The idea of hiring a business consultant for your firm might seem like a lavish, trendy concept, but the industry has been around since the late 1900s. The first strategy consulting firm was created by Arthur Dehon Little, a chemist who earned his undergraduate degree from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). Since that time, businesses from all types of industries have called upon a temporary assessor and guide’s help. Consultants are professionals who work outside of a company who is brought in so they can give advice. The departments they generally help include human resources, management, operations, marketing, and information technology (IT).
While a consultant may influence a department, individual, or company, they have no direct authority to implement the recommended changes. Some companies might not realize they need the help of another set of eyes until it’s too late. For this reason, here are some early signs that a consultant might benefit your company.
When you have a specific niche or set of skills that need to be tapped into for a temporary period of time, hiring a specifically trained consultant in that area is much more cost-effective than hiring a new employee to do the work. In addition to paying an hourly rate to the consulting firm, the only costs might be reimbursements for travel expenses and room and board. Other payroll issues such as healthcare and 401(k) savings are not the hiring firm’s responsibility since the consultant is technically not an employee. Outside experts are the perfect resource to evaluate the skills and experience already present within the business and advise on how to complete projects and problem solve.
Another instance when a consultancy team might be helpful is for time-sensitive projects. Tasks and short-term projects can delay the bigger picture, so consultants might be brought in to quicken the pace.
Depending on your full-time employees’ technological literacy, there may be a gap between their knowledge and the latest gadgetry. When new trends emerge, a temporary consultant can join the ranks to train the masses and get everyone up to speed. Another option is to have the consultants use the new tech for a specific one-off project.