Design systems as strategic business assets: driving consistency, efficiency and Innovation

What exactly is a design system, and why is it becoming so popular?

The Nielsen Norman Group defines a design system as “a set of standards used to manage design at scale. It helps reduce redundancy, creates a shared language, and ensures visual consistency across various pages and channels.” This cohesive approach not only optimizes design and development processes but also significantly improves the user experience.   

Design systems have become essential for modern digital businesses. Why? As companies manage an expanding portfolio of digital products, design systems play a vital role in maintaining consistency, improving design & development speed, and fostering innovation. For organizations aiming to streamline operations and achieve more with less, a design system supports a “smarter, not just more digital” approach to growth. 


 
In this context, a design system acts as a digital product that serves other products in the portfolio, offering reusable assets and stablished processes that drive efficiency and ensures flexibility for future needs in an increasingly competitive scenario.  

Enabling companies to effectively manage complex processes and sustain a competitive advantage, design systems help organizations align resources effectively—an invaluable asset for large-scale operations. For those seeking a strategic partner to help bridge business, IT, and product design, a design system provides the expertise needed to ensure long-term cohesion.  

In this article, I’ll explore why design systems are a strategic investment for long-term success and the specific ways they benefit businesses. By the end, you'll understand how a design system can deliver significant ROI for your organization.  

7 essential benefits of investing in a design system 
 

Building a design system may require a considerable upfront allocation of resources. However, the return on investment (ROI) it provides is substantial. In this section, I’ll explore the key advantages of design systems and how they prove to be a valuable asset for organizations, delivering value far beyond the initial effort: 

1. Product consistency 

Design systems ensure a cohesive and unified user experience across all products by providing standardized guidelines, components, and patterns that teams can consistently apply. This consistency directly impacts customer retention, as 70% of customers say it is very important for an organization to deliver a seamless experience across interactions. For companies aiming to improve their market presence and build customer loyalty, maintaining this consistency is essential. 

2. Faster time to market 

Design systems streamline the design and development process, enabling teams to implement components quickly and efficiently. This accelerates product launches and updates, as seen in several examples:  

• - The Sparbox Team found that developing a simple form page was 47% faster with a design system than coding from scratch.  
• - Figma’s Data Science Team reported a 34% speed increase for designers creating an app screen with a design system. 
  
  

3. Reduced costs

As a result, by reusing pre-built design assets, design systems reduce the need for duplicative design and development efforts, saving time and resources across projects. Although creating a design system requires an initial investment of time and money, the long-term cost savings are substantial. For instance, as highlighted in the article from Smashing Magazine, 'Formula for ROI of a Design System,' companies can see significant returns on investment by streamlining their design processes and reducing redundant work, achieving up to 135% ROI.  

This aligns as well with data collected from the expert Varya Stepanova where the task of button implementation though company products reduce the time, and therefore the money invested, from 30h to 16h thanks to the design system. Long story short: Implementing a design system aligns with the “smart business” philosophy, minimizing waste and maximizing impact across teams. 

4. Fosters innovation 

By eliminating the need to recreate common components, teams can focus on innovation and developing new features. With repetitive tasks streamlined, teams have more room to explore creative solutions and move their products forward efficiently.  

5. Improves collaboration 

A design system establishes a shared language across teams, making cross-functional collaboration smoother. With consistent guidelines and components, team members—whether designers, developers, content creators, or product managers—communicate more effectively. This also simplifies onboarding, as new team members can quickly align with the established principles and workflows outlined in the system’s documentation and component libraries. 

6. Enables scalability & ensures maintainability 

Design systems are built for scalability, especially  with  atomic design methodology, which we highly recommend.  
 
Atomic design is a process of breaking down interfaces into small, reusable elements similar to atoms that combine to create more complex components. If a company undergoes rebranding or introduces a new product, the modular structure of a design system allows for seamless updates. 
  

The ability to adjust the atoms in one place lets updates automatically propagate across all products. This setup allows for rapid adjustments and seamless scalability, making it easier to navigate complex market requirements while maintaining consistency and efficiency.  

 This set up just needs to be built once to make your company be able to roll out any upcoming rebranding or portfolio update fast and efficiently in the future. 

7. Promotes accessibility compliance

With regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into effect in June 2025, companies are increasingly prioritising accessibility in their products. A design system is an ideal foundation for embedding accessibility into a company.

By focusing on integrating accessibility standards on the design system first, companies can build compliant, user-friendly products more efficiently and effectively. Following this path reduces later the effort to check individual product compliance.

While measuring ROI can be challenging, as many non-monetary factors indirectly contribute to measurable financial returns, the benefits outlined consistently highlight the strong impact and high value that design systems provide. Without one, companies risk inefficiencies and wasted resources. Implementing a design system will not only stop this “leak” of time and money but also significantly boost productivity and product quality at scale. For organizations looking to stay competitive, this “more with less” approach ensures that resources are used smartly and sustainably. 

Why investing in a design system pays off in the long run 
  

At first glance, investing in and implementing a design system might seem abstract to many business stakeholders. Unlike a product team that delivers features to the market, a design system works behind the scenes, enhancing productivity and ensuring higher quality. However, its impact is significant. Our goal through this article has been to shed light on the tangible benefits a design system brings, clarifying how it serves as a valuable asset that drives efficiency, innovation, and long-term success for companies. It supports not only the day-to-day workflows but also the overarching business goals of operating with resilience, scalability, and a clear edge over competitors.   

If you're considering building a design system or need guidance on optimizing an existing one, our team is here to help. As a strategic partner with extensive expertise in building scalable, resilient solutions, we offer the resources and knowledge to bridge business needs with technical requirements. Whether you have questions or want to discuss how a design system could benefit your business, don't hesitate to contact us.