roi-alty

mornin merry makers 🗺️ 💼 📊 📱 💡 🚀

the retail tech graveyard is littered with million-dollar solutions nobody used.

why?

because the strongest tech isn't about pixels or platforms.

it's about the business case behind it.

i've witnessed retailers waste fortunes on shiny tools while others transform their entire operation with surgical precision. the difference isn't budget—it's how they built their case.

today i'm sharing the exact roadmap i've used to get multi-million dollar projects approved (and save clients from expensive mistakes). think of this as your retail tech road trip guide—from defining your destination to selecting the right vehicle to arriving on budget.

buckle up.

today’s issue is on the house 💸 
courtesy of our friends at clip money.

🗺️ know your destination

the #1 mistake i see when teams push for new tech is falling in love with a solution before clearly defining the problem.

you wouldn't start a road trip without knowing if you're headed to the mountains or the beach. different destinations require completely different preparations.

in business terms, this means getting crystal clear on:

• overall company priorities (the big picture)

• your team's specific priorities (your lane)

• core problems that actually need solving (your destination)

💊 cure, care, or cute?

one of my favorite frameworks for problem classification is thinking of tech solutions as belonging to one of three categories:

1. painkillers: must-have tech solving urgent, critical problems. delay = real consequences. (think: ibuprofen for a migraine.)

2. multivitamins: smart, proactive upgrades that compound over time. maybe not urgent, but game-changing for long-term health.

3. candy: shiny, fun, but mostly fluff. morale boosters, not mission-critical.

when building your business case, ask yourself:

prioritize painkillers first, multivitamins second.

then save the candy for special occasions (or skip if you’re watching you’re figure 🫠).

🚗 side-by-side

once you know where you’re headed, it’s time to figure out how you’ll get there.

enter: the merry makery solution scorecard.

think of this like the kelly blue book for your retail tech.

this isn’t just a spreadsheet. it’s your decision-making insurance policy.

i created this after years of sitting on the finance side, watching vendors pitch like pros—highlighting their strengths, glossing over their gaps, and making apples-to-apples comparisons basically impossible.

this scorecard changes that.

it forces every solution onto the same playing field. no smoke, no mirrors. just a clear, honest look under the hood.

fair warning: it’s detailed. intentionally so.

but after it saves you from a six-figure mistake, you’ll be glad you took the scenic route.

the scorecard breaks down into four key areas:

1. core criteria: how well the solution solves your biggest problems and aligns with team capacity, company priorities, and security needs

2. total cost of ownership: the full financial picture including upfront costs, hidden expenses, and long-term investment required to scale

3. quantitative benefits: the measurable upside in revenue, labor savings, and operational efficiency

4. qualitative benefits: the impact on customer experience, employee satisfaction, and overall brand strength

the template will guide you through how to measure each thing so you don’t forget & you know how to rate high vs low!

pro tip: feel free to get vendors to help you fill this in. if they’re good, they know where they stack up against key competitors. plus watching them squirm through certain categories tells you a lot about potential weak spots (and their integrity).

🧪 test, don’t guess

you wouldn't plan a cross-country road trip without knowing if your vehicle can handle the journey.

is your compact car ready for mountain passes? can your vintage convertible survive desert heat? will your family fit with all their luggage?

the same logic applies to tech solutions.

piloting before full deployment lets you test capabilities in your actual environment. to make this test drive valuable, focus on:

• success metrics: what does "good" look like? set clear, measurable goals

• baseline measurements: where are you starting from? you can't track progress without knowing your current state

• target improvements: what specific improvements are you looking for? (efficiency increases, cost reductions, etc.)

• vendor partnership: how responsive is the team? do they solve problems quickly? are they transparent about limitations? do you like them as humans?

a well-structured pilot ensures you're not just guessing. it gives you the data and confidence to make the right decision when it's time to go all in.

sometimes you need multiple test drives. that's okay!

better to try three solutions at small scale than to roll out the wrong one to your entire organization.

📊 your ticket to yes

now let's put it all together into a compelling business case for budget approval.

this needs to excite your fellow travelers while addressing practical concerns from all the stakeholders. i've found the most successful tech business cases have three essential components:

1. executive summary

• problem statement (the pain point you're solving)

• proposed solution (your recommended approach)

• expected impact (quantified benefits)

• required investment (total cost of ownership)

the short & sweet version for the busy or uninterested exec who only has 5 minutes to review your entire pitch. you still need supporting details, but prioritize this!

2. return on investment (roi) assessment

• quantitative benefits (revenue impact, labor savings, efficiency gains)

• qualitative benefits (customer experience, employee satisfaction, competitive advantage)

remember: in today's tight-budget retail environment, a crystal-clear roi is what gets your project funded & prioritize while others get shelved.

3. implementation plan

• key stakeholder involvement & level of effort

• scaling approach (pilot to full deployment)

• risk mitigation tactics

don't hide risks! being upfront about challenges and having plans to address them builds way more credibility than your cfo discovering something new at contract signing.

enjoy the journey & the destination

tech will keep evolving. the tools will keep getting flashier.

the smartest brands will stay grounded in clarity, intention, and well-built business cases.

because this is so much more than a spreadsheet or slide deck, it’s your compass. your filter. your proof of what really matters.

in a landscape full of distractions, clarity is your competitive edge

so wherever you're headed next, may your plans be sharp, your copilots be honest, your snacks be tasty, and your solutions be rewarding.

p.s. don’t skip this calc.