What exactly is ROAI—and why does it matter?

The pressure to launch or scale AI initiatives is at an all-time high. But here’s the thing: deploying AI isn’t a magic bullet. From what we’ve seen, AI only delivers lasting value when it’s aligned with your business goals and executed with precision. 

Without the right strategy, even the most cutting-edge tools can fall flat—especially if your team doesn’t see the value or experience tangible benefits. Skepticism can stall progress, erode trust, and create resistance to future innovation.

So, how do you ensure your AI investments deliver measurable impact? Enter ROAI—Return on Artificial Intelligence. 

It’s not just about technology; it’s about connecting AI to the heart of your business strategy, focusing on high-impact use cases, and embedding change management into the process. With the right foundation, AI stops being just another tool and starts driving meaningful results.

By leveraging platforms like Salesforce, Data Cloud, and Snowflake, we help organizations turn AI into a strategic advantage. The result? Tools that empower your team to focus on what really matters—and a clear pathway to measurable success.

Coastal’s Approach to ROAI

We start by aligning your AI initiatives with what’s most important to your business. That means defining clear goals—for this year, next year, and beyond. 

Together, we identify key moments where AI can make the biggest difference and prioritize these opportunities based on the level of effort and impact. Think of it as a strategic roadmap that balances Quick Wins with High-Value, High-Impact initiatives. 

And we don’t just stop at planning—we make sure you have the right measurement structures in place to track and sustain results.

True North C.A.R.E. Model

At Coastal, we guide your AI initiatives with our True North methodology and C.A.R.E. Business Impact Model, focusing on:

But the real key to success? Your people. The C.A.R.E. model works best when your team is fully aligned and engaged. That’s why we work side by side with your organization to connect AI solutions to their day-to-day challenges and opportunities, answering the “What’s in it for me?” question in clear, tangible ways. When your teams see AI as a partner—not a disruption—it unlocks new levels of engagement, adoption, and long-term success.

Real Results in Action

A forward-thinking educational institution recently partnered with us to expand their impact. Together, we unpacked their student experience and pinpointed key moments for improvement. 

We started with a high-impact, low-effort initiative: implementing Salesforce AI to summarize customer service calls. The result? Increased enrollments and more empathetic student interactions. With clear KPIs in place, we’re now scaling these successes to even bigger opportunities.

Let’s Achieve Your ROAI Together

Ready to turn AI into a competitive edge? Coastal can help you focus on what matters most and deliver real results. Let’s chart your path to ROAI together.