The Singapore State of Business Growth 2025: Part 4
The ROI Timeline Reality: Why Digital Leaders Beat Expectations by Months
The performance gap that separates Singapore's growth leaders from the rest
The Digital Maturity Advantage
Digital maturity doesn't just improve results — it accelerates everything
Building on our earlier findings about digital integration and AI success, there's another critical advantage that separates Singapore's growth leaders: speed to value. The numbers tell a compelling story. While most Singapore businesses expect to see ROI from new technology investments in 6.7 months, reality is actually faster — the average is just over 5 months. But here's where the real performance gap emerges. Digital maturity accelerates everything. Over half of fully digitalised businesses (52%) achieve ROI within three months, with 35% seeing returns in a matter of weeks. Businesses with advanced AI adoption also show significant results — 25% see immediate positive ROI on new investments.
Expectations
Average: 6.7 Months
Reality
Average: 5.1 Months
Did you know? HubSpot users are 41% more likely to see value within one month compared to users of other CRM platforms. Why? Fast onboarding, easy workflows, and unified customer data create results from day one.
Where Singapore Businesses Are Investing
Singapore businesses are spreading their technology investments strategically across multiple areas, with AI and customer platforms leading the way:
Additional investment priorities include sales engagement platforms (32%), customer data platforms and integration solutions (29%), and cybersecurity/data protection solutions (28%).
The Singapore Advantage
Government support creates unique competitive opportunities
Singapore's pro-business environment doesn't just make it easier to start a business, it accelerates digital transformation.
89% of businesses report that government support has positively influenced their technology investments. This creates a unique competitive advantage for Singapore businesses willing to leverage available resources.
However, the impact varies significantly by company size.
Larger businesses (200+ employees) report the most positive influence (93%), compared to 86% of small businesses (2-49 employees).
Dato Seri Ashraf Bakar, Council Member, Association of Trade and Commerce (ATC) Singapore
"While Singapore's government has been proactive in supporting digital transformation across all business sizes, smaller businesses often face fundamental challenges that larger firms don't encounter. The core issue isn't just about access to support — it's about whether digitalisation aligns with their immediate business needs and operating model. For many small businesses, digital transformation may initially increase operating costs, such as requiring additional staff, rather than providing immediate returns. More targeted support specifically designed for low-cap businesses — with structured guidance and implementation support — would help bridge this gap and enable smaller firms to navigate the digital landscape more effectively.”
Your Singapore Digital Transformation Toolkit
Accelerate your ROI timeline with targeted government support
SMEs Go Digital For System Integration & Digital Adoption
Connect with pre-approved solutions tailored to your business needs. Support includes grant funding and vendor guidance.
SkillsFuture For Team Capability Building
Upskill employees in digital tools, leadership, and new economy skills to power transformation and innovation.
Enterprise Development Grant For Growth & Expansion
Fund qualifying projects that support innovation, productivity, and international market expansion.
AI Singapore For AI Implementation
Access national AI programs, research initiatives, governance frameworks, and upskilling resources.
Next Steps
- Assess which programs align with your digital maturity level
- Estimate potential grant amounts based on planned investments
- Connect with approved solution providers via these government portals