Clients favour consultants' local knowledge over global reach

CLIENTS are more concerned with local expertise and deep sector knowledge than international reach, a new study has found.

Sourceforconsulting.com found existing relationships and brand are the primary drivers of Big Four demand, with companies increasingly turning towards smaller firms offering more specialist knowledge despite their lack of global capabilities.

Regardless of this trend, the quartet remains popular among users of consultancy services, with three-quarters saying they will maintain or increase their Big Four spending.

Report author Edward Haigh said the major firms might be popular for generic cost-efficiency improvements but that smaller competitors can be preferable for “a targeted innovation project, as provided traditionally by a specialist strategy consultancy”.