Driving Growth

The consulting industry has been somewhat volatile over the past few years, with market uncertainty leading to hiring freezes and cost cutting in certain scenarios. But as we step into 2025, demand is making a strong comeback, and it’s not limited to just one area.

Firms are expanding service lines, increasing headcount, and investing heavily in new capabilities. What’s driving this renewed demand? A combination of AI adoption, digital transformation, M&A recovery and a surge in commercial excellence initiatives; particularly in pricing and sales strategy.

AI’s Growing Role in Consulting

AI is no longer just a “nice to have”, it’s becoming a core part of how businesses operate and consulting firms are right in the middle of this transformation. Instead of simply advising on AI, consultancies are embedding it into pricing models, risk analysis, and decision-making frameworks, making AI a real driver of business change.

McKinsey’s QuantumBlack has already worked on 10,000+ AI-related projects in the past three years, showing just how much AI is driving growth in consulting. And the trend is only accelerating, MCA reports that three-quarters of consulting firms are planning AI investments of £1.9M+ over the next two years.

What’s even more interesting is how companies are using AI. BCG reports that over 80% of AI investments are now going into reshaping core functions and creating entirely new offerings, not just automating small, repetitive tasks. Around 60% of companies are already exploring AI agents, autonomous systems that can make decisions and act without human intervention. This suggests that 2025 could be a real turning point in AI adoption.

We’re also seeing this play out at a practical level. Deloitte, for example, has rolled out DARTbot in its audit and assurance services, helping automate repetitive tasks while making knowledge sharing across teams more efficient. Similarly, Ducker Carlisle’s SparkWise Data & AI leverages AI-powered solutions to automate manual processes, enhance productivity, and drive sales growth through advanced data insights. This isn’t just about saving time, it’s about making teams smarter and more strategic.

So where have we seen AI making the biggest impact in consulting?

• AI-Powered Pricing & Revenue Management – Smart pricing models that adjust dynamically to market changes.
• Automated Financial Risk Analysis – AI-driven fraud detection and compliance monitoring.
• Supply Chain Optimisation – Better demand forecasting and inventory management using AI insights.
• Customer Segmentation & Sales Acceleration – AI-powered marketing insights and targeted sales strategies.
• Process Automation – AI taking over manual, repetitive tasks, freeing up consultants for strategic work.

Consulting firms that invest in understanding how to integrate AI into business models and decision making are the ones who are increasing their share and making use of this demand.

Digital Transformation: A Key Driver of Growth

The demand for digital transformation consulting has increased as companies race to modernise their operations, integrate AI-driven systems and remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. Businesses that previously hesitated to invest in digitalisation are now accelerating their transformation efforts, increasingly seeking expert guidance from consulting firms to navigate this shift.

The urgency behind digital adoption is clear. A shocking McKinsey report suggests that between 400 and 800 million jobs will be automated by 2030 across the globe, reshaping industries at an unprecedented scale. Companies that fail to adopt digital tools risk falling behind and the numbers reinforce this - 89% of successful enterprises have a digital-first business strategy.

With this shift, consulting firms are playing a critical role in digital transformation efforts, helping businesses move from outdated systems to AI-powered, cloud-based, and automated operations.

Key areas where consultants are making an impact include:

• Digital Due Diligence – Evaluating a company’s technology stack, automation potential, and digital maturity before M&A deals.
• Cloud & IT Modernisation – Transitioning businesses from legacy systems to cloud-based, scalable architectures.
• AI & Automation – Implementing AI-driven workflows and robotic process automation to streamline operations.
• Customer Experience & Digital Sales – Optimising omnichannel strategies and self-service models to enhance engagement.
• Cybersecurity & Risk Management – Strengthening security frameworks as companies undergo rapid digitalisation.

OMMAX is a prime example of a leader in digital transformation advisory across industries. Their proven track record in accelerating businesses into the digital age is evident, achieving a 40-50% increase in efficiency and enhanced SEO performance for a client through an AI-based solution for automating and optimising content creation. This success highlights the immense value of digitalisation in advisory, proving that digital transformation is a key driver of growth across all sectors.

According to us the message is clear; businesses that aren’t investing in digital transformation today may struggle to compete tomorrow. As AI adoption increases and automation reshapes industries, consulting firms that specialise in digital acceleration and tech driven business models will be the ones leading the charge.

M&A and Private Equity Advisory: The Market is Active Again

Another service area consulting firms are seeing a sharp rise in demand is transaction advisory and due diligence services as M&A activity picks up again in 2025. Private equity firms are eager to deploy capital, but they need more than just traditional financial analysis, they are looking for a full picture of commercial, pricing, and digital potential before making investment decisions…And they are going after consultancies for some advice.

Leading consultancies, including PwC and BCG, have already announced expansion plans to meet this rising demand. However, the nature of M&A advisory is shifting, clients are no longer satisfied with just traditional financial due diligence. They want a full-spectrum evaluation that includes:

• Commercial Due Diligence – Assessing market positioning, customer trends, and long-term scalability.
• Pricing Strategy Diagnostic – Analysing pricing structures to maximise revenue potential post-deal.
• Digital Due Diligence – Evaluating a company’s technology stack, automation potential, and digital readiness.
• Post-Merger Integration – Streamlining operations and aligning teams for long-term success.

Consultancies like Teneo are a leading example of how consultancies are adapting to meet the rising demand in PE advisory. Able to leverage their wide internal capability, they can provide both commercial and pricing / sales due diligence at pre-deal stage and deliver an even wider value creation agenda post acquisition. Teneo helps private equity firms ensure that all potential value extraction is discovered early in the assessment, realising often overlooked opportunity. They just won the Value Creation Advisory Firm of the Year to support this.

We observe this demand firsthand with both our UK / EU and US clients. We receive a high volume of projects from PE-backed consultancies looking to expand their teams with talent experienced in private equity, M&A and pricing. As the market evolves, consultancies aren’t just looking for technical expertise, they want professionals with a strong commercial mindset, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complex client environments as well.

The Rise of Pricing & Sales Excellence in Consulting

One of the biggest trends we’re seeing is the growing demand for pricing, sales, and revenue growth consulting. As companies face increasing margin pressure, the need for structured pricing and sales transformation has never been greater.

According to Archive Market Research, the marketing and sales consulting services market is expected to reach $16.37 billion in 2025, reinforcing the growing need for structured commercial transformation and the increasing reliance on consultancies to optimise pricing and sales strategies

It’s no surprise that our partners in commercial transformation are going through rapid growth, expanding their teams and actively looking for the right talent. Commercial excellence has become a priority for many firms because it doesn’t just cover pricing or sales in isolation, it captures the full commercial engine of a business, from pricing models to sales acceleration strategies.

Pearson Ham Group, a specialist pricing consultancy, has done well to tilt towards this growth, running engagements that initiate through pricing analysis and lead into a change agent across marketing and sales. This is not only a strategic change, but also driven by the implementation of specialist tools and software for adoption across the business. They’re not the only ones focused on this either, with impressive challenger firms such as 7Sages Pricing developing a strong footprint in the end to end transformation of pricing and commercial as well.

We observe that the demand for pricing and sales consulting is no longer centered around traditional expectations. It has evolved into a digital-first approach, where AI, automation, and analytics play a critical role in decision making.

To meet this shift, consultancies have developed innovative digital solutions that go beyond standard pricing and sales strategies. Horváth Management Consultants offers AI-Based Pricing with Artelligence, an AI-driven tool that optimises pricing strategies in real-time, allowing businesses to swiftly adapt to market changes and enhance competitiveness. Additionally, Horváth’s Data Driven Sales methodology leverages advanced analytics to improve sales performance, helping companies make informed decisions and maximise revenue. Similarly, Bain & Company has introduced the Pricing Navigator, a cloud-based software that integrates with existing systems to provide real-time insights into pricing processes and risks, ensuring businesses can proactively manage their commercial strategies.

These advanced solutions reflect the broader industry trend where pricing and sales consulting is now deeply embedded in digital transformation, setting a new standard for commercial excellence.

What’s Next for Consulting?

Core service lines complimented by new era additions of AI and Digital are set to remain central to how consulting evolves.

By investing in technology, consultancies will not just future-proof their own operations, they’ll also capture the rising demand for pricing, sales, AI-driven insights and automation.

Technology alone isn’t enough, having the right team in place to execute and innovate will be just as important. The consultancies that blend technological development with strong talent will be the ones benefiting from this growing demand.

Ultimately, the real value lies in how these service lines come together. AI, Digitalisation, M&A and Pricing advisory; when deployed correctly, can create a powerful commercial strategy that drives efficiency, revenue, and long-term impact. The firms that can integrate these disciplines effectively, leveraging AI and digital tools while maintaining a strong human element, will be the ones defining the future of consulting.

Sincerely,

Eda Nicole Özkardeşler, Growth Consultant at İstanbul Office