Why Software is Eating Management Consultants

I said three words and you could hear a pin drop.

“Google buys KPMG”

I was advising global partners at one of the big 4 (with my Bakery hat) and this was a picture that speared to the heart of the model.

Why?

At its simplest the consulting model is to:

1. Collect data in a company

2. Synthesise insights

3. Play back actionable strategy

Charging as much money as possible for that process.

The model relies on throwing bodies at the problem – smart bodies – but bodies nonetheless.

But the marginal cost of software is zero and in a world where software is eating the world computers are remarkably good at synthesising large amounts of data and producing insights.

What would Google do with access to the same Clients?