Business Services IT & AI Consulting

The business and professional services sector – which includes consulting firms, accounting and audit firms, marketing agencies, and other B2B service providers – is experiencing a paradigm shift as it incorporates new technologies to deliver value more efficiently. Artificial intelligence and automation are at the heart of this shift. Many professional service firms have begun using AI to handle repetitive, data-heavy tasks that used to consume significant staff hours. For example, in accounting, AI-driven software can automatically classify transactions, detect anomalies, and even perform parts of an audit by analyzing all entries (rather than sample testing), freeing accountants to focus on interpreting results and advising clients.

In consulting, firms use AI-based research tools to rapidly crunch industry data and extract insights, accelerating what used to be weeks of manual analysis into something that can be done in days. According to a global McKinsey survey, the use of generative AI in professional services (business, legal, etc.) saw a large jump since early 2024 – about 71% of respondents in those fields reported increased gen AI usage in their work. This can range from using ChatGPT to draft reports and proposals, to employing AI models that generate code for software consulting projects.

Embracing AI has tangible benefits: studies indicate professional services automation can lead to efficiency gains of over 80%, and firms have seen cost reductions of ~20-35% by automating workflows in areas like legal research, accounting reconciliation, and report generation. The business model of professional services is shifting from pure billable hours to more intelligence-driven delivery – essentially using technology to do the heavy lifting faster, and then layering human expertise on top for clients.

Additionally, these firms are increasingly offering digital solutions themselves. For instance, the Big Four accounting/consulting companies now often deliver projects that involve building analytics dashboards, implementing AI systems, or providing managed services powered by proprietary technology platforms. Professional service providers are also adapting to remote and hybrid work norms by investing in collaboration tools, cloud platforms, and knowledge-sharing systems so that their globally distributed teams can work together seamlessly and tap into collective expertise.

Another trend is a focus on upskilling employees in digital and analytics skills. As automation takes over basic tasks, firms are training their workforce to use AI tools and to focus on higher-value activities like problem-solving, strategy, and interpersonal client advisory (often with AI as an assistant). We also see data analytics being used internally in these firms for decision-making – e.g., analyzing project data to better price services or to improve project management and delivery timelines.

Cybersecurity and data privacy have become crucial as well, since these firms handle sensitive client data and rely on cloud systems; ensuring robust security measures and compliance (like GDPR for EU client data) is now part of innovation strategy. In marketing and PR agencies (a subset of professional services), digital tools for programmatic advertising, social media analytics, and AI-generated content are transforming service offerings. Agencies leverage AI to segment audiences and even to create draft ad copy or videos, which creatives then refine, speeding up campaign cycles.

One notable shift across professional services is the emergence of new services around AI, for example, “AI consulting” practices are springing up within big consultancies to help clients implement AI, and law firms are selling AI risk assessment advisory. This shows how professional service firms not only use tech internally but also turn it outward as a market opportunity. In conclusion, business and professional services companies are heavily investing in technology – especially AI, automation, and analytics – to modernize their operations and offerings.

Those that succeed are finding they can deliver results faster and more cost-effectively, which is critical as clients become more ROI-focused. The integration of AI is transforming these firms’ workflow and value proposition, enabling an evolution from labor-intensive processes to insight- and technology-driven consulting and solutions. This transformation is still underway, but it’s clear that the professional services sector is moving rapidly to blend human expertise with digital power for competitive advantage.