Specialist Service Providers These providers may offer IT or business services in addition to supply chain strategy and operations consulting. They differ from the large, global, multiservice providers because they do not serve (to the same extent) industries, geographies and business functions. These service providers may focus on strategy, operations or blending both. Typically, they do not operate across all industries, functions and geographies. Thousands of consulting firms exist in this segment. They range from small firms, with less than 20 consultants focused on one industry to firms with hundreds of consultants working in multiple industries and geographies. In addition to supply chain strategy, planning and operations consulting, some providers offer other supply chain services, such as application implementation or managed services. Several of the firms in this Market Guide also offer industrial engineering services — a differentiating capability that drives efficiency and optimized layouts and processes within the four walls of manufacturing or distribution sites. Specialist providers’ organizations range from a few dozen to hundreds of employees, and annual revenue stretches from $10 million to more than $500 million. Other characteristics of specialist providers include: Geography: These providers have fewer resources across multiple geographies than the global consulting providers listed above. However, it is common for these specialists to have experience in multiple geographies. That experience is often the result of engagements with global clients based in the same region as the specialist. ■ Geography: These providers are global, but most have not delivered a full range of strategy and operations projects in every geography. Performing a network design analysis in a region is very different from reconfiguring the layout of a distribution center or factory shop floor. ■ Industry: Some providers have a larger focus in certain industries. The industry focus is typically a deliberate go-to-market strategy decision or the natural result of the provider’s other services. For example, a specialist that implements supply chain management (SCM) applications used primarily in industrial process industries focuses its strategy and operations consulting work in those industries. ■
Gartner, Inc. | G00806330
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