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ROI Case Studies

QSM software intelligence turns tough challenges into measurable business value

Global Systems Integrator Saves Over $400M and Standardizes Estimation with SLIM®

Outcomes at a Glance

  • $400M+ margin savings from improved estimation and delivery performance
  • 2,500+ projects captured in a centralized historical repository
  • 2,000+ staff trained worldwide in standardized SLIM® estimation methods
  • $11M cost savings identified in a single internal ROI case study 

Institutionalized, enterprise‑wide estimation, tracking, and benchmarking using QSM tools

Context

One of the world’s largest business and technology services providers—over 100,000 employees and $20B+ in revenue—was experiencing significant annual margin loss due to inaccurate software project estimates.
As a global systems integrator competing for large, fixed‑price and high‑complexity projects, the organization needed consistent, defensible estimates to protect margins and improve win rates.

Barriers

  • Chronic underestimation and cost overruns, particularly on large integration projects
  • Inconsistent estimation practices across global teams
  • Limited use of tools or standardized processes
  • Difficulty evaluating risk and validating assumptions before submitting bids

Lack of a unified, enterprise-level capability to benchmark and compare performance

What QSM Delivered

QSM partnered with the organization to implement a global Estimation Center of Excellence (ECoE) supported by process improvements, training, and the SLIM® tool suite.

Key actions included:

  • Delivering custom estimation training, mentoring, and process consulting
  • Designing a train‑the‑trainer program to scale capability across regions
  • Developing specialized templates tailored to complex systems integration projects
  • Training over 2,000 users worldwide in practical, repeatable estimation techniques
  • Building a centralized repository containing metrics from 2,500+ completed projects
  • Establishing enterprise-wide quantitative methods for estimation, tracking, and benchmarking


This enabled the client to adopt a consistent, data-driven estimation process that significantly improved margin protection and delivery predictability.