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India’s $10-billion administration consulting market is seen present process a quiet transformation. For a number of many years, international majors on the prime of the league and the consulting arm of worldwide audit companies have dominated this market with their “strategy-heavy, playbook-driven fashions”.

Now, a brand new technology of homegrown companies is seen penetrating into this area by providing not simply recommendation, however “hands-on execution and shared accountability for outcomes”.

Such home consultancies are seen profitable mandates as soon as 100% reserved for international majors.

Their benefit lies in embedding themselves into day-to-day operations, customising options to India’s fragmented markets, and guaranteeing functionality switch to shoppers in order that they will maintain change with out long-term dependency, mentioned analysts.

“The means I see it, administration consulting is about serving to organisations remedy their most crucial issues and obtain lasting enchancment,” mentioned Kiran Kothekar, Founding Partner, Vector Consulting Group, a homegrown administration consulting agency. 

“What’s altering is that shoppers now anticipate consultants to remain engaged past the boardroom—rolling up their sleeves to make sure the promised outcomes are realised,” he added.

According to analysts rising variety of Indian corporations now desire consulting companies that “share dangers, hyperlink charges to outcomes, and work with them till objectives are met”.

One of the principle benefits for Indian companies is their skill to deal with mental property successfully. “Instead of conserving instruments and frameworks to themselves, they typically co-create and share them, serving to shoppers construct long-term capabilities,” they mentioned.

This strategy works effectively in India, the place success relies on sensible execution, they added.

Rise of AI

Besides, the rise of synthetic intelligence (AI) is reshaping consulting—each disrupting and enhancing the standard mannequin. 

AI has made it simpler to entry insights, benchmarks, and frameworks, decreasing the data edge as soon as held by the highest companies. 

The conventional recommendation-based consulting, the place one pays for entry to trade data of companies, is up for disruption. “It is more likely to get commoditised,” analysts mentioned.

In response, consultancies worldwide are seen rolling out AI-based providers, from automation plans to AI-driven course of enhancements. But success has been blended, they added.

“AI might help break down complicated issues quicker, however it will possibly’t change the self-discipline of turning a plan into actuality,” Mr Kothekar mentioned.

“The actual problem is translating insights into outcomes, and that’s nonetheless a human job,” he added. 

However, international majors have established a formidable status as thought leaders, which is able to proceed to present them a aggressive edge however Indian companies have began to make themselves related on this area by their differentiated strategy.

Published – October 01, 2025 09:07 am IST