Watch the video above to walk through the full business case structure. The guide below breaks down each section and explains what to include so you can build a proposal that leadership will take seriously.

How to Build a Business Case That Earns Leadership Support for Digital Change

You already know there is a better way to manage information, run workflows, and deliver projects. But inside most organisations, good ideas do not go far unless they come with a strong business case. A good business case does more than say “we need to go digital.” It gives structure to your recommendation, connects the dots between everyday project pain and long-term business value, and helps decision-makers understand why now is the right time to act.

The structure itself is straightforward, but the thinking behind it matters. You start with a clear executive summary – a short, sharp opening that lays out the challenge you are solving, the opportunity in front of you, and the action you are proposing. This is the hook that earns executive attention. If this section does not land, leadership may not read any further. Keep it focused and keep it brief.

Next comes your problem statement. This is where you name the real blockers your team faces every day. Information scattered across disconnected tools. Manual version tracking. Confusion around roles and responsibilities. Inefficiencies that cost time, cause stress, and weaken delivery outcomes. Speak to the pain your team knows well, but frame it in language that leadership will understand – lost time, increased risk, missed deadlines, and inconsistent quality.

After that, present your proposed solution. What exactly are you recommending? Maybe it is a new workflow structure. Maybe it is clearer roles and responsibilities. Maybe it is adopting ISO 19650 principles or centralising document management. This is your chance to show you have thought it through – that you are proactive, not just someone who has spotted the problem.

Then tie that to the expected benefits. Will reviews be faster? Will deliverables be more consistent? Will your team be able to scale their processes across multiple projects? Even small improvements – clearer roles, fewer meetings, less rework – have a big impact when they are repeated across every project. Plannerly users have reported results ranging from 80% less administration to saving significant time and cost across their delivery programmes.

Finally, outline your implementation and investment strategy. Who needs to be involved? How long will it take? What training or setup will be needed? Keep it simple, but show that this is not just an idea – it is something that can actually happen. And the good news is you do not have to start from a blank page. Plannerly provides a full business case template with all of these sections laid out, complete with placeholders and real-world examples.

Key sections of a strong business case

1. Write a clear executive summary – briefly state the challenge, the opportunity, and the action you are proposing in language that earns attention from the first paragraph
2. Define the problem statement – name the specific blockers your team faces: scattered information, manual tracking, unclear responsibilities, and inconsistent delivery
3. Present your proposed solution – explain what you are recommending, whether that is structured workflows, centralised document management, ISO 19650 alignment, or a connected platform approach
4. Outline the expected benefits – connect the solution to practical outcomes like faster reviews, more consistent deliverables, and the ability to scale processes across projects
5. Detail the implementation plan – identify who is involved, what the timeline looks like, what investment is needed, and what training plan supports the rollout
6. Use the business case template – access the ready-made template to structure your proposal with clear sections, placeholders, and real-world examples

What you’ll learn

• Why good ideas need a business case – understanding that digital change only moves forward when leadership can see the value and the plan behind it
• How to write an executive summary that earns attention – keeping it short, sharp, and focused on the challenge, opportunity, and proposed action
• How to frame project pain in business terms – translating everyday workflow frustrations into language about risk, cost, and delivery outcomes that leadership responds to
• How to connect workflow improvements to scalability – showing that better processes do not just fix today’s problems but enable growth across future projects
• How a ready-made template helps you start faster – using the Plannerly business case template to skip the blank page and get straight to building your proposal

Common questions

Explore further

• Business case template – access the ready-made template with sections, placeholders, and real-world examples
• Business case assignment – the hands-on assignment where you complete your own business case using the template
• The Digital Troublemaker’s Toolkit – the full toolkit for leading digital change in your organisation
• Free BIM and ISO 19650 training courses – complete your training and build the foundation for your business case
• BIM Boot Camp – accelerated practical training for teams ready to transform their workflows