Summary

The global market for management consulting services experienced a significant resurgence following the downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a valuation that jumped from roughly $148 billion in 2020 to $316.5 billion in 2021. The recovery was widespread across all branches of the consulting industry, with the retail sector forecasted to see the largest revenue growth at approximately 14.5% between 2020 and 2021. In Italy, after experiencing a setback in 2020 due to the pandemic, the consulting market, primarily dominated by management consulting firms, began to flourish anew in 2021. Italian consulting firms encountered a decline in average pricing, averaging a 0.3% decrease in 2021, with large firms seeing a 0.7% price decline. Nonetheless, the demand for consulting services remained robust in the public sector and among private firms, particularly in Central Government, Healthcare, and very large client firms. Specialized areas such as IT, Strategy, and Risk & Compliance were particularly in demand, with digital transformation projects estimated to account for about 30% of the market in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the consulting industry demonstrated resilience and an ability to sustain operations remotely, with projections of continued growth in the forthcoming years..## Dynamic Shifts in the Italian Consulting Services Sector The Italian consulting market has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of global challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic. With a robust recovery in 2021 post the decline experienced during the pandemic, management consulting services have reclaimed their preeminent position within the industry. The market has seen a significant shift towards high-demand specializations, notably in digital transformation and sustainability, while large firms continue to dominate the field. In Italy, the consulting industry is a tiered landscape where large firms lead in terms of revenue generation and market coverage. Despite enduring an approximate 8.9% revenue drop in 2020, the sector swiftly bounced back, with over 70,000 firms contributing to this growth. These firms are mainly distributed across the Lombardy region, with a significant concentration in Milan. The backbone of this sector is management consulting, which accounts for the lion's share of the industry, followed closely by operations, risk and compliance, and human resources. In 2021, an interesting trend emerged showing an increasing inclination towards services that assist in digital strategy and sustainability. While large consulting firms handle around 70% of projects in these specializations, the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises is also on the rise, indicating a more diversified market approach. On the pricing front, the average cost of consulting services in Italy indicates a nuanced picture. Prices have been gradually declining annually by about 0.9%, with slight fluctuations across the various consulting firm sizes. Large firms, while decreasing their average rates, still maintain a premium pricing at over 70% higher than micro-enterprises. When it comes to clientele, very large client firms, those with revenues exceeding 500 million euros, are the majority purchasers of consulting services, accounting for over half of the total spend. The public sector is also a significant client base, with central government agencies leading in expenditure. The industry's structure is largely polarized, with the majority being micro-enterprises reflected in both the legal form taken by these firms and their size composition. However, the contribution to turnover is highly skewed towards larger firms, signaling the market dominance of established players. Regulations play a critical role in the management and operation of consulting firms in Italy. From taxation and invoicing to professional ethics and financial management, firms are required to adhere to a host of laws and guidelines. This regulatory environment ensures the industry operates with transparency and accountability. From this analysis, it's clear that the Italian consulting market is characterized by its agility and growth-oriented nature,.### Leading Consultancies Steering the Market's Course The consulting landscape is shaped by a few key players known for their profound influence and broad scope of services. In the realm of strategy consulting, the "MBB" firms - McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company - represent the pinnacle of prestige. These firms are not only leaders in shaping business strategies but also in driving transformative organizational changes and improving operational efficiencies for their clients worldwide. Each holds significant sway, with McKinsey's extensive global presence through 133 locations, BCG's strength in strategic insights from over 100 cities, and Bain's deep expertise emerging from 65 global offices. Their revered positions embody a blend of intellectual rigor, comprehensive industry insights, and an unwavering commitment to client success. Parallel to these giants in strategy consulting are the "Big Four" - Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG - which dominate the field of accounting and auditing. However, their prowess extends beyond mere numbers; they serve as trusted advisors in tax, law, and a host of management consulting services. Furthermore, they play a critical role in guiding companies through digital transformations, a testament to their agility in adapting to the dynamic digital age. Deloitte Consulting LLP, with its extensive network of 700 locations, offers deep dives into financial intricacies while advising on cutting-edge practices across various services. Similarly, PwC combines its impressive reach through 742 offices with a robust stance on strategic, operational, and compliance-related advice, demonstrating a comprehensive service palette. EY, too, through EY-Parthenon, merges analytical prowess with strategic guidance, allowing clients to navigate complex market landscapes. KPMG, through its advisory branch, brings forth significant expertise to aid companies in the challenging terrains of financing and operational management. In contrast, Booz Allen Hamilton, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, fortifies its position with a keen focus on government and commercial consulting. Lastly, other specialized firms such as Oliver Wyman stand out with a uniquely concentrated expertise in industries like finance and risk management, harnessing a blend of deep industry knowledge and strategic acumen to deliver impactful solutions. Together, these consulting bellwethers steer the market's course not just by their size or revenue, but by catalyzing profound changes in businesses and governments alike, guiding them towards efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. Their collective narratives weave a fabric of unrelenting pursuit of excellence - defining, shaping, and moving the consulting industry forward.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 12/04/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Synthèse du marché

1.1 Definition and presentation

The market for consulting companies in Italy refers to the economic activity related to them. This consulting activity is aimed at business executives to receive ongoing support in business management.

The global market for management consulting firms is projected to reach $811.3 billion by 2031, with a growth of 10.2 percent from 2022 to 2031. Some of the most influential players in the market at the global scale are Mckinsey & Company, Bain and Company, Accenture PLC, Delloite, The Boston Consulting Group, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc, Ernst & Young Ltd, and CGI Group Inc.

In Italy, the market is worth nearly 16 billion euros and has shown significant growth over the past 5 years of +27, 4 percent for consulting. The number of active firms in the sector is also growing (by 39 percent since 2015). As for the (broader) consulting market, namely management consulting, the trade association "AssoConsult" estimates that the market has reached a total turnover of 5.1 billion euros, up 10.9% from the previous year, and will experience further growth of 11.4% in the year 2022.

Since 2010, the consulting industry has grown at an average rate of 5.4 percent, driven by large consulting firms that, on average, have increased their turnover by 8.8 percent each year.

Assoconsult's Observatory, which is conducted annually, shows that consulting firms are heavily involved in the biggest challenges the country is going through; primarily digital transformation and, to a lesser extent, the conversion to a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

 

1.2 World Market

The global market for management consulting services was valued at $***.* billion in **** and is expected to reach $***.* billion by ****, growing **.* percent from **** to ****. According to a Statista report, management consulting reached a global value of about $*** billion in ****. So, there was a recovery in ****, following the decline experienced during covid-**. A ...

1.3 Italian Market

There are about **,*** consulting firms in Italy, reaching an annual total of **.* billion euros in ****. Among the types of consulting, the one that holds the reins of growth and the largest share of revenues in the entire sector is management consulting. The latter in Italy consists of about **,*** firms, which produce ...

1.4 Covid-19 Impact

The consequences of the Covid-** epidemic on consulting firms in Italy have been significant. As a result of the pandemic, many companies had to stop or downsize their consulting projects, causing consulting firms' revenues to shrink. In addition, the pandemic has forced consulting firms to adopt new working solutions, such as ...

2 Analyse de la demande

2.1 Private client types of consulting services

Ideally, a consulting service should meet the needs of companies of all sizes, such as startups, small businesses, and large companies.

Breakdown of consulting service purchases by the size of client company (***) Italy, ****, in % Source: ****

In ****, private companies purchased just over *.* billion euros worth of consulting services, distributed as follows: **.* percent ...

2.2 Type of clientele in the public sector for consulting services

Breakdown of purchases of consulting services by type of client administration Italy, ****, in % Source: ****

During the year ****, the public sector spent more than *** million euros on the purchase of consulting services. Of this spending, **.* percent was made by Central Government, including Agencies and Parastatals, **.* percent by Local Government, and **.* percent by ...

2.3 Areas of specialization in demand in the consulting market

Distribution of turnover by areas of specialization Italy, ****, in % Source: ****

In ****, IT- and strategy-related consulting projects were the most popular types in the Italian market, weighing ** percent of total turnover. However, the two specializations showed different trends: the IT area declined slightly, from **.* percent in **** to **.* percent, but grew in absolute ...

3 Structure du marché

3.1 Italian market structure of consulting firms.

The Ateco code linked to active businesses in the consulting sector is **.**: This class includes the provision of advisory, guidance, and operational assistance services to businesses and other organizations in management matters and, in particular, in the following areas: strategic and organizational planning; reengineering (***) of business processes; change management, business cost ...

3.2 A polarized industry for business consulting

There are many forms of business consulting, but a special position of prominence is occupied by management or business consulting, which lately is becoming increasingly sought after on the Web and in demand by companies. Management consulting is the largest type of consulting in over half of the consulting industry and ...

4 Analyse de l'offre

4.1 Counseling Services

Management Consulting: Management consulting, often referred to as business consulting, is defined as "consulting and/or implementation services for a (***) management of organizations to improve the effectiveness of their business strategy, organizational performance, and operational processes."

Strategy Consulting: Strategy consulting is a method that let companies rely on consultants for suggestions ...

4.2 Prices of consulting services in Italy

The average price of the consulting day in **** is €***, down *.* percent from the previous year. This overall value stems from a *.* percent decline in pricing in large firms, which fails to be offset by growth of around +* percent in pricing in all other size classes. Moreover, in the case of small ...

4.3 Leading consulting firms

The consulting world is dominated by * companies in particular, distinguished by loco field of specialization.

The Big Three or MBB is the colloquial name given to the big three strategy consulting firms, which are considered the most prestigious firms in the management consulting industry. In terms of employees, McKinsey & Company is ...

4.4 Consulting to support digital transformation and sustainability.

In ****, the consulting segment dedicated to digital will account for about ** percent of the market. Seventy percent of the projects in this area are handled by leading consulting firms, of which ** percent reported a significant impact of digital transformation on revenue (***), while ** percent reported an impact of more than ** percent of ...

5 Règlementation

5.1 Regulation

Consulting companies in Italy are subject to various tax, administrative, and management rules, some of which are as follows:

Tax rules

Taxation: consulting companies must pay taxes based on their income, applying the rates provided by the Italian tax system. Accounting records: consulting companies must keep complete and systematic accounts, recording ...

List of charts

  • Annual change in global consulting market revenue in 2021, by sector
  • Annual turnover of enterprises engaged in business consulting and other administrative-management consulting and business planning
  • Number of enterprises active in business consulting and other administrative-management consulting and business planning
  • Breakdown by legal form of the number of enterprises active in the field of business consulting and other administrative-management consulting and business planning
  • Data on the size classes of the consulting industry in Italy
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Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Deloitte Consulting S.r.l Società Benefit
EY Advisory S.p.a
KPMG advisory S.p.a
MCDERMOTT ITALIA S.R.L.
BUSINESS INTEGRATION PARTNERS SPA
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY S.P.A.
The Boston Consulting Group S.r.l

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