Data Visualization and the Big Three Strategy Consulting and Big Four Accounting Firms

How does a creative data visualization and visual analytics agency get along with the ‘suits’?

Combing through our marketing automation software, the Datalabs Agency’s marketers are noticing some repeat visitors and repeat companies, that come from the traditional world of strategy or accounting consultancy firms. From firms named after their 19th or 20th Century founders, to firms with many lettered acronym based names, formed by multiple mergers. You know the Big Four Strategy Consulting and Accounting Firms, and you’ve heard of who’s on the ‘next shelf’:

The Big Three Strategy Consulting Firms

• Bain & Company
• McKinsey & Company
• Boston Consulting Group

The Big Four Accounting Firms

• KPMG
• EY
• PwC
• Deloitte

The Independents and the ‘Next Shelf’ Consultancies

• Accenture
• Booz & Company
• Monitor Group
• A.T. Kearney
• Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
• L.E.K. Consulting

The Datalabs Agency has been graced with the presence of unique visitors by some of the firms listed above, to our data visualization consultancy pages on our website. What do we think of this? Glad you asked.

We’re flattered.

Some of these firms are now part of our client base. Others are researching or enquiring about entering our ‘arena’.  There’s a mixed bag of what these consultancy firms are looking for, but one pattern is clear. The top dogs at these companies are cottoning onto an idea that our data visualization consultancy team has always known; expertly-designed data is a competitive advantage.

Data Visualizers in the Boardroom

Apple led the way by using its design prowess as a competitive advantage; a way to differentiate itself as a company. Companies like IBM have gone on a user experience and visual designer hiring spree. It makes sense that the next wave of corporate needs will be A-Grade data visualizers. For internal and business-critical data, data visualization serves the C-Suite — it utilizes the human design lens to demonstrate massive insights, opportunities, and risks, both current and future (predictive data visualization design is a special forte of Datalabs). For external and consumer-facing data, data visualization has an even higher bar – balancing simplicity, entertainment, and user experience design, with a need to showcase important data that the consumer needs to understand right then and there.

The Next Wave of Data Visualization Consultants

No wonder Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and the Big Four Accounting Firms, like Deloitte and PwC, are interested in the data visualization content and products we produce. Although this interest also serves to keep our employees and strategy group on our toes, we also know that a well-thought-out approach to data design, an innovative data visualization methodology, and a repeatable (but agile) process will keep the Datalabs Agency a step ahead of the market. We invest in our ‘competitive moat’ every day; our people. From the above-mentioned C-Suite data visualizers to interface and UX designers, to the friendliest and most engaged project managers, we know we have earned the right to sit side-by-side with these Big Three strategy consulting, and Big Four accounting firms, at the enterprise and company transformation table.

Working with a Data Visualization and Analytics Agency: Partnerships and Sub-Contracting

A few of the largest firms are acquiring agencies, especially in the digital marketing space. While Datalabs has a long, independent future ahead of it, we are not opposed to partnerships and invitations for sub-contracting work for major strategic initiatives. We’ve got ‘boots on the ground’ on two continents: North America and Australasia. Therefore, we can serve as the data interface design partner. We can visualize internal dashboards and dashboard systems on business intelligence software such as Tableau. Or we can go full-service and form part of a major consultancy company’s strategy, where we can offer pretty much everything – from data visualization tool vendor selections, data aggregation, visual analytics for real-time data for Internet of Things (IoT), sensor data to point-of-sale, or loyalty card projects.

The Datalabs Agency is the frenemy you want to have. So come out of the cold employees of the Big Three and the Big Four — we admire the intelligent way you go about your business. Ask us about how we go about ours.