Supply chain consulting keeps on growing in Europe

In Europe, operations and supply chain consulting achieved a growth rate of just over 10% in 2017, and the overall market growth in management consulting was 7.8%. For the sixth year in a row, Supply Chain Movement has analysed the European supply chain consulting market and positioned the most important firms on its popular Subway Map.

Of all the service lines in 2017, operations and supply chain consulting accounted for the highest share of the European consulting market (21.5%). Technology consulting had a slightly lower market share of 21.1%, but achieved the highest growth (13.3%). According to the European consultancies association Fédération Européenne des Associations de Conseils en Organisation (FEACO), the absolute and relative growth in operations and technology consulting is being driven by the strong involvement of management consulting firms in supporting the digital transformation. Based on research by Supply Chain Movement, the decision-making processes Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) still remain the most burning topics for clients.

Most of the growth in supply chain consulting in Europe stems from mergers and acquisitions. In 2018, Argon Consulting merged with Crimson & Co to establish a new global group with more than 230 consultants in six offices across the world. In 2017, BearingPoint acquired UK-based LCP Consulting, and the UK-based boutique supply chain consultancy Hughenden Consulting has joined forces with Efeso Consulting.