Trending Topics in the Consulting Industry

Published on: February 6, 2019 / update from: February 6, 2019 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Because quantifying facts is at the heart of our business and to keep track of what our customers are talking about, statistical researchers analyzed over 150 white papers, articles and reports from leading consulting firms. By categorizing publications by common themes, we created a map of what consultants are currently researching.

One in five publications surveyed were focused on digital transformation, which for this research was defined as articles discussing the disruption and impact that digital technologies are causing to the business landscape. Although this definition is similar to Industry 4.0, we have separated the two topics. Consultants are excited to see what impact these technologies will have on business models or processes and how this will impact value creation. The subtopics range from changes in infrastructure, products and services to the spreading effect on supply chains. Another common theme in digital transformation is exploring new ways for companies to interact with consumers.

In this study, 17% of the publications deal with the employee strategy, which makes this the second most important topic. Companies are looking for opportunities to enable employees and optimize the workplace for more performance. Companies hire more technically experienced employees who can use new technologies and meet new requirements. We see a change in the type of employee who hire companies and a change in the relationship between employees and the employer if the number of temporarily employed employees increases (“GIG Economy”). Individuals are looking for a more flexible schedule and are less inclined to stay in a job over a longer period of time.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is covered by 15% of articles, making it the third most popular topic. AI algorithms can address automation challenges and potential across a wide range of areas, ranging from sales to customer service to analytics. Areas of concern include cybersecurity, privacy and long-term social and economic impacts. AI has also found its way into our daily lives. With the help of assistance intelligence such as chatbots and virtual assistants, AI can now independently help manage and carry out tasks. Autonomous intelligence is slowly starting to permeate our roads with self-driving vehicles.

Another important segment deals with a new industrial revolution, the formative Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Manufacturers are combining automation, network infrastructure, artificial intelligence and analytics on the production line and restructuring the way businesses operate. These technological advances will have a profound impact on supply chains when it comes to production planning, predictive maintenance, materials management, and monitoring and control.

Since quantifying facts lies at the core of our business and to stay on top of what our clients are talking about, Statista researchers analyzed over 150 white papers, articles, and reports from the leading consulting firms. By categorizing the publications according to common topics, we created a map of what consultants are currently researching.

One in five publications discussed digital transformation, which was defined for this research as articles that discussed the disruption and impact that digital technologies cause to the business landscape. While this definition is similar to Industry 4.0, we separated the two topics. Consultants are buzzing about the effects these technologies will bring to business models or processes, and how that will affect value creation. Subtopics here range from the change in infrastructure, products, and services to the rippling effect on supply chains. Another common theme in digital transformation explores new ways for companies to interact with consumers.

In this study, 17% of the publications are about workforce strategy, making this the second most relevant topic. Corporations are looking for ways to empower their workers and optimize the workplace for better performance. Companies are hiring more tech-savvy individuals who can leverage new technologies and meet new demands. We are seeing a change in the type of employee companies are hiring and a change in the employee/employer relationship as the number of contingent workers rises (“Gig economy”). Individuals are looking for a more flexible schedule and are less likely to stay at one job for a long period of time.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is covered by 15% of the articles, making it the third most popular topic. AI algorithms can address challenges and potentials regarding automation in a wide range of fields, covering everything from sales and customer service to analytics. Fields of concern are cybersecurity, privacy, and long-term social and economic impact. AI has also made its way into our daily lives. With the help of assistance intelligence, such as chatbots and virtual assistants, AI can now independently help guide and perform tasks. Autonomous intelligence is slowly starting to penetrate our streets with self-driving vehicles.

Another key segment explores a new industrial revolution, coined industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Manufacturers are combining automation, network infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and analytics on the production line, restructuring the way businesses function. These advances in technologies will have a comprehensive effect on supply chains when it comes to production planning, predictive maintenance, and material management as well as monitoring and controlling.

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