What is an ROI Report?

An ROI (Return on Investment) report is a document that calculates the financial impact of a product, service, or initiative by comparing its costs to its returns. These reports use key metrics—such as total costs, cash flow, and net profit—to clearly demonstrate the value of an investment to stakeholders.

In B2B settings, ROI reports are particularly useful for buying committees evaluating solutions like HR software. For example, an ROI report for an HR platform might calculate how automating tasks like payroll, compliance, and onboarding can save $100,000 annually in administrative costs while reducing turnover by improving employee engagement. 

By providing measurable outcomes, the report helps decision-makers justify the investment and align the purchase with their company’s financial and operational goals.

Whether analyzing economic growth, operational efficiency, or total economic impact, ROI reports give decision-makers the clarity they need to optimize their marketing strategies, investments, and overall bottom line.

What is an Economic Impact Report?

An economic impact report is a detailed analysis that evaluates the financial and operational outcomes of implementing a specific product, service, or solution. Often commissioned by organizations like Forrester Consulting, these reports go beyond basic ROI calculations to measure both direct and indirect benefits—such as cost savings, productivity improvements, and increased revenue—over a defined period.

For example, an economic impact report for an HR software platform might analyze how the solution reduces administrative costs by 30%, improves employee retention by 15%, and increases productivity across departments. It could also factor in indirect benefits, such as improved employee satisfaction and the ripple effect of reduced turnover costs.

These reports are typically used by vendors to help buying committees understand the total economic impact (TEI) of their solution, providing a comprehensive view of both the financial returns and operational efficiencies it delivers. By offering measurable data and real-world examples, economic impact reports serve as a powerful tool to justify purchasing decisions, especially for enterprise-level investments.

ROI Reports FAQs

Types of ROI Reports (with Examples)

Good ROI reports come in various forms, tailored to specific industries and use cases. They are powerful tools for showcasing the value of a product, service, or initiative, helping decision-makers justify purchases or investments. Below, we’ve outlined common types of ROI reports with examples to show how they’re used effectively:

1. SaaS ROI Reports

SaaS companies use ROI reports to demonstrate how their tools drive measurable results, such as reducing costs or improving efficiency.

  • Example: A CRM software ROI report might calculate how automating data entry saves sales teams 10 hours per week, translating into increased productivity and cost savings.
  • What’s Included: Metrics like time saved, reduced labor costs, and improved close rates, often paired with dashboards or graphs to visualize results.

2. Marketing ROI Reports

Marketing ROI reports help teams evaluate the success of campaigns by analyzing key metrics like ad spend, lead generation, and conversion rates.

  • Example: A LinkedIn Ads ROI report could show how a $10,000 ad spend generated $50,000 in revenue by driving 300 qualified leads, with charts breaking down conversion rates across the funnel.
  • What’s Included: Insights from platforms like Google Analytics or a marketing CRM, focusing on campaign performance and overall return.

3. Sales Enablement ROI Reports

These reports focus on how sales tools, like enablement platforms or CRMs, improve pipeline visibility, shorten deal cycles, and increase win rates.

  • Example: An ROI report for a sales enablement platform might show how the tool helped a sales team close 20% more deals, resulting in an additional $500,000 in revenue in the first year.
  • What’s Included: Metrics such as revenue growth, deal velocity, and sales team efficiency gains.

4. Economic Impact Reports

Often created by Forrester Consulting, these reports go beyond basic ROI calculations to showcase the total economic impact (TEI) of a product or service.

  • Example: An economic impact report for HR software might highlight how automating payroll and compliance tasks reduces administrative costs by $100,000 annually, while also boosting employee retention by 15%.
  • What’s Included: Cost savings, productivity gains, indirect benefits like reduced turnover costs, and long-term financial impact.

5. Customer Success ROI Reports

These reports highlight the financial impact of reducing churn, improving customer retention, or increasing lifetime value.

  • Example: A customer success ROI report might show how using a platform to improve onboarding reduces churn by 20%, saving the company $250,000 annually in lost revenue.
  • What’s Included: Retention metrics, churn rate improvements, and revenue impact over a specific time period.

6. Operational Efficiency ROI Reports

Operational ROI reports focus on how tools or processes streamline workflows and reduce inefficiencies.

  • Example: An ROI report for logistics software might calculate how automating supply chain processes saved $300,000 annually by reducing delivery delays and lowering labor costs.
  • What’s Included: Metrics like cost reductions, time savings, and productivity improvements.

When Should You Use an ROI Report?

ROI reports are most effective in situations where stakeholders need detailed analysis and measurable results. Here’s when to use them:

  • Marketing Campaigns: Show how marketing efforts drive conversions, generate leads, and increase economic output for specific regions like Texas or California.
  • Stakeholder Presentations: Share ROI figures with decision-makers to justify marketing costs, initial costs, or large-scale projects.
  • Sales Conversations: For sales teams, ROI reports are a powerful tool for handling objections, justifying costs, and building trust. Use them to demonstrate the measurable value of your solution—like cost savings, productivity gains, or revenue growth. They’re especially effective when selling to CFOs or other financially driven stakeholders.
    • Example: “With a $50,000 investment in our software, your team would see a $200,000 increase in annual revenue, delivering a 4x ROI in the first year.”
  • Economic Impact Studies: Evaluate the impact of initiatives on the local economy, including GDP growth and tax revenue.
  • Budget Planning: Use ROI calculations to guide expenditures and ensure resources are allocated efficiently.

ROI Report Best Practices & Tips

  1. Focus on the Bottom Line: Emphasize the financial returns and overall economic contribution of your efforts.
  2. Include Visual Aids: Use graphs, dashboards, and templates to make your report easy to digest.
  3. Embed in Dock Sales Rooms: Share your ROI reports alongside related content in a Dock sales room, creating a centralized hub for stakeholders to explore.
  4. Benchmark Results: Compare your performance against industry benchmarks or fiscal year trends to provide additional context.
  5. Be Transparent: Clearly define your assumptions and methodology to build credibility with your audience.

ROI Report Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Missing Key Metrics: Ensure metrics like total costs, conversion rates, and net profit are included.
  2. Overloading with Data: Use visuals and templates to simplify complex numbers.
  3. Poor Presentation: Ensure your ROI report is easily accessible and trackable by sharing it through Dock. This allows stakeholders to view the report in one centralized location while giving you insights into how they engage with it.
  4. No Follow-Up: Use Dock’s engagement analytics to track stakeholder interactions with your full report and prioritize follow-up conversations.

How to Share ROI Reports Internally

What’s the best way to share ROI reports with internal stakeholders?
Use a central workspace or document hub where stakeholders can access the report on their own time. Avoid email attachments or scattered links—version control gets messy fast. Ideally, the ROI report should live in a place that’s easy to update, easy to share, and trackable.

Who typically needs to see the ROI report?
Finance, Procurement, and Executive stakeholders are the most common audiences. If you’re supporting a champion internally, make sure the report is structured clearly enough for someone to re-share without needing you in the room.

How do I make sure everyone’s working off the same version?
Use a single source of truth—whether that’s a live spreadsheet, a cloud-based report, or an embedded model in a shared workspace. Make it view-only if needed, and clearly label it with the last updated date.

How do I keep it consistent across teams?
Create a standard template for your ROI models—one that includes brand visuals, key metrics, and assumptions. This helps maintain consistency in how your product’s value is presented across sales conversations.

Any tips for getting feedback or buy-in?
Invite feedback early from cross-functional teams like sales, finance, and customer success. You’ll avoid rework later and build alignment faster. If you're prepping your champion to share it internally, give them a quick one-liner they can use to explain the report's value.

How to Share ROI Reports with Clients

  • Embed in Dock Sales Rooms: Present ROI reports in Dock sales rooms alongside case studies, economic impact studies, and other sales content for a holistic view.
  • Email with Context: Send a summary of ROI figures and link to the full report in Dock.
  • Use During Calls: Walk stakeholders through key metrics, such as GDP growth, conversion rates, and economic output, during presentations.

How to Measure ROI Report Success

  1. Engagement Analytics: Track how stakeholders interact with your ROI report via Dock.
  2. Conversion Rate Improvements: Measure the impact of ROI reports on deal progression or campaign success.
  3. Stakeholder Feedback: Use input to refine future reports and templates.
  4. Ripple Effects: Evaluate secondary outcomes like increased brand awareness or contributions to the ecosystem.