# Realized ROI

Return actually observed after deployment, rather than a forecast, business case, or vendor estimate.

Distinct from modeled ROI in that it requires a closed loop back to actuals — an invoice, a booked revenue line, a measured cycle-time reduction. Most vendor-published ROI figures in this category are modeled, not realized; this site labels each accordingly wherever the underlying source allows it.

**Related research:**
- [AI ROI: The Paradox of Rising Investment](https://measuredvalue.ai/research/deloitte-ai-roi-paradox-2026/)