SCM Consulting Subway Map 2025

A big dark cloud of uncertainty hangs over global supply chains due to major geopolitical unrest, the economic impact of which is not yet clear. As a result of the associated challenges, demand for supply chain consultancy in Europe remains fairly stable, especially in the areas of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), production and distribution network optimization, and process digitalization. This is according to Supply Chain Movement’s own research among 30 international consulting firms to compile its SCM Consulting Subway Map Europe.

Last year saw a similar level of demand for supply chain consultancy as in 2023. However, 2024 got off to a tougher start due to significant hesitation among clients because of economic uncertainties. Just over half of the 30 European consultancies surveyed increased their profits in 2024, while one in six saw profits fall.

S&OP-related consulting projects scored highest at 73% of the consultancies surveyed. A sharp rise in consulting in network optimization is a clear consequence of geopolitical tensions around the world. As in the previous three years, tax alignment – which is not really the core business of most supply chain consultancy firms – scored lowest by far, but that will undoubtedly change this year in view of President Trump’s announcements about import tariffs. Another notable change is the marked rise in implementations of transport management systems (TMS) and warehouse management systems (WMS). This reflects the increased importance of supply chain execution due to many smaller disruptions that companies need to respond to rapidly.

S&OP and digital supply chain twin

To reveal each consulting firm’s focus, they were asked to name their most appealing supply chain projects in 2024. Projects related to S&OP implementation were cited by Implement, Involvation and Quicksilver Consultancy. These were all in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, where demand volatility and reliance on promotions is exceptionally high. EyeOn, Ortec and Scope8 named projects related to global planning – at a pharmaceutical manufacturer, a beer brewery and a luxury cosmetics brand, respectively. Meanwhile, for a manufacturer of agricultural vehicles, Horváth & Partners built a digital twin of the material flows in the supply chain to model scenarios and identify cost savings.

Höveler Holzmann Consulting and DHL Consulting had each done major projects to optimize global distribution – for a pharmaceutical manufacturer and an automotive manufacturer, respectively. At the pharmaceutical manufacturer, delivery times for make-to-stock products were reduced by 30-50%. The automotive manufacturer succeeded in reducing transport costs by 25% and carbon emissions by 13%.

When it comes to acquisitions, Accenture’s expansion is particularly notable. In 2023, this technology-oriented management consultancy bought the Rotterdam-based Flo Group, a specialist in TMS and WMS implementations with about 300 consultants, and Camelot Management Consultants, a firm with German roots and over 500 consultants. Then in 2024 it acquired Staufen, which has over 200 professionals worldwide.

Get the SCM Consulting Subway Map 2025

For the twelfth edition of the SCM Consulting Subway Map Europe, Supply Chain Movement’s editors once again relied on information from consulting firms and desk research. Whether a company gets its own subway station on the relevant line, revealing its proven expertise, is determined by a combination of the number of consulting projects completed in the past year, the turnover percentage for each specific field of consulting, the number of supply chain consultants employed and the identified focus.