The consulting industry has reached another inflection point. According to findings from the IBM Institute for Business Value, today’s enterprise leaders aren’t simply looking for data consulting partners that use AI. They’re redefining what they expect from consulting altogether.
The numbers tell the story:
- 86% of buyers are actively seeking consulting services that incorporate AI and technology assets.
- 89% of enterprise leaders expect AI to improve both productivity and quality.
- 66% of respondents say they’ll stop working with consulting organizations that don’t incorporate AI into their services.
Clients aren’t asking consultants to simply deliver KPIs faster. They’re asking them to reshape what delivery means.
For organizations modernizing their data estate, adopting platforms like Snowflake with a trusted partner, or building enterprise AI capabilities, this shift couldn’t be more significant.
Success increasingly depends on partners who combine AI-powered delivery with deep data expertise and the ability to turn strategy into measurable business outcomes.
AI Isn’t Replacing Consultants (But It is Raising the Bar)
One of the report’s most interesting findings is that organizations expect to spend more, not less, on consulting in the coming years. That prediction seems counterintuitive until you consider where AI’s actual impact lies.
AI has demonstrated a remarkable ability to eliminate repetitive work, but what it doesn’t do is remove complexity.
In other words, business leaders still need experienced advisors to navigate platform modernization, governance, architecture, operating models, and organizational change. What changes is how that expertise is delivered.
Rather than spending weeks producing analyses or documentation, consultants can use AI to accelerate delivery while focusing more time on strategic decisions that create long-term value.
From Labor-Led Consulting to Asset-Led Delivery
Perhaps the biggest shift described in the IBV report is the movement away from labor-intensive consulting toward reusable digital assets.
Instead of solving every engagement from scratch, leading consulting organizations are codifying expertise into reusable frameworks, accelerators, AI assistants, and delivery assets.
Every engagement, by extension, becomes an opportunity to improve the next one.
At Hakkoda, an IBM Company, this has long been a core facet of our delivery ethos. Whether we’re helping organizations migrate to Snowflake, modernize data pipelines, establish governance frameworks, or prepare for enterprise AI, we’re continually expanding reusable assets and methodologies that accelerate delivery while improving consistency and quality.
That’s particularly valuable in AI projects, where repeatable governance, trusted architecture, and proven implementation patterns matter as much as the technology itself.
Consulting Is a Continuous Partnership
Traditional consulting often followed a familiar pattern: assess, recommend, implement. Find the next use case, then rinse and repeat. But IBV’s recent findings suggest clients increasingly want something different.
They expect long-term partners who continuously improve operations, evolve AI capabilities, and help organizations adapt as technology changes. They want to work with consultancy services that practice what they preach and can lead by example with a client zero mentality.
That’s particularly true for AI initiatives. Unlike traditional software projects, AI systems improve through iteration, governance, and ongoing optimization. Consulting is becoming less about delivering a project and more about enabling continuous transformation.
Trust Has Become a Competitive Advantage
Perhaps the most striking finding from the Consulting Reimagined, powered by AI report isn’t about AI at all, but about trust.
The IBV found:
- 93% of buyers say they’ll only work with consulting firms that are transparent about how they use AI.
- 90% expect clear AI governance.
- 82% are concerned about unethical AI use.
- 70% expect AI to consolidate their consulting relationships around fewer, more trusted partners.
Those numbers reinforce something the Hakkoda and IBM teams have believed for years. Namely, that the future of consulting will belong to those that combine AI innovation with trusted data, responsible governance, technical depth, and measurable business outcomes.
Because the future of consulting can’t be just making the same mistakes faster. By necessity, it needs to be smarter, more collaborative, and built on trust. Let’s talk today about how we can help you lead that next chapter.
