With the onset of a new decade upon us, it’s more important than ever to have the best tools, the best product and the best help available, regardless of what business you’re in.  One of the most important aspects of having the best help possible is one that is often overlooked.  Counsel and guidance are often worth their weight in gold and can more often than not, offer wise choices for your business that you might not have thought of yourself. 

It’s for this reason that a business management consultant should be on everyone’s minds in 2020.  The world is changing, as it always has, and business needs to change with it, or risk stagnation.  In the coming year, you’re going to want some guidance to navigate that ever-changing world and the best guidance there is can often be found with a consultant. 

You might be wondering at current trends, and how consulting agencies are supposed to be on the downtick, and you’re right to consider that as a factor, but the truth is that consulting isn’t headed the way of the dodo, it’s about to change  – and drastically. 

Here are just a few reasons why you’ll want to think about business consulting in the New year.

1. Widespread Digitization

You might be thinking that with so many objectives being fulfilled by automation and complex algorithms, management consulting, and its reliance on manpower to accomplish tasks seems like a waste.  There are two factors here that are often overlooked on this point.  First, not every objective or task can be fully digitized, no matter how technical it is, so there will always be a need for someone to do the hands-on work, and second, allowing algorithms or bots to do a lot of the work for you can, and often does lead to unforeseen mistakes that a business management consultant can help guide you through.

2. Expertise over Information

You might have heard the term “Knowledge Commoditization” being thrown around a lot lately, and it’s a bit of a factor in this issue, but it isn’t quite as much of a point as some would have you believe.  It’s true that the tools, models, and templates of business consulting are largely available to anyone, making their expert knowledge less esoteric. 

The trouble here is one that has been a classic downfall since time immemorial – knowledge does not necessarily equal wisdom.  Sure, you can get access to all of those tools, but do you always know how to implement them?  Do you actually know if their good for your business?  Do you know how to react to an emergent issue and switch from one tried and true method to another? 

The answer is probably a no, but you know who does know all of that?  A good business management consultant. 

3. Fresh Perspective and Wise Objectivity

Regardless of whether you are, or just think you are aware of the trends and innovations of the business world, a consultant can still be a useful asset to your business.  Sometimes, you just need a little new blood, or a different perspective to spot the issues that can plague a business.  This is where management consulting comes in.

Objectivity isn’t something that can only be found in a calculation.  While an algorithm can offer cold, calculating truth, an expert can provide measured and informed counsel.  Sometimes the data doesn’t actually translate to the truth of a given situation, and the reality of living, and human situation can only be expressed by a actual living human. 

4. Undesirable Tasks

Let’s be honest with ourselves, no one likes having to cut funding, lay off, or otherwise remove assets from our business, but when assets become liabilities, something has to be done.  No one wants to be the bad guy who has to inform staff of heavy budget cuts, or light that fire under someone to get them motivated, or worst of all, actually has to let someone go. 

Fortunately for all of us, there are consultants who can still come in from the outside, with none of the baggage that we have and do what’s necessary.  It’s not only uncomfortable but hard to tell someone (or a group of someones) that they no longer have a job.  Consultants can not only do this so that you don’t have to, but they are also experts in doing so gently and with minimal undue hardship.

They’re also quite adept at evaluating your business and finding ways to avoid doing it at all if possible. 

5. Affordability

Because of some of the trends talked about above, business, management, and franchise consulting as an industry are about to undergo a bit of a disruption in 2020.  While this is a challenge for those working in that industry, it is an opportunity for those who require their services.  As more companies move towards using them less, business management consultant agencies will be doing everything that they can to get clients.  This includes moving from an hourly rate platform to firms charging a flat rate for their services.

As a result of this, not only will agencies be charging less, but their employee base will shrink and there will suddenly be a lot more freelance franchise consultants available and at affordable rates.  All of this means that in the new year, consulting is going to be very cheap.

No matter what business you’re in, consultation is never a bad idea, even if it doesn’t work out.  That’s the nature of contracting, right? 

At the end of the day, consulting is still a fantastic and useful way to invigorate and refresh your business with new ideas and strategies.  In 2020, more and more business consultants will be looking for ways to prove their worth to their clients, which is why this year will be probably the best in a long time for a business to contract with one.  Let these talented and business-wise people help grow your business.