How Data Analytics Fuels ICT Strategy and ROI

In today's digital economy, spending on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become one of the largest areas of enterprise investment, covering everything from infrastructure and cloud services to cybersecurity and data platforms. However, the scale of spending alone does not guarantee business value. What increasingly determines success is how effectively organisations harness data analytics to shape ICT strategies, improve performance, and translate technology spending into tangible financial returns.  

Data is now the critical asset linking ICT infrastructure with business strategy, whether optimising operations, improving customer experiences, or enabling new business models. 

As ICT environments grow more intricate, with the convergence of cloud, AI/ML, Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G, analytics is crucial in ensuring that technology decisions are based on evidence and focused on outcomes. For seasoned professionals, the challenge lies in implementing analytics tools, aligning them with the enterprise strategy, and proving measurable ROI. 

The strategic role of data analytics in ICT 

The ICT strategy includes infrastructure, platforms, applications, security, and operations. Data analytics contributes strategic value in various ways: 

• Enhancing decision-making across all architectural levels 

Data derived from networks, users, operations, and the external environment informs decisions regarding capacity, the choice between cloud and on-premises solutions, security investments, and platform selection. 

• Improving operations and managing costs 

Analytics facilitates proactive maintenance, anomaly detection, identification of usage patterns, and predictive resource allocation. This leads to reduced downtime, prevents overprovisioning, and minimises unnecessary spending. 

• Innovating customer experience and business models 

ICT platforms are increasingly providing services directly to both internal and external users. Usage analytics, latency, reliability, and feedback loops contribute to service design and customer-focused delivery models. 

• Managing risk and ensuring compliance 

In light of regulatory demands concerning data privacy, cybersecurity, and governance, analytics aids in monitoring risk exposures, detecting breaches, ensuring auditing processes, and meeting compliance obligations. 

• Fostering strategic alignment and agility 

The ICT landscape is rapidly changing with cloud, edge computing, IoT, AI/ML, and 5G/6G technologies. Organisations integrating analytics capabilities into their ICT strategy are more adept at effectively sensing market shifts, adopting new architectures, and pivoting. 

Evidence: Market growth, use cases, and ROI metrics 

Empirical studies and market data highlight the influence of analytics on ICT performance: 

• As reported by Fortune Business Insights, the global data analytics market was valued at US$64.99 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow to US$402.70 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5%. 

• DOIT Software projects that the augmented analytics market will increase from US$8.95 billion in 2023 to US$91.46 billion by 2032, indicating a swift uptake of automation and AI-driven insights. 

• In telecommunications, analytics applications such as churn prediction, network optimisation, fraud prevention, and predictive maintenance have consistently produced quantifiable results. A 2021 ResearchGate study on big data analytics in the telecommunications industry revealed that telecom operators experienced approximately a 10% reduction in costs and around an 8% increase in revenue when implementing analytics on a large scale. 

Bridging analytics to ROI: Organisational enablers 

 

Maximising ROI from analytics within ICT relies primarily on how prepared the organisation is, rather than solely on technology procurement. High-performing organisations achieve success through five key enablers: 

• Data governance and quality management: The accuracy of analytics outcomes is directly tied to the quality of input data. Organisations implementing quality standards, promoting transparency, and managing data lineage can minimise unnecessary expenditures and build trust in analytics-driven decisions. 

• Scalable and adaptive architecture: ICT environments produce data at an enormous scale and speed. Architectures incorporating cloud elasticity, edge computing, and real-time processing allow analytics to provide actionable insights without encountering bottlenecks. 

• Specialised talent with cross-functional integration: ROI is realised when data scientists, ICT engineers, cybersecurity experts, and product managers work together. Cross-disciplinary teams ensure analytics outputs are relevant to operations and aligned with strategic goals. 

• Strategic prioritisation of use cases: Successful organisations avoid "analytics sprawl." They intentionally focus on use cases that align with business goals, such as minimising downtime, enhancing customer satisfaction, or reducing energy expenses, thereby securing early victories and measurable returns. 

• Continuous measurement and feedback loops: A strong KPI framework is crucial. Metrics such as mean time to repair, capacity utilisation, service latency, or churn reduction should be monitored against investment baselines. This feedback loop confirms ROI and guides reinvestment choices. 

Collectively, these enablers convert analytics from merely a reporting function into a fundamental driver of ICT strategy. In their absence, even sophisticated tools may face underutilization and misalignment with the enterprise's objectives. 

Risks, trade-offs, and what to avoid 

While benefits are substantial, organisations must address risks: 

• Overinvestment in tools without readiness: Deploying advanced platforms without data culture, governance, or skills often leads to poor adoption. 

• Latency of returns: ROI may take time as costs accrue upfront for infrastructure, data cleaning, and integration. 

• Privacy and compliance risks: ICT systems handle sensitive data; failure to comply with privacy and security regulations can trigger reputational and financial losses. 

• Siloed initiatives: Analytics confined to one function (marketing, operations, or IT) limits impact and prevents enterprise-wide alignment. 

Case highlights & recent innovations 

• Cass Information Systems and a US Industrial Conglomerate 

Cass Information Systems, based in St. Louis, partnered with a US industrial conglomerate spending over US$20 million annually on telecom. By optimising invoice processing and mobile management, the program saved US$5.1 million in three years and improved circuit inventory accuracy to 99.8%. 

• Mphasis and a Global Telecom Firm 

Bangalore-based IT services firm Mphasis helped one of the world's top three mobile operators adopt agile practices and automate testing. The telecom reduced release costs from 60% to 20%, significantly accelerating deployment cycles. 

• Elastic and a Telecom Provider 

Amsterdam-based Elastic enabled a telecom provider to use Elastic Cloud for observability. The initiative delivered a 283% ROI, cut mean time to restore by nearly 80%, and saved over US$100,000 annually in downtime costs. 

• ScienceSoft and a Texas Telecom Operator 

ScienceSoft, a US IT consulting firm, built a custom analytics platform for a Texas-based operator serving 18 states. The solution reduced AWS compute costs by 80%, improving forecasting and customer analytics. 

• Yellowbrick Data and a Latin American Mobile Operator 

Yellowbrick Data, based in Mountain View, modernised analytics for a leading Latin American operator. The project delivered 20× faster queries, eightfold more daily data ingestion, and stronger revenue assurance. 

Implications for ICT strategy: Guiding principles 

From the viewpoint of AgileIntel Research, organisations can enhance their ROI from analytics in ICT by following five key principles: 

• Start with strategy, not tools: Clearly outline desired business outcomes before choosing analytics platforms. 

• Adopt incremental implementation: Test high-impact projects to achieve early successes and build trust. 

• Invest in data infrastructure and observability: Guarantee dependable instrumentation, monitoring, and scalable processing capabilities. 

• Foster cross-functional collaboration: Integrate analytics into ICT, operations, and compliance processes. 

• Measure, iterate, scale: Create KPI frameworks, track progress, and adjust before implementing organisation-wide. 

Conclusion 

For ICT leaders, analytics is the foundation for realising ROI from technology investments. Integrating analytics into ICT strategy enables cost savings, revenue growth, and resilience. Recent evidence and industry cases show that analytics-driven ICT strategies consistently outperform others. 

At AgileIntel Research, we see a clear trajectory: organisations that integrate analytics at the core of ICT planning will secure financial and strategic advantage in the decade ahead.