IT consulting, as a sector of the broader management consulting industry, is growing at a steady, albeit slow, pace. From 2016 to 2021, the industry grew by an average of 2.8%. The market for IT consulting services is estimated to be worth $48 billion, comprising roughly 20% of the total global consulting market. Forecasts predict accelerated expansion of IT consulting in conjunction with the megatrends of digitization, analytics, cloud, robotics, and the IoT. IT consulting services include IT Strategy, IT Architecture, IT Implementation, ERP services, Systems Integration, Data Analytics, IT Security, and Software Management.
What does an IT consulting firm do? An IT consulting firm advises businesses about how to best use information technology to optimize processes and create value. Firms also recommend how to carry out digital transformations that bring the technological capabilities of a company up to speed.
IT consulting firms can be divided into three groups: the major international players that specialize in IT consulting, the large generalist firms that have an IT consulting practice internally, and niche firms that focus on a specific market or discipline. Working in IT consulting, consultants often confer with staff across the client organization, analyze data, determine information system requirements, define project objectives, and make recommendations for appropriate software and hardware systems. Career progression for IT consultants follows a traditional consulting structure: Associate > Consultant > Manager > Partner.
Here at Management Consulted, we help our clients land offers in 170+ global consulting firms. Here is our ranking of the Top 10 US IT consulting firms, based on our visibility of the entire landscape.
*Criteria taken into consideration: brand strength, salary potential, professional development opportunities, level of firm’s focus on strategic IT projects, firm revenue and headcount growth trends.
Top 10 US IT Consulting Firms List
Often considered the top IT consultancy, Accenture uses a six-part innovation architecture that includes innovation centers, research, labs, and studios. In keeping with innovation, the firm holds 6,700 awarded and pending patents. Accenture has more than 500,000 employees in 200 cities.
Deloitte is a generalist industry leader that consistently ranks highly across practice areas. The firm specializes in audit, assurance, consulting, tax, risk and advisory. It works with leading brands including 90% of Fortune 500 and more than 5,000 private and middle-market companies.
It’s technology practice – Deloitte Digital – has quickly carved out a name for itself as a premium provider of technology consulting services.
IBM Global Services offers systems integrations on top of more traditional consulting services for clients across industries. The practice is perhaps best known for serving businesses that provide applications. Overall, IBM boasts more than 100,000 employees globally. Global Services is a major revenue generator for the company — its revenue accounts for 50 percent of IBM’s total revenue and 20 percent of total annual income. GBS is broken down into the two primary practice areas: business consulting and systems integration and application management services.
At Boston Consulting Group, consultants work across sectors and in specialized teams to provide technology consulting. BCG GAMMA – the firm’s specialized analytics practice – provides consulting support in the area of artificial intelligence and advanced business analytics. BCG Platinion designs and implements client-specific products and platforms. BCG Digital Ventures works as a more generalist digital function across business areas of an organization. BCG Omnia develops and delivers scalable software and data solutions based on BCG intellectual property. The firm boasts an impressive set of options for the specific type of IT consulting you want to pursue.
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McKinsey & Company is routinely ranked as the best global management and strategy consulting firm. The firm is privately held and much of its client work is confidential. Its specialties include most industries ranging from commodities and natural resources to media and high tech. McKinsey also works extensively in the public-sector with foundations, nonprofits, local, regional, national and international governments.
The firm has recently made significant investments into its Digital practice, moving further away from its pure strategy roots and into downstream work.
Capgemini has more than 125,000 employees across 44 counties. Founded in France in 1967, the firm is a leader in technology, consulting, and outsourcing services.
PwC provides a range of clients with consulting to solve complex business issues. Services include strategy, management, technology, risk consulting, and sustainable business solutions. The firm has pursued inorganic growth in the IT consulting space over the past few years, including the acquisition of Booz & Co, Diamond Management and Technology Consultants, PRTM, Ant’s Eye View, BCT and Ray Group International.
TCS is one of the world’s largest IT consulting firms. The India-based firm serves more than 50 countries across the globe, delivering IT services, business solutions, and outsourcing support.
Cognizant is a leading provider of IT consulting services. The firm executes large-scale IT transformation and business programs, in addition to management consulting services. The firm serves clients across many industries (Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare, etc.).
SAP is the third-largest independent software manufacturer based on market capitalization. The firm has 300,000 customers in 190 countries and approximately 75,000 employees. 15,000 employees work in the IT consulting unit. Focus areas include analytics, customer relationship management, financial management, product lifecycle management, and technology platform management.
Best IT Security Consulting Firms
Our bonus ranking of the best IT security consulting firms includes many traditional consulting leaders:
- EY
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- McKinsey & Company
- PA Consulting Group
- Bain & Company
- Boston Consulting Group
- Elixirr
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Capco
Conclusion
Are you considering working for an IT consulting firm? If you get excited about working on complex technological issues the organizations of today are facing, IT consulting may be for you. If you know technology is going to be the focus of your career, there’s no better place than IT consulting to get the broad exposure you’ll need to step into a technology leadership role in the future.
Additional Reading:
- What Is Big Data & How Will It Affect Consulting
- Top Technology Consulting Firms
- Data Analytics: Do Businesses Really Need It?
- Top 25 Consulting Firms
- Top Consulting Firms In Europe
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