The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that consulting services do NOT need to be delivered on-site for clients by default. Based on our survey across representatives from 40 consulting firms, we can see that 60% of firms plan to deliver at least 50% virtually – some 25% even want to provide more than two-thirds of their work remotely. This has far-reaching implications on the way consulting services and solutions are architected and sold. 86% expect significant changes here. This puts the technology backbone of the firm and the modern workplace for professionals at the center of attention. It also has dramatic consequences for the management and leadership of professional services firms: What does it take to become and operate as a digital connected firm? To learn more about next-generation professional services and “consulting after corona,” take a look at my latest article, written together with Prof. Dr. Markus Kreutzer (EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht) and Stephan Kaufmann (Workday) – published in the recent March issue of the Harvard Business manager.

1. 1
The Future Workplace for
Consulting Professionals
Consulting after Corona
by Prof. Dr. M. Kreutzer, S. Hartmann, S. Kaufmann
published in full in Harvard Business manager 3/22

2. 2
60% of firms plan
>50% of virtual
client work
post-covid
Source: Kreutzer, Hartmann, Kaufmann – “Consulting Nach Corona” in Harvard Business manager Nr. 3 2022;
statistics based on EBS study by Prof. Dr. Markus Kreutzer et al. on ‘Trends in professional services’
with 53 participants from 40 consulting firms across Germany

3. 3
Source: Kreutzer, Hartmann, Kaufmann – “Consulting Nach Corona” in Harvard Business manager Nr. 3 2022;
statistics based on „Virtualisierung der Unternehmensberatung“, Whitepaper by Apadua and EBS
University, 2021
8%
17%
8%
25%
42%
no answer
fully disagree
partially disagree
partially agree
fully agree
Virtual delivery drives improved
flexibility and speed in
response to client needs

4. 4
>75% use
webinars and
virtual classrooms
to educate their
professionals
Source: Kreutzer, Hartmann, Kaufmann – “Consulting Nach Corona” in Harvard Business manager Nr. 3 2022;
statistics based on EBS study by Prof. Dr. Markus Kreutzer et al. on ‘Trends in professional services’
with 53 participants from 40 consulting firms across Germany

5. 5
Expected
Office
Time 81-100%
0-20% 21-40% 41-60% 61-80%
expected time in the office (vs. at home)
Source: Kreutzer, Hartmann, Kaufmann – “Consulting Nach Corona” in Harvard Business manager Nr. 3 2022;
statistics based on EBS study by Prof. Dr. Markus Kreutzer et al. on ‘Trends in professional services’
with 53 participants from 40 consulting firms across Germany

6. 6
80% to increase
investments in
digital delivery
and collaboration
tools
Source: Kreutzer, Hartmann, Kaufmann – “Consulting Nach Corona” in Harvard Business manager Nr. 3 2022;
statistics based on EBS study by Prof. Dr. Markus Kreutzer et al. on ‘Trends in professional services’
with 53 participants from 40 consulting firms across Germany

7. 7