75% of consulting buyers expect AI to have a positive impact on their use of consulting

The consulting industry is undergoing profound change, driven by digitalization, AI models and changing customer expectations. Clients are demanding fast, evidence-based solutions and digital mindsets.

Consulting firms need to redefine how they deliver value for clients. This involves the ability to reduce complexity, to bring in an entrepreneurial mindset and integrate technology in a meaningful way in order to develop exceptional solutions more quickly.

Faster, better, cheaper: AI is changing the way consultants deliver solutions and value to clients

To grasp how expectations are changing, the IBM Institute for Business

Value, in partnership with Oxford Economics, conducted a survey of global executives

who purchase consulting services.

The study found that 75% of surveyed clients expect AI to have a positive impact on

their use of consulting. In concrete terms, this means: scaled knowledge and better quality with reduced service provision costs.

Clients seek management consultancies that offer AI-led services

Source: IBM Institute for Business Value, 2024

👉 But which consulting companies and which AI solutions can effectively create added value for customers? The use of AI as a consulting tool alone is not enough. It must be combined with the right expertise, skills, and capabilities and be easy for people to use in order to deliver real business value.

What factors should clients consider when selecting a management consultant offering AI solutions?

Our experience indicates that for consulting firms to effectively meet client needs, their technology-driven approach must satisfy several conditions:

1. Customized AI tools: Consultants must be able to generate customized AI tools tailored to a specific client or situation - and access a knowledge base that can augment their experience in breadth and depth.

   
   

2. AI technology & consulting skills: Consultants can leverage AI as a sparring partner to stimulate innovative and creative thinking, but this is effective only when they possess a solid foundation in technology. The right individuals remain crucial.

   
   

3. Co-creation & entrepreneurial thinking: Consulting buyers expect consultants to not only bring just expert knowledge and technological solutions. Businesses are seeking a reliable partner who can collaborate with them as equals, rather than an external "know-it-all." There's a growing demand for partnership-based co-creation and increased co-entrepreneurship.

   
   

4. Pricing: The shift from solely people-based consutling to a combination of human expertise and technology assets must also be reflected in the fee models of consultancies. Pricing that reflects the value a consulting engagement delivers (value-based pricing) will become increasingly important, as will tracking of results achieved and the integration of asset licenses.

   
   
   
   
   
   

Typical and useful areas for consulting on artificial intelligence

Organizations vary in their starting positions and stages regarding the implementation of artificial intelligence within their operations. AI consulting (artificial intelligence consulting) can support companies in the identification, implementation and use of AI technologies in various areas. Depending on the "maturity level" of the company, different ways of working with consultants are recommended in order to leverage the specific potential of artificial intelligence for the organization:

1. Orientation & exploration: With the help of targeted AI workshops and advice, companies can clarify fundamental strategic questions in order to start using AI.

   
   

   1. Understanding the possibilities and perspectives of AI in your company and various AI technologies (e.g. generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), etc.)

   2. Basic areas of application for the use of AI

   3. Analysis and assessment of the potential of AI for your company

   4. Safety-related aspects, ethical considerations such as bias, transparency and regulatory concerns and risk analyses for the use of AI

   5. Derivation of strategic goals and priorities for the use of AI in your company

      
      
   
   

2. AI-Strategy & Roadmap: Development of a specific AI strategy and integration into the existing corporate strategy.

   
   

   1. How should AI be used in the company and how can AI support the achievement of corporate goals

   2. Identification and definition of practical AI application areas, AI applications and AI tools (assistants, co-pilots, AI agents, etc.)

   3. Analysis and definition of human and financial resources as necessary prerequisites for the implementation of AI

   4. Analysis and definition of necessary changes to the IT infrastructure

   5. Roadmap for building the necessary skills and ensuring the strategic and responsible use of AI within the company

   6. Business case for the use of AI in the company

   
   

3. AI-Implementation: Definition of concrete AI projects to turn ideas into AI solutions that increase efficiency, productivity and profitability:

   1. Data science, market and business intelligence, analytics: optimizing products, services and processes

   2. Process automation (e.g. marketing, sales, production, finance, IT, HR)

   3. AI-supported business models

   4. ...

   
   

4. AI-Governance, AI-Change & Transformation: Preparation, monitoring and support of the AI transformation

   1. AI culture (values, behaviors and a shared vision)

   2. Promote and support AI-based changes to workflows, roles and skills that are central to the effective integration of AI

   3. AI training & AI empowerment

   4. AI governance and monitoring systems

   
   

How Cardea can assist you in selecting the best AI-assisted consulting services and providers

Having conducted over 1,800 consultant evaluations and with more than 25 years of experience, Cardea is well-acquainted with the consulting market, current trends, and the expectations and needs of clients.

• Experience & market overview: Which consultant possesses cutting-edge expertise and best-practice knowledge?

  
  

• Methodically structured selection and decision-making process: Which consultant matches all the requirements for an effective and efficient project deployment?

  
  

• Approach & Cultural Fit: Which consultant possesses both the required expertise and aligns perfectly with your organization's culture?

  
  

• Added value: Which consultant provides a reliable, verifiable value proposition and offers the best balance between price and performance?

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