Using a consulting firm that has strong operations consulting capabilities and supply chain strategy expertise can be advantageous. This is because the strategy, roadmap and recommendations developed during the strategy phase are more likely to be actionable and implementable by these firms. These service providers have supply chain strategy and operations consulting services that many clients have used across multiple industries and geographies. However, the number and types of projects these service providers deliver vary from provider to provider. For example, some have a long and strong heritage in strategy consulting but less extensive experience in supply chain operations (i.e., distribution or manufacturing). Other characteristics include: Breadth: Some providers have services that support client needs across virtually every type of supply chain strategy, planning and operations initiative. These initiatives range from strategic decisions based on the supply chain network analysis to operational excellence efforts within manufacturing plants and distribution centers. Others’ experience is more limited. For example, several service providers have delivered supply chain network design and helped clients implement S&OP, but have virtually no experience with operational improvement initiatives within a factory or distribution center. Other service providers primarily focus on IT or BPO services. Historically, however, outsourcing providers did not have business consulting. They do now because of acquisitions and inorganic expansion of their services portfolios or partnerships with traditional consulting firms, with limited or no technology implementation or BPO services. ■ Years of experience: Some providers have decades of experience in strategy or operations consulting projects. Others have recently added strategy and operations consulting to their established services portfolios. For example, some providers primarily focusing on IT services have added or expanded supply chain strategy and operations capabilities. ■ Industries: These providers have experience in multiple industries, but the distribution of projects is not uniform. For example, only a few providers have delivered corporate supply chain strategy projects and factory-level operational excellence in the industrial process industry. Some have large industry practices, but the majority of their work has been in one area in strategy, operations or some other supply chain service (i.e., application implementation or application management). ■
Gartner, Inc. | G00806330
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