AI and Automation Trends in the Consulting Industry
Market research that used to take days can now be completed in minutes with generative AI tools. Instead of consultants wading through reams of reports, AI tools can scan thousands of sources and quickly summarize the data.
AI can also quickly generate reports and proposals, which consultants only have to review for accuracy. Agentic chatbots can provide clients with 24/7 support, answering simple, frequently asked questions, giving consultants more time for high-value work.
But gen AI’s most significant impact is in data analysis. Not only can it rapidly crunch massive amounts of data, but it also identifies patterns, highlights risks, and surfaces opportunities that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
McKinsey reports that AI adoption has surged across industries, with 65% of organizations now using generative AI, nearly double from the previous year. For example, consultancy firm PwC has incorporated AI into compliance and governance, collaborating with OpenAI and Microsoft to develop secure AI solutions that boost productivity by 20–50% while reducing manual review efforts.
This article explores how AI, automation, and hyper-automation are transforming the consulting industry.
How AI and Automation are Redefining Consulting
AI tools improve efficiency, decision-making, and overall client service in the consulting industry.
Increasing Efficiency
AI’s contribution to consulting is its ability to handle repetitive tasks that would otherwise take up significant time. For example, automating data analysis speeds up the process of gathering and interpreting information, allowing consultants to deliver insights more quickly.
Similarly, AI reduces time spent on tasks like drafting reports or proposals, providing consultants more time for strategic decision-making.
The application of AI in data analysis has become a valuable tool for consultants. By processing large volumes of data, AI can identify patterns and uncover opportunities that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. This allows for more informed decisions and a more comprehensive view of a project.
Streamlining Consulting Workflows
In the contracting phase, AI can accelerate the initial stages by automating data analysis and generating hypotheses. AI also helps consultants define project scope more efficiently by analyzing historical data, client reports, and other relevant information.
During execution, AI automates administrative tasks like CRM updates, report generation, and market research. This means consultants can devote more time to analyzing data, advising clients, and developing strategies. AI also helps to synthesize market research quickly, providing consultants with real-time insights that help them stay aligned with client objectives and adjust strategies as needed.
In the closing phase, AI automates quality assurance processes, ensuring that deliverables align with initial contracts and identifying discrepancies before final delivery. It also assists in creating client-ready presentations with data visualizations and summaries, saving consultants time and ensuring that deliverables are accurate and polished.
AI-Driven Capabilities in Consulting
AI offers a range of capabilities that improve both operational efficiency and client service. For example, tools like ProAI and Notion AI can quickly compile research data and generate polished reports and presentations. This reduces the time consultants spend on documentation and allows them to focus on client interactions and high-value activities.
AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 client support, handle routine queries, schedule meetings, and gather feedback. While chatbots offer significant time-saving benefits, it’s essential to maintain transparency with clients, ensuring they understand when they are interacting with AI and when they are engaging with a consultant.
AI also supports recruitment by analyzing resumes and performance data to identify top candidates. While AI can assist in filtering candidates, human judgment remains crucial for evaluating cultural fit and assessing soft skills that may not be captured through algorithms.
The Role of AI in Various Consulting Domains
In strategy consulting, AI can process large datasets to identify trends and insights that help consultants develop strategies. However, human expertise remains essential for interpreting these insights in a way that aligns with a client’s specific context and goals.
In Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), AI helps streamline due diligence by quickly analyzing financial and legal documents. Yet, human consultants still play an irreplaceable role when negotiating deals or assessing cultural fit between organizations.
AI is also making its mark in change management. By helping personalize employee experiences and providing real-time feedback, AI ensures that transformations are communicated effectively and employees remain engaged throughout the process. This highlights AI’s capacity to support the human elements of change rather than just automating tasks.
AI Applications in Consulting: Hyperautomation and IPA
While AI is a broad concept, hyperautomation and Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) are specific applications that enhance consulting workflows.
Hyperautomation focuses on automating every possible task across a business, integrating AI, machine learning, and RPA to create end-to-end systems that can handle entire workflows. Hyperautomation reduces the need for human intervention and allows for faster, more accurate data processing and decision-making. It’s particularly valuable for automating tasks like market research, data analysis, and even generating client recommendations. With hyperautomation, consultants can act proactively, providing clients with faster insights and improving overall project efficiency.
In contrast, IPA targets specific tasks within those workflows that require human judgment. Combining AI, ML, and NLP, IPA automates decision-making processes that traditionally require human input. IPA makes tasks like analyzing unstructured data or interpreting complex documents more efficient. While hyperautomation connects the dots across tasks, IPA focuses on improving the efficiency of each task, making them smarter and less reliant on manual work.
Explainable AI (XAI)
Consulting is built on trust. If clients don’t understand how a consultant reached a conclusion, they won’t rely on it. If an AI system flags a high-risk investment or recommends a strategic shift, but no one knows why, skepticism sets in. Decisions without explanations create doubt, and doubt kills deals.
Clients need to see the reasoning behind AI-driven insights. They need proof that AI isn’t just making guesses but is basing its conclusions on solid, unbiased logic. That’s where XAI comes in.
AI can be brilliant, but it can also be flawed. If left unchecked, it can inherit biases from training data, make unfair recommendations, and reinforce systemic problems instead of solving them. That’s why firms that use AI at scale are investing in XAI.
XAI shows its work. It explains why it chose one outcome over another, highlighting the factors behind each decision. It identifies potential biases, allowing consultants to correct them before they impact client recommendations. This ensures AI remains accountable, creating a system where humans and machines work together rather than blindly trusting the algorithm.
AI is Reshaping Consulting. Are You Ready?
AI is a fundamental shift in how consulting works. It predicts problems before they happen, automates decisions that used to take weeks, and replaces slow, manual processes with real-time intelligence.
If you’re still relying on old ways of working, your competition is pulling ahead. Clients demand sharper strategies and smooth execution. AI delivers that.
At Taazaa, we build custom AI solutions that meet your business needs. No generic platforms. No wasted investment. Just AI that makes you faster, smarter, and more profitable.
To explore a custom AI solution for your consultancy, get in touch with Taazaa today.
