Nobody in consulting talks about service delivery formats much. That’s a mistake. Here’s why.
Most consultants default to a handful of delivery formats – shaped by their market, their expertise, and what clients have historically asked for. But markets are shifting, and a delivery model that made sense three years ago may not be the right fit today.
Here’s what I’m seeing: some clients are bringing more work in-house, and I think this will continue to some extent.
Knowledge and information are everywhere now. Clients can take the first few steps themselves – research a problem, explore potential solutions, build an initial hypothesis – in ways they simply couldn’t before. What they still need from consultants is evolving.
The problems they need outside help with are changing. And so is what they’re willing to pay for.
In my experience, these are the typical consulting service delivery formats:
– Advisory and strategy
– Project implementation
– Fractional executive
– Workshops and training
– IP licensing
– Digital products
– Executive coaching
– Peer advisory groups
Two questions I’m starting to think about, for myself and my clients:
First – given how client problems are evolving, do your current delivery formats still fit? Are there formats you’ve outgrown? Are there formats you’ve never tried that could open up new client relationships or revenue streams?
Second – which formats should you bet long on? Which ones are timeless regardless of where technology goes, and which ones is AI quietly making redundant?
I’ll be sharing my thinking on the second question in my next post. Watch this space.
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