Closing the gap between AI and ROI in the finance sector

Banks are rapidly investing in AI, but measurable ROI remains elusive, creating potential near-term pressure on financial-sector profitability and tech spending. The piece highlights that only 61% of banking professionals feel AI is delivering, an MIT study found just 5% of companies profit from AI, and roughly 78.3% of bankers face pressure to show value. Fragmented legacy systems — with BCG noting ~60% of tech budgets go to maintenance — mean AI often operates atop broken processes, limiting scalability. The article argues Process Intelligence (end-to-end operational visibility and digital twins) is the missing link to unlock enterprise-scale AI benefits, improving automation (RPA), KYC, and fraud detection. Market impact: until banks invest in process clarity, AI spend may not translate into improved margins or productivity, keeping sector returns and tech-related investment efficiency under scrutiny.