Consultancy firms are transforming service delivery with AI

Consultancy has always been a profession defined by expertise, problem-solving, and trust. But in recent years, the pace of business has accelerated to the point where even experienced professionals struggle to keep up. Clients expect quicker results, more tailored insights, and measurable outcomes, often within tighter budgets. At the same time, transformations are becoming more complex, involving multilayered technologies and industries in constant flux.

In this environment, AI and consultancy are coming together to reshape how firms operate, compete, and succeed. Rather than replacing consultants, AI is proving to be a powerful facilitator. It can streamline research, reduce errors, speed up delivery, and create space for teams to focus on the human side of the profession: building relationships, exercising judgement, and crafting creative solutions.

This article examines why AI and consulting are becoming essential partners, the misconceptions that hold some organisations back, practical use cases already emerging, and why now is the time to begin. Across industries, companies using AI in consultancy are demonstrating how these tools drive efficiency and insight. For consulting firms, adopting AI is not merely about keeping up—it is about positioning for lasting relevance and leadership.

Why AI in consulting is reshaping the profession

The consultancy industry is no stranger to change. From the rise of enterprise software to globalisation, firms have repeatedly adapted their methods to help clients solve pressing challenges.

But AI in consulting is different because it alters not only what firms deliver, but also how they deliver it—reshaping both value and delivery for clients.

The pressure is on companies to:

• Accelerate timelines as clients require decisions in weeks, not months
• Make budgets go further by delivering efficiency that’s essential
• Navigate information overload with documentation, benchmarks, and precedents scattered across countless systems

In this environment, AI in consulting is more than just a productivity boost. It enables teams to:

• Instantly surface relevant knowledge from vast data sources
• Detect risks and opportunities earlier, before they escalate
• Scale consistent delivery methods across multiple engagements

Firms that embrace AI transformation in consulting—whether advising clients on adopting AI or reimagining their own delivery models—gain a competitive advantage by combining human expertise with intelligent tools. The alternative—ignoring these capabilities—risks falling behind as peers and competitors use AI to deliver greater value in less time.

The benefits of AI for consultants

The idea of AI in professional services often provokes two reactions: excitement about its potential, or fear that it will render traditional roles redundant. The reality is that AI does not replace consulting roles but complements them by enhancing human expertise.

For consultancy firms, the benefits of AI are clear:

• Efficiency: Repetitive tasks such as scanning lengthy documents, generating meeting minutes, or retrieving industry benchmarks can now be completed in minutes. Teams recover hours each week that can be redirected to client-facing work.
• Accuracy: By drawing from trusted sources and structured knowledge, AI reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes. Version-specific information and best practices minimise the risk of rework, improving client satisfaction.
• Scale: Once limited to large engagements, advanced analysis and modelling can now be applied across smaller projects too. Firms can provide consistent, high-quality delivery across a wider portfolio of clients.

The outcome is not fewer consultants, but organisations redeploying their people towards higher-value work. Freed from administrative burdens, professionals can spend more time guiding strategy, strengthening relationships, and designing innovative solutions.

Misconceptions and changes in mindset

Despite its benefits, many consultancy firms are hesitant to embrace AI. The hesitation often arises from two common misconceptions.

Myth 1: AI will replace consultants

Reality: While AI excels at processing information and recognising patterns, it cannot replicate the uniquely human qualities that define successful consulting. Creativity, judgement, empathy, and the ability to navigate client politics are not programmable. AI can prepare the team, but only people can earn trust and close the deal.

Myth 2: Faster work reduces profitability

Reality: Some firms worry that if projects take less time, revenue will decrease. In practice, the opposite is the case. Efficiency enables firms to scale engagements, broaden service offerings, and secure more business. Clients increasingly prefer organisations that can move quickly and deliver clear results—and they reward those capabilities with loyalty and repeat business.

The mindset shift is to view AI in consulting as a partnership. Firms remain in control, but AI removes friction and increases capacity. Those who thrive will be the ones using AI to strengthen the qualities that make them indispensable.

Practical use cases for AI and consultancy

It’s one thing to talk about theory. It’s another matter to see how AI tools for consultants are reshaping daily project work within consulting firms. While every organisation will adapt AI differently, some patterns are already emerging.

Accelerating project ramp-up

When new teams join a project, induction can be time-consuming. Documentation is often incomplete or scattered across systems. AI assistants can streamline this by highlighting relevant precedents, industry standards, and proven frameworks. Instead of spending days piecing together information, firms can start adding value within hours.

Answering questions in real time

Momentum matters in client workshops. Traditionally, when a client raises a technical query, consultants defer answers until a follow-up. Now, AI copilots can quickly provide validated guidance during the session itself. As happened with consultancy firm SEIDOR, this keeps discussions productive, builds client confidence, and avoids unnecessary delays.

Reusing deliverables

Templates, specifications, and process maps often become buried in archives. Firms waste hours recreating work that their teams know already exists. With intelligent retrieval, these deliverables can be located, adapted, and applied in a fraction of the time, ensuring consistency across engagements and greater client value.

Mitigating risks

Even experienced teams can miss subtle warning signs. AI can flag patterns—such as integration pitfalls or common performance issues—that might otherwise go unnoticed until late in the project. Just as importantly, consultancy firms must account for data and ethical risks, ensuring responsible AI use through governance practices. This balanced approach reduces costly surprises and reinforces client confidence.

Upskilling on demand

Firms frequently encounter steep learning curves as their consultants adopt new tools or modules. Formal training can be slow or impractical during delivery. AI systems provide just-in-time guidance—step-by-step instructions, contextual tips, and examples—that enable teams to learn while carrying out tasks, without hindering progress.

These use cases are only a beginning. The true impact of AI in consulting becomes apparent when firms integrate such practices throughout entire lifecycles, from planning through to execution and support.

Why now is the time to explore AI for consultants

Now is the right time for consulting firms to explore AI for consultants. Leading organisations are already integrating AI transformation consulting into their standard offerings, and clients notice the difference. Those who act early are positioning themselves as innovators, while those who delay risk being left behind.

Several factors make urgency crucial today:

• Client expectations: Many clients are adopting AI internally and expect their consulting partners to demonstrate fluency.
• Competitive advantage: Firms that integrate AI deliver results more quickly and reliably, creating a reputational edge.
• Talent development: Firms that train their staff to use AI build teams that are more effective, more marketable, and more engaged—making retention easier.

Across industries, companies using AI in consulting are already demonstrating the advantages of moving early—delivering faster outcomes and building a reputational advantage. In short, the firms that invest in AI for consultants now will build momentum that accumulates over time. Hesitation comes at a cost, not only in efficiency but also in reputation and opportunity.

Turning possibility into practice

AI is no longer a futuristic trend—it is a present reality reshaping consultancy. The firms that lead in this new era will not be those with the largest teams or the longest track records, but those that treat AI as an enhancement of their expertise.

The challenge is not whether AI will matter—it is whether your firm will be prepared to use it effectively. Those who embrace it will increase their efficiency and accuracy—and thus their value to clients.

And for firms operating within the SAP ecosystem, these opportunities are more than just theoretical. SAP Joule for Consultants puts these AI capabilities into practice, combining SAP’s extensive knowledge base with intelligent assistance to help teams accelerate projects, reduce risks, and deliver stronger outcomes.

Like KPMG

Take, for instance, the experience of KPMG, the global audit, tax, and advisory firm. As discussed in this webinar, KPMG uses SAP Joule for Consultants to streamline consulting workflows, and optimise service delivery by automating repetitive tasks for SAP software implementations. SAP Joule for Consultants also helps reduce technical barriers to adopting SAP software knowledge spread across different platforms, helping KPMG bring new professionals up to speed in less time.

Learn more

Read our guide on the AI-enabled consultancy or visit us online to explore SAP Joule for Consultants in greater depth.