The new business case for design systems

This article explores how design systems have evolved from cost centers to strategic business investments, with real-world examples of measurable ROI.

• •Freshworks credited its design system with a 28% reduction in customer service costs, tracking CSAT scores, A/B testing, and funnel diagnostics
• •SAP elevated its design system to a board-level KPI tracked via OKRs, with the Chief Design Officer spending 10 hours/week on design reviews
• •Grammarly saved design and development teams 25% of their work week and built a network of 10 cross-functional advocates to drive adoption
• •Hyundai Motor Group uses design systems to unify 30+ vehicle models across three brands while maintaining localization for global markets
• •Linear maintains its design system as a living system to enable craft at scale, directly linking it to customer loyalty and net revenue retention