Glossary

What is strategy consulting?

Strategy consulting: Definition, services & examples

Strategy consulting is considered the royal discipline of the consulting business. But what advantages does strategy consulting offer companies, and what characterizes effective consulting? Which services should be included, and how can companies recognize the right experts? This article provides answers to the most frequently asked questions.

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What is strategy consulting?

Strategy consulting supports organizations in developing, reviewing, and implementing their long-term goals and direction. The process involves analyzing and evaluating the company’s economic, cultural, technological, and organizational aspects to derive concrete concepts and actionable measures. These measures enable a company to operate successfully and sustainably in its market.

Why is strategy consulting important for companies?

Strategy consulting ensures that concepts are feasible and generate measurable business value. Strategic benefits include:

What services does strategy consulting include?

A successful corporate strategy is the result of a structured consulting process. Professional consulting providers support companies end-to-end: from strategy development and implementation to long-term anchoring within the organization. The following services are key components of holistic strategy consulting:

  1. 1

    Initial assessment: Analysis of the status quo

    Comprehensive and in-depth analyses provide the foundation for all further considerations and steps. These include, among others:

    • market & competitive environment: trends, global developments, and geopolitical influences that may impact business processes and offer opportunities for differentiation
    • financial situation: including profitability, cash flow, and investment capacity
    • resilience & crisis readiness: e.g., supply chain management
    • customer and stakeholder perspective: expectations, satisfaction, loyalty
    • internal capabilities: strengths and weaknesses (potential analysis), current processes, systems, and company culture
  2. 2

    Definition of an overarching vision

    A shared mission statement provides orientation and strengthens identification of both employees and customers with the company. This requires defining:

    • a clear vision for the future
    • a mission that describes the company’s purpose
    • shared values that guide decisions and actions (e.g., ecological and social responsibility)
  3. 3

    Definition of strategic objectives

    Starting from the current state, the desired future state must be sharpened, strategic initiatives developed, and their feasibility assessed. This involves defining:

    • short-, medium-, and long-term business objectives
    • evaluation criteria for feasibility assessment, success measurement, and hypothesis validation
    • identification of resource requirements
    • concretization and prioritization of action areas
  4. 4

    Strategy development

    Strategy consulting continuously evolves the status quo. Relevant factors include:

    • adapting or developing the business model, e.g., in terms of the value chain, sales channels, and pricing strategy
    • optimizing the organizational structure and adjusting decision-making processes
    • adapting the digital strategy: system evaluation and technology selection, identifying innovation potential (e.g., AI implementation, automation, data centricity)
  5. 5

    Strategy implementation & success measurement

    Strategy is often based on hypotheses that need to be validated, e.g., through the development and simulation of different (future) scenarios. Successful implementation generally requires:

    • a clear, structured roadmap with defined project milestones and KPIs
    • ensuring resources and key competencies are in place
    • establishing governance mechanisms for controlling and monitoring
  6. 6

    Change management

    Comprehensive strategy consulting also includes support and guidance in change management:

    • employee involvement and participation to foster acceptance
    • onboarding through training, workshops, and coaching
    • building and establishing effective feedback and learning processes
  7. 7

    Strategic controlling & continuous development

    Strategy development is not a one-off project but a long-term process. It requires continuous refinement and adjustments through:

    • monitoring systems that incorporate KPIs and early warning indicators
    • regular reviews
    • responses to new market conditions

Which methods are used in strategy consulting?

For analyzing and assessing the initial situation, a variety of methods are typically applied, often complementing one another. Successful strategy consulting combines several approaches into a tailored methods mix, such as:

  1. Scenario Planning develops future scenarios based on current developments (e.g., technological trends, market environment) with the goal of reacting flexibly and resiliently to change.
  2. Design Thinking describes a user-centered approach to developing new business models or services. This method is particularly relevant for innovation and digital strategies.
  3. Benchmarking enables a systematic comparison of processes, performance, or KPIs with industry best practices or market-leading companies.
  4. SWOT Analysis systematically contrasts strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to link internal factors with external influences and prioritize areas for action.
  5. Balanced Scorecard (BSC) considers not only financial metrics but also customer, process, learning, and development perspectives, linking strategy formulation with implementation.
  6. BCG Matrix (Boston Consulting Group Matrix) classifies business units or products according to market growth and relative market share, supporting investment decisions and resource allocation.
  7. McKinsey Portfolio (GE Matrix) represents a further development of the BCG Matrix, categorizing markets by market attractiveness and competitive strength into nine fields, offering a more nuanced foundation for strategic decisions.
  8. McKinsey 7-S Framework examines “hard factors” (strategy, structure, systems) and “soft factors” (style, staff, skills, shared values), which must be aligned for successful strategy execution.
  9. PESTEL Analysis investigates external influences on companies in terms of political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, and legal factors.
  10. Blue Ocean Strategy aims to unlock new markets (“blue oceans”) beyond existing competition, focusing on innovation through differentiation and cost leadership.

While classic methods such as SWOT and the BCG Matrix tend to have analytical and structuring effects, more modern approaches like Design Thinking and BSC emphasize smooth execution, innovation, and agility.

What are common challenges in strategy consulting?

The main challenges in strategy consulting usually lie in the implementation and anchoring within the organization. The key to success is combining analytical and methodological expertise with structured change management and transparent communication. In most cases, the benefits of working with an external strategy consultancy outweigh the challenges, as the consultancy structures, facilitates, and supports the entire process. This helps address typical obstacles in strategy consulting:

What defines a good strategy consulting firm?

A good strategy consultancy is analytically sound, holistic in its approach, and highly practical. But how can companies identify the right partner for strategy consulting? The following criteria provide useful guidance:

  1. 1

    Proven expertise

    Strong consultancies demonstrate not only experience in theoretical concept and strategy development but also in practical implementation. Indicators include:

    • a compelling reference portfolio with case studies, success stories, and best-practice examples
    • methodological expertise demonstrated through diverse approaches and tools for analysis and strategy development
    • publications such as trend reports, representative surveys, studies, and expert interviews that reflect deep market and industry knowledge and up-to-date insights on technologies, markets, and trends
  2. 2

    Holistic consulting approach

    The consultancy should follow an end-to-end approach, covering all relevant components of strategy consulting and ensuring seamless integration.

  3. 3

    Tailored solutions instead of standard concepts

    Strong consultancies do not offer “one-size-fits-all” solutions but rather develop customized approaches aligned with the company’s DNA.

  4. 4

    Focus on implementation

    Consulting must be operationally actionable. To translate strategy into tangible projects and measurable outcomes, measures should be detailed in clear roadmaps with defined KPIs and milestones. In addition, long-term support in project and change management should be offered.

  5. 5

    Transparency in communication

    Effective strategy consulting means jointly developing viable paths and solutions. This requires close collaboration and active exchange with management and employees, along with openness and transparency regarding methodology, costs, and results.

Strategy consulting trends 2026: How is the consulting business evolving?

Methods and approaches in strategy consulting are constantly evolving, influenced by new collaboration models, digitalization, and social, political, and economic developments. These five trends will shape strategy consulting in 2026 and beyond:

AI-driven strategy consulting & data-based decisions

From automated research and data analysis to results presentations, artificial intelligence is increasingly taking over tasks in consulting, boosting project efficiency. Big Data, AI analytics, and predictive modeling enable well-founded decisions and allow a stronger focus on implementation and results. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Continuous advisory services instead of one-off projects

Strategy consulting is increasingly viewed as an ongoing process and service. Clients are more frequently requesting subscription-based consulting models, as they prefer long-term support and predictable costs. (Source: LMSPortals)

Sustainability & ESG in focus

Driven by regulatory requirements as well as societal expectations, ESG aspects (environmental, social, and governance) will play an even greater role in strategic considerations. (Source: Alpha-Sense)

Open strategy & hybrid consulting

Strategy processes are becoming more open and inclusive: companies involve employees, customers, or external partners to encourage creativity, avoid silo thinking, and strengthen commitment to implementation. New models are emerging, such as internal consulting units or hybrid consulting approaches where teams work more agilely and in shorter sprints. (Source: Verified Market Reports)

Strategy consulting & digitalization

The complexity of corporate strategy is reaching new levels due to digitalization. Technological trends and innovations must be integrated more deeply into forward-looking strategies. The digital strategy is becoming a central pillar of corporate strategy and a key lever for achieving long-term goals.

Successful strategy consulting: Practical examples

With a holistic consulting approach and an end-to-end service portfolio, valantic has successfully completed more than 500 strategy consulting projects. Here are five selected examples:

Business coworkers working together at office
  • valantic

A Strategy for Securing the Future through Digitalization

A Strategy for Securing the Future through Digitalization
Male customer support telephone operator with headset in call centre. Group of sales representatives working in the office.
  • valantic

Digital Transformation: Process Optimization and Customer Sactisfaction Improvement

Digital Transformation: Process Optimization and Customer Sactisfaction Improvement
Shot of a young factory manager using a barcode reader and digital tablet in a warehouse
  • valantic

Data strategy for the logistics sector

Data strategy for the logistics sector
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HUBER + SUHNER Produktion Fiber Optics, Herisau, Schweiz
  • SAP

CX strategy & cross-functional support for HUBER+SUHNER

CX strategy & cross-functional support for HUBER+SUHNER
smiling woman doing online shopping on laptop at home
  • valantic

Go-to-market strategy for a payment solution provider

Go-to-market strategy for a payment solution provider

What sets valantic's end-to-end strategy consulting apart?

valantic’s strategy consulting covers all levels of digital transformation – from corporate strategy to individual departmental strategies, all the way to organizational, process-related, and technological requirements. A central focus lies on future-ready, scalable digital, data, and AI strategies. More than 100 experts support companies across industries in fully unlocking their potential through analytically sound and clearly defined strategic planning – always aligned with business objectives.

Find out more about the end-to-end approach and valantic’s services for successful digital and transformation strategies!

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