In a world where the cost of operations continues to rise, many family offices and trust companies are pouring money into technology. Yet surprisingly few can prove a return on investment (ROI). The core issue? Productivity – or rather, the lack of it.
According to Optifi research, over 60% of revenue generated by small and mid-sized firms is spent on operational full-time employees (FTEs) handling repetitive, admin-heavy work. Meanwhile, less than 6% of revenue is invested in digital innovation. For some owner-managed firms, this figure is even lower.
So, where is all that technology spend going – and why aren’t we seeing measurable gains?
The global wealth and corporate services sectors are awash with technology platforms. Yet the average firm still relies on manual interventions, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools. Productivity is often stuck in neutral.
Gartner found that 56% of digital investments fail to deliver expected business value or outcomes due to poor alignment between operations and tech design.
Technology transformation spend
This disconnect is particularly stark in the offshore and private wealth space, where reporting, compliance, and client expectations are increasing – but legacy systems struggle to keep up.
What does ROI actually look like?
When discussing ROI, it’s tempting to think only of cost savings. But today’s digital ROI must be broader and more strategic. It includes:
- Reduction in time to complete routine tasks
- Lower cost-to-serve per client
- Increased operational resilience
- Faster, cleaner regulatory reporting
- Happier, more empowered clients
In this context, ROI becomes productivity per pound invested. And it demands real-time data – not just anecdotal feedback.
The hidden cost of doing nothing
Here’s the truth: doing nothing is expensive. Firms relying on multiple platforms and high-cost FTEs are more vulnerable to:
- Regulatory risk: Fragmented systems make it harder to demonstrate compliance.
- Data security concerns: Client data is often shared via unsecure channels like email.
- Low gross margins: With 60%+ spent on Ops, profitability is under pressure.
- Slower M&A: A tangled tech estate lowers valuation and increases due diligence costs.
This inertia isn’t just inefficient – it actively erodes enterprise value.
What leading firms are doing differently
Forward-thinking family offices and TCSPs are redefining digital transformation. They’re moving away from traditional, siloed platforms to a workflow-first, orchestration-led approach. One that centralises activity, automates routine steps, and provides clear visibility of operational performance.
Platforms like Optifi offer a Business Process as a Service (BPaaS) model, delivering full middle and back-office transformation with no large licence fees. It’s pay-as-you-go, fast to implement, and focused on delivering measurable ROI across every business unit.
Visualising ROI through data
With Optifi’s dynamic dashboards, you can:
- Benchmark internal productivity against industry peers
- Track the cost and time of each client journey
- Generate automated compliance reports
- Identify highest-cost services in real time
This data-led approach empowers leadership to allocate investment strategically, remove friction, and prove the value of digital spend – something CFOs and boards increasingly demand.
Why now?
The market is changing fast. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, clients are demanding more transparency, and M&A activity is picking up pace. Firms that invest in controlled, intelligent automation now will be best placed to scale, acquire, or exit on their terms.
Optifi enables all of this through a secure, scalable platform designed specifically for offshore wealth and trust providers. From onboarding to payment processing, document management and reporting – we orchestrate the heavy lifting, so you can focus on growth.
Final thoughts
In the words of Peter Drucker: “What gets measured gets managed.” If your firm is investing in technology without clear ROI metrics, now is the time to reframe your approach.
Don’t just spend. Invest with purpose. Measure what matters. And ensure your technology works for you – not the other way around.
Talk to Optifi today and discover how we can help you extract demonstrable ROI from every pound of tech spend.
Get in touch with us today.
