time teams spend on repetitive work, or replacing legacy processes with AI-powered systems can unlock massive cost savings. Consider Mentavi Health's QA workflows: their custom GPT solution enabled them to review 100% of assessments, rather than just 10%, resulting in over 1,800 hours of annual savings. That’s real, bottom-line impact.

2. Capability Expansion

AI doesn't just cut costs; it enables teams to do things they simply couldn’t before. With the right model, healthcare orgs can analyze large volumes of data in seconds, nonprofits can personalize donor experiences at scale, and digital teams can deliver answers 24/7 via intelligent chatbots. Boston Children’s Hospital doubled chatbot engagement and reduced call center strain because AI extended their team’s capacity without adding headcount.

3. Strategic Leverage

This is where AI moves from tool to transformation. Strategic AI investments reshape how organizations operate. Augusto helped a large Midwestern health system align three regional entities into a single digital front door. AI-supported content strategy, search, and triage solutions improved navigation and patient access while cutting operational inefficiencies. AI, used correctly, becomes a strategic differentiator.

Measuring ROI in Practice: Match Metrics to Problems

Measuring ROI starts with the question: What problem are we solving?

At Augusto, we never lead with "let's build something cool." We start with friction points and business objectives. That’s how we identify the right metrics:

• Efficiency: hours saved, processes automated, cost per task

• Experience: CSAT/NPS uplift, reduced wait times, chatbot engagement

• Outcomes: revenue generated, contracts secured, care gaps closed

Common Pitfalls That Undermine ROI

Too many teams stumble here:

• Shiny Object Syndrome: chasing GenAI features with no adoption plan

• No Executive Sponsor: no alignment = no value

• Measuring the Wrong Thing: if your goal is to reduce burnout, track task offloading, not just time-on-platform

  
  

Augusto sidesteps these pitfalls with our Rumble → Quick Wins → Accelerate framework. We align stakeholders early, solve for near-term value, and then scale what works.

Augusto’s AI Acceleration Framework

Our approach puts ROI at the center:

• Rumble: Uncover the real friction and opportunities

• Quick Wins: Build the smallest, fastest version that delivers value now

• Accelerate: Scale, measure, optimize

  
  

This is how we helped Mentavi, Corewell, Boston Children’s, and 1836 Ventures’ startups build fast and scale smart. Our clients don’t just experiment; they see results that fund their next round of growth.

Ready to See ROI from Your AI Investment?

Learn more about our AI Solutions and how we help clients succeed faster.

You don’t need a 12-month AI roadmap to get ROI. You need the right partner, the right problem, and the right proof.

Let’s find your first win.

Contact us to schedule a Rumble session, see a live AI demo, or speak with a client who has seen it work.