Consulting company about the company. What is consulting: types, forms, its difference from coaching, the main tasks and goals of a consulting company. What problems do consulting companies solve?

Today on the territory Russian Federation exists a large number of various organizations. If you are interested in the question of what this is, then you need to read this article.

Concept of consulting firms

These organizations provide their clients with various consulting services. In most cases, they are an external company and have a direct relationship with their customers' companies. Consulting is the provision of necessary advice to sellers, manufacturers, as well as buyers. They can get help in technical, technological and expert areas of their activities. the main task Such a company is providing assistance in the field of management regarding the issues that customers pose to themselves.

There is no clear answer to the question of what a consulting company does. She can solve difficult issues, set goals financial situation company and take direct part in the organization production activities, as well as addressing strategic issues. The specialists involved provide consultations to customers on necessary issues. But they cannot bear full responsibility for the final result of the activity. Consulting companies provide specific and accurate advice that will help you apply it in the further sale of services or goods. But consulting specialists cannot implement all the proposed plans and tasks into action.

Existing types of activities of consulting companies

In the field of consulting, there are several aspects of the services provided:

1. Analytics. Specialists can conduct consultations for their clients, during which issues of further efficiency are resolved. Any consulting company can draw up a plan. What is this modern type of direction? The answer can only be given to qualified employees who draw up a plan for introducing effective processes in production, analyze price movements, and also conduct a thorough analysis of all stages of activity in the enterprise.
2. Forecasting. This type of consulting involves preliminary determination of forecasts for several months in advance. To do this, an analysis of the customer’s company’s activities is taken into account. All consultations apply to any area of ​​functioning of the client’s organization.
3. Conducting an audit. Everyone is interested in what a consulting company that exists on modern market. Professional specialists not only provide consultations, but also perform scheduled audits. They determine its successive stages, select personnel and conduct the necessary training. Some customers trust specialists to plan further organizational and management activities, as well as implement modern systems information.

How to choose the right consulting company?

In area modern business One can see the rapid pace of development of market technology. Absolutely all organizations want to be competitive and succeed in providing consulting services. Entrepreneurs set goals to be successful and constantly develop own business or production. That is why they decide to seek the services offered by a consulting company. What kind of organization is this and how to choose the right specialist? This question is asked by a large number of managers.

The services of this company cost a significant amount of money, so you should choose only proven specialists. Real consultants must not only organize all the necessary activities, but also lead the entrepreneur to the result he needs. The process of this activity must necessarily be accompanied by practical advice, as well as assistance.

In order to correctly choose the optimal consulting company for yourself, you need to pay special attention to the following characteristics:

1. Cost of services provided.
2. Qualifications of specialists and work experience.
3. Duration of activity of the consulting company.
4. Reviews of work from previous customers.

What principles does the consulting company follow?

There are certain principles that companies providing consulting services adhere to:

1. Scientific validity. Specialists cannot begin to complete a given task using exclusively the accumulated experience of a consulting firm. Consultants must apply the data.
2. Availability additional tools, which any professional consulting company should have. What are these tools? This may include information technologies that will help monitor the customer’s organization and find an effective system for providing assistance.
3. Dynamism is maintained not only while consulting a client, but is also used in the organization’s activities after completion of the work.
4. Scientific perspectives. Specialists can offer customers their own scientific ideas that will help determine the optimal directions for the development of client business in the future.

Types of consulting companies

Today in the modern market you can meet specialists who understand many issues organizational activities. Such enterprises may have a narrow or broad specialization. Consulting companies in Russia provide a range of services or perform audits of enterprises. Depending on the methods of activity, the following areas of consulting can be distinguished:

• Expert.
• Educational.
• Process.

Specialists carefully monitor possible ways to increase efficiency not only within the enterprise, but also take care of establishing relationships with international partners. Consultants solve a variety of issues and perform tasks of any complexity. Today you can find specialists who will solve commercial, financial, legal, technological and environmental issues.

Which structures in the Russian Federation use consulting services?

Companies that operate in the Russian consulting market can provide their services to the following structures:

• Russian enterprises that belong to the public and private sectors. They can engage in production activities and provide various services.
• Foreign companies operating in the Russian market. The activities of consulting companies provide opportunities to provide services to enterprises that have Western investors or are just entering the Russian market. Consulting specialists are engaged in the implementation of modern and demonstrate large-scale projects.
• Public administration organizations. This includes the mayor's office, the ministry, various departmental structures, state-based committees and administrative bodies.

In what cases do companies turn to consulting services?

Today, the services of such specialists are sought by people who lead private business. The consulting company helps enterprises that want to have the status of a reliable company. Managers receive an optimal scheme for restructuring the entire system of activities and production process. Consulting specialists can offer optimal changes in the current activities of the enterprise, as well as new profitable directions for doing business.

If the enterprise is on the verge of bankruptcy or is engaged in unprofitable production activities, then consulting companies will help you get out of a difficult situation. Clients are offered crisis consulting services, where specialists, through analysis, find the necessary internal resources to solve the problem.

What are the requirements for consulting companies?

Any consultant or large-scale consulting firm must meet a number of basic requirements. This may include the following points:

• Specialists must possess proven technologies that help solve even difficult tasks. The consulting company has skills in formulating organizational diagnoses, strategic planning, uses Information Systems and a variety of analysis methods. Investment consulting companies must carry out a complete and most thorough diagnosis of production activities and the current situation, as well as establish contacts for communication with investors.
• Consultants must not have connections or business relations with various suppliers of products and goods. The opinion of a specialist is necessarily independent and exclusively objective.
• Any consulting companies necessarily provide their customers with assistance in improving production activities.

Thus, clients turn to such organizations to get qualitative analysis, processing and the ability to use the experience of specialists for the benefit of business.

Features of legal consulting companies

Today, many people may face serious problems. The legal consulting company guarantees its clients complete confidentiality and integrity in the process of providing services. Specialists provide highly qualified assistance on all necessary legal nuances related to housing, civil, family, land and administrative issues. Consultants protect the legitimate interests of citizens, as well as organizations that operate in the Russian market.

The main activity of such a company is resolving licensing disputes, drawing up and concluding various contracts. Specialists assist during court hearings and draft claims.

Company

International consulting company SCM Consult Global

SCM Consult (SCM Consult) is an international consulting company with a head office in the UK (London), a network of managing partners in 20 countries and specialization in the markets of Central Asia and the CIS. We are experts in strategic consulting and operational process optimization for private companies and government organizations.

Our consultants, with their unique practical experience, help overcome barriers to business in the context of rapidly developing technologies and increasing volatility in the economy, by developing sustainable development strategies, introducing innovations, transforming organizational systems, reduction production costs and improving the quality of customer service.

We build teams that can challenge traditional thinking and become drivers of change. We help our clients make decisions that can lead to business success and sustainable development of the organization.

Our experts include business leaders, scientists, academics and consultants from various industries around the world. Our resource potential and intellectual capital are supported by deep industry specialization of experts, geographic range of resource availability, analytical accuracy and team approach to work. Our business consulting experts are able to challenge conventional practices, identify what others might miss, and deliver innovative solutions tailored to our clients' requirements.

We have experience working and consulting with international companies from the Fortune 500 list, many regional and local organizations. An international consulting company provides business consulting services not only for the private but also the public sector, where we provide a full range of business services from strategic planning and economic research to stage-by-stage organization activities and implementation.

Hello! In this article we will talk about consulting.

Today you will learn:

1. Definition and types of consulting;
2. What are the advantages of consulting for doing business?
3. What are the stages of consulting activity?

Any owner of a business or company, large or small, needs outside consulting assistance. A person cannot know everything, and there are times when a fresh look at an existing problem is required.

What is consulting in simple words

It is not possible for a company, even the largest one, to have several experts in different fields on staff. But if the company’s goal is to develop and conquer the market, sooner or later the advice of such experts will be needed. So what is consulting?

Consulting is the process of advising executives, management personnel and other employees on financial, legal, investment and other issues.

A little history

Domestic consulting as professional activity began to develop in Russia in the 90s. This is directly related to the change not only of the economic system, but also of the political one. In 1991, the number of consulting companies was only about 20.

With the development of market relations, the consulting services market began to experience rapid growth. These services have become more understandable to managers and more professional. Gradually, the level of competition began to increase, large players from the West entered the Russian services market, this put the consulting industry at a qualitatively higher level. new level.

Consulting company - what is it?

Companies of this kind are engaged in providing consulting services to their clients. Most often they are external companies and are related to their clients' companies. They provide assistance in various areas of their activities.

At the same time, they do not bear full responsibility for the result that will be obtained in the end. There is no clear answer to the question of what consulting companies do.

In general, their activities are as follows:

• Providing assistance in various areas;
• Consulting services;
• Plan organizational and management activities.

Operating principles of consulting companies

In their activities, consulting companies adhere to the following principles:

• They all use scientifically proven data in their work;
• Using tools such as information technology in your work;
• Specialists have the right to offer the customer their own scientific idea if it helps in solving the problem that the customer has.

Types of consulting

IN modern economy There are several types of consulting. We will review and give brief description the most common of them.

Financial advisory

It is a set of services designed to build a reliable and functional financial management system. It includes: analysis and audit of the company’s activities, consultations on finances and budget development, introduction of techniques to strengthen financial system companies.

Management consulting

Helps determine which areas of the company are most vulnerable and adjusts the company’s activities as a whole.

It, in turn, is divided into several groups:

• Strategic – allows you to analyze the market in a global and local sense, and calculate possible risks;
• Marketing– helps develop company strategy, conduct diagnostics target audience. Its main goal is to increase sales, as well as reduce advertising costs;
• Personnel – consultations on the selection and training of employees , creation and development of corporate culture .

In addition to everything mentioned, this type of consulting helps solve the following problems:

• Improve the functioning of all company management structures;
• Master new management techniques;
• Develop a system for motivating employees;
• Optimize business processes.

Investment consulting

When company managers choose schemes for investing capital, or attracting it from outside, they mainly rely on the recommendations of professionals who can provide the necessary assistance.

Investment consulting functions:

• Carrying out interactions with credit organizations, insurance companies and authorities;
• Assistance in the development of investment projects;
• Legal investment advice.

HR consulting

Consulting with HR specialists is becoming increasingly popular.

Such consulting includes:

• Personnel certification;
• Personnel accounting;
• HR audit;
• Analysis personnel policy;
• Document flow analysis;
• Analysis of compliance of personnel policies with labor legislation.

Through HR consulting you can:

• Form a certain corporate culture;
• Conduct a diagnosis of how loyal employees are to the company;
• Increase the efficiency of the entire personnel management system;
• Develop criteria for evaluating staff performance.

This type of consulting allows management to build work not only with the team as a whole, but also with each employee individually.

Legal consulting

IN modern conditions When running a business, it is often necessary to resolve emerging legal situations. But the situation itself can hardly be called transparent; then the manager will definitely need the help of a professional. And if the company does not have a full-time lawyer, then it is impossible to do without hiring a specialist from a consulting company.

Accounting consulting

The goal of accounting consulting is to improve not only the efficiency of accounting. accounting, but also to monitor its accuracy. Typically, such services are provided by highly qualified specialists.

Accounting consulting services consist of:

• Services for the development and formation of accounting policies;
• Consultations on building an accounting system. accounting;
• Assistance in preparing accounting reports;
• Assistance in preparing reports to the Federal Tax Service;
• Review and consultation on controversial situations in accounting.

Educational consulting

The practical significance of this type of consulting is that the consultant:

• Conducts seminars;
• Organizes lectures and trainings;
• Develops teaching aids.

Simply put, consultants train the client’s company’s personnel.

Expert consulting

Its essence is as follows: the client sets a task for the consultant, and he, in turn, using his own experience and knowledge, as well as relying on various sources, provides a ready-made solution. In addition to developing a solution to a problem, an expert can also diagnose the problem.

The client does not participate in developing a solution to the problem.

Project consulting

Project consulting is called working together consultant and company employees, during which a solution is developed on how to optimize the company’s activities. This type of counseling is called long-term.

Internet consulting

This area of ​​consulting activity can include:

• Development information technologies taking into account the needs of a particular company;
• Maintaining technology at a high level;
• Identification of existing problems;
• Creation of high-quality information infrastructure.

What problems do consulting companies solve?

Consulting specialists can help in the following situations:

• When it is necessary to adjust business process management;
• When business reorganization is required;
• To restore the solvency of a company or enterprise;
• Support of the company merger procedure;
• When advice is required on the acquisition of property;
• Budgeting;
• Development ;
• When to prepare financial forecast and so on.

This list of services is not complete; it may be supplemented with other items.

Stages of consulting activities

Any company can be called a living, constantly developing organism. If the body malfunctions, then a doctor is needed. But treatment should be carried out by a professional, not an amateur. That is, the consulting company must have serious practical experience.

1.The customer acknowledges the existence of a specific problem. If the customer realizes that he cannot solve the problems that have arisen in the company without the help of professionals.

Example: The head of a confectionery company set himself the task of increasing production volumes. But a problem arose: the manager himself and the company’s specialists do not have sufficient knowledge for this. To achieve the goal, a decision is made to invite outside specialists. And this decision will be reasonable and justified.

2.Conducting initial consultation and concluding an agreement. When a suitable company is selected, you need to consult with its specialist. Then the contract is concluded.

The following points must be included in the contract:

• The time frame during which the work will be performed;
• Full list of services with cost information;
• Conditions in connection with which the amount of the consultant's fee may be changed;
• Conditions for early termination contracts;
• Responsibilities of both parties.

The contract can be concluded either one-time or for a long term. The contract can be concluded in the form or in the form of a work contract.

3. The data necessary for cooperation is collected. At this stage of cooperation, specialists from the consulting company collect and analyze data that will help determine how serious the problem is. The main thing here is to establish what problem exists, as well as develop a plan to solve it.

4. Process of developing a solution to a problem. This stage can be called the main one. Having identified the problem and its causes, specialists draw up a plan according to which the problem will be eliminated.

5. The process of implementing decisions and monitoring their implementation. All procedures specified in the plan are carried out under the supervision of consultants. It is also possible to train company employees in the process.

6. The process of evaluating the results obtained. An objective assessment of the results can only be given after a certain period of time. The head of the company will sum up the results together with representatives of the performing company.

7. Making final financial settlements. If all the activities were carried out on time, production indicators increased, and the company’s income increased - this is an indicator that the activities carried out were effective, you need to make a final settlement with the consulting company. The amount specified in the contract is transferred to the account of the executing company.

Situations in which consulting is necessary

• The company's management and employees lack new ideas, the company has entered a period of stagnation;
• The manager lacks certain knowledge or experience;
• The company is developing a serious project, but cannot implement it in full due to lack of knowledge;
• The company is required to conduct an audit with the participation of independent specialists;
• The company needs its management staff to work more efficiently;
• The company needs to select a number of qualified specialists.

This list of situations cannot be called exhaustive, since in fact there may be more than a dozen of them.

How to find a serious consulting company

If a number of problems have arisen in your company that are not possible to resolve on your own, the next step is to choose a suitable company that specializes in providing consulting services.

There are criteria by following which you can choose a company and not make a mistake:

1. Collect as much information as possible about the company with which you plan to enter into an agreement. Look at its official website, find out how long the company has been on the market;
2. Read reviews about the company’s work in the media and on the Internet;
3. Ask if the company has a portfolio: each specialist is proud of his achievements and usually records them;
4. Find out if there are serious businessmen in your region among the clients;
5. Pay attention to the cost of the company's services; too low should be a warning, as well as clearly overpriced.

It is best to have several companies in stock, and after a personal meeting and communication with specialists, make the final decision.

Requirements for companies and consultants

If a company or consultant has a high level of qualifications and provides a large range of services, then they must meet certain requirements, which we will discuss below.

1. The consultant must: have knowledge and skills in strategic planning, be able to analyze and predict the economic situation, master methods for diagnosing the situation in an enterprise, be able to establish contacts with specialists at different levels;
2. A consultant (or consulting company) should not depend on the rules and unwritten laws, as well as traditions that have developed in a particular company. The consultant's opinion must be free and objective;
3. The consulting company must provide assistance based on its experience and current legislation;
4. A consulting company, in addition to consultations, must engage in gaining experience, accumulating, analyzing and processing data;
5. The activities of a consulting company should also have a learning effect for its clients.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the table, which presents the main features of professional consultants and those who only consider themselves such.

What is the difference between a professional consultant and an amateur?

Positive aspects of consulting

It is worth noting that increasingly, not only those who have just joined the ranks of entrepreneurs, but also serious companies that have been on the market for a long time are turning to consulting companies for help. What are the advantages of consulting?

• Consultants have more high level knowledge than that of the company’s full-time specialists (which does not detract from the merits of conscientious employees);
• Consultants are more experienced due to communication with big amount clients;
• Consultants have enough time to study the problem deeply and comprehensively;
• Consultants usually have an unbiased opinion and are guided by the interests of the customer.

A clear advantage of consulting is that company specialists with a fresh look from the outside can identify problems that are simply invisible to company employees.

Consulting and coaching: differences between methods

Before we find out the similarities and differences, let’s find out what kind of animal coaching is.

Coaching is a method of consultation in which the client and trainer jointly look for ways to improve or solve a problem.

Skeptics may say that this technique merely duplicates a number of others that are already familiar. Why invent something else if there are trainings and consulting? But coaching does not repeat all previously known practices.

Coaching and consulting are not duplicative techniques for one simple reason: a coach guides and advises his client until he achieves his goal, and a consulting consultant is limited to making recommendations, giving the client the opportunity to continue to act independently.

Who can consulting companies cooperate with?

Consulting firms can cooperate with:

• State and private enterprises that produce any products or provide services;
• With foreign companies that operate in Russia (legally);
• With government organizations;
• With government bodies.

So, dear readers, now you know what consulting is, what its goals are and what it is needed for. If you take advantage of the consulting terms in a timely manner, your business will successfully grow and develop. Your company will survive all crises and become a serious competitor for others.

According to RBC, in 2017, companies spent about 120 billion rubles on consulting. This is almost the same amount as invested in marketing promotion on the Internet. Consultants earn over 150,000 rubles a month and do not stop there. So what is consulting and who can benefit from it? Let's figure it out.

Consulting - This is paid expert advice to business managers and private entrepreneurs on a wide range of economic, production, commercial and other issues to optimize business processes, increase and improve key performance indicators.

Simply put, consulting is paid qualified assistance to organizations that require independent assessment current activities, analysis of business processes and subsequent recommendations for running a business and improving its efficiency.

Quite simply, consulting is consulting assistance to top managers of enterprises on business management.

Who was at the origins of consulting

The main reason for the emergence of global consulting was industrial progress. Many competing factories appeared, and the number of jobs increased. Managers needed new knowledge on organizing and managing an enterprise.

This prompted Arthur Little, a chemist at the Massachusetts Institute, to found the first consulting firm in 1886. Arthur's company specialized in engineering research, helping businesses improve shop floor performance and reduce production costs. The company's employees analyzed the activities of plants and factories, found problems and drew up a strategy for solving them.

As consulting services developed and new companies emerged, there was an urgent need to systematize acquired knowledge and exchange experience and ideas. But Arthur was categorically against any systematization and refused to join the professional association of management consulting. While other consultants tried to build on their existing success stories, he took enormous risks, each time creating new strategies to solve enterprise problems. This approach was not successful, and his firm dissolved, giving way to companies such as McKinsey and Booz Allen Hamilton.

In the 1930s, consulting gained worldwide recognition. This was facilitated by the end of the world war economic crisis and increasing industrial production. Gradually, consulting companies spread everywhere. In Russia, this period falls on the 90s of the twentieth century. Based on the results of 2017 Russian rating The best consulting agencies are divided among 100 companies.

Tasks and goals of a consulting company

The main goal of consulting companies is to improve the efficiency of the organization and business as a whole. An enterprise focused on development and growth will always need to attract additional resources. But modern companies do not maintain a large staff of experts, but turn to qualified personnel from outside.

It is this fact that attracts specialists from various fields of activity to consulting.

The main list of tasks of consulting companies:

• recommendations for improving productivity;
• development marketing strategy;
• analysis of the current situation and identification of problems;
• tips and solutions for modernization technological process;
• audit of reporting documentation;
• assistance in reorganization structural divisions business;
• personnel training and preparation of methodological manuals.

Let's look at these tasks in more detail:

High market prices and oversaturation of the market with goods and services force managers to increase advertising costs, attract new advertising channels and expand sales markets in order to maintain a stable market position. These actions often do not lead to the desired result and the company begins to lose profit. Management turns to a consulting firm to receive expert independent advice on how to overcome a crisis situation. The consultant may recommend modernizing the technical base, finding ways to reduce costs, suggesting the enterprise open a new promising direction, or increasing staff motivation.

2 Development of a marketing strategy.

A consultant helps a business promote its products and services, increase profits and reduce costs. The promotion strategy includes analysis and segmentation of the target audience, identifying the needs of each segment, searching for effective advertising channels for promotion, launch advertising campaign.

3 Analysis of enterprise activities and search for problems.

When an enterprise cannot find a problem on its own, management turns to a consulting company.

Why turn to a consulting agency? Because not every organization can afford to have a staff of experts who could analyze and solve current problems. The problem can arise in any area of ​​the enterprise – financial, legal, personnel and others. In this case, management decides to contact qualified consultants. The consultant’s task is to analyze the work of the enterprise, its departments and, based on an impartial assessment, find vulnerabilities.

4 Consultations on technological process modernization.

Technologies are developing at a rapid pace and enterprises do not have time to track trends. Consulting companies will help improve software or implement new ones.

5 Audit of reporting documentation.

The consulting company conducts an independent audit of the financial statements of the enterprise, compliance of documents general requirements accounting. The audit is ordered to find errors in reporting activities, before submitting documents to the tax office or when changing the chief accountant of the enterprise.

6 Assistance in the reorganization of business divisions.

Reorganization is the cessation of a company's activities and the addition of others to it. legal entities, merger of companies or division of control between owners. Not all organizations employ lawyers who specialize in business reorganization. Therefore, management turns to a consulting firm in order to attract outside experts to carry out the reorganization in compliance with current legislation.

7 Personnel training and preparation of methodological manuals.

Consulting companies help enterprises improve the level of competence of employees by conducting training in various fields of activity. For example, trainings and seminars for sales departments, trainings for managers on leadership, improving management skills and effective use time. Trainings on teamwork, working with objections and conflict situations are popular. Consultants can also develop teaching aids, such as sales scripts or equipment instructions.

There comes a time in every business when a transition to a new level of development is necessary. Any enterprise strives to increase profits and improve its efficiency. During periods of economic crisis, this is especially true for all companies that want to stay afloat. But internal resources and experience of full-time specialists are often not enough - this is when the need to obtain expert assistance from the outside, and management turns to consulting.

A consultant in consulting is an expert who provides consulting services to companies or individuals to achieve their business goals. Consultants analyze business indicators, identify problems and suggest ways to solve them.

The consultant may be an employee of a consulting firm or a private entrepreneur.

Many people imagine consultants as a white-collar community, with laser pointers and innovative gadgets. However, in practice this is not at all the case.

Consultants are ordinary people who perform their work competently.

Example of consultant activities:

The pharmaceutical company plans to launch a new line of products - vitamin supplements for athletes based on natural plant extracts. On their own, they cannot evaluate the effectiveness of the new project. Management enters into an agreement with a consulting agency. Consultants evaluate companies, analyze assets, and study the market. After a detailed analysis and calculation, they conclude that the new direction is promising and the company’s profit margin is within 10-20%. Management pays for the work of consultants and begins to launch new products .

Clients have different requests for consulting companies.

Let's look at a few examples:

Based on customer requests, consulting services were formed into 5 main forms:

1 Analytics.

Analysis of the current activities of the organization, interaction of its divisions, study market demand, competitive advantages company and opportunities for growth and development.

Example: The company experiences constant staff turnover. The manager was unable to find out the reason and hired a consultant who analyzed the work of the staff and identified the problem at the stage of adaptation of new employees. New people came to the company and did not receive support from experienced colleagues. This led to conflicts and frequent changes in personnel.

2 Forecasting.

Drawing up company development forecasts, identifying promising areas, assessing profits from the launch of new projects. A consulting forecast is never based on the consultant's guesses; it is always based on numbers and facts.

Example: wholesale company for the sale of cabinet furniture decided to expand its activities and open 10 regional branches. To determine sales channels and identify the needs of buyers in the regions, the company enters into an agreement with a consulting firm. Consultants assess competition and customer demand in this segment and draw up a detailed forecast for the company's development. Based on this forecast, management changes its policy and opens only 6 branches instead of 10.

3 Expert consultations.

Consultations on any issues, advice on solving problems. Conducted one-time or on the basis of a long-term contract.

Example: transport company contacted a consulting firm to receive advice on reducing the tax burden. As a result of implementing the consultants' recommendations, the company was able to reduce tax costs by 40% and use the saved money to expand its fleet, which ultimately led to an increase in cargo transportation and increased profits.

4 Audit of the company's activities.

Independent verification of the current activities of the enterprise, search for problems. For example, checking accounting documents, the effectiveness of the sales department, and the work of the technical support service.

Example: To improve the quality of customer service, the company ordered a consulting audit. The consultants listened to recordings of telephone conversations, assessed the work of sales departments using the secret shopping method, conducted a survey of existing clients. Based on the results of the work done, scripts for conversations with potential clients, options for processing objections were improved, additional company products were introduced such as Upsell and CrossSell, which made it possible to improve the quality of service and increase sales by 20%.

5 Direct participation in the project.

Very often, consultants are invited not only for recommendations and inspections, but also for direct participation in certain projects. This could be the implementation or testing of a new software, staff training, conducting legal proceedings in court.

Example: game developer company mobile applications, is about to release a new app for learning Spanish. The application is made in the form of a game in which the user learns new words and goes through game levels. To identify possible shortcomings and understand user reactions, management enters into an agreement with a consulting firm to test the application and solve the problems found.

Types of consulting

Regardless of the form, consulting is divided into types. Below are the 8 main types of consulting:

IT consultants offer solutions for using technology to improve company performance. For example, developing new software, testing or upgrading existing programs.

Due to the prevalence of hacker attacks, IT consultants are increasingly involved in computer security and the implementation of effective protection.

Case 1: Checking IT infrastructure

Supervisor law firm turned to the consulting company Aytilia to conduct an audit of the IT infrastructure. As a result of the audit, it turned out that video footage from the company’s office was available for viewing by any Internet user. IT consultants found a critical error in the configuration of the installed video surveillance system. The password to the IP cameras and the connection port were not encrypted and were freely available. Consultants set up remote access only to the computers of the company’s management and closed the broadcast from the cameras to the Internet.

Case 2. Improving the work of the Call Center

The Yota company turned to the consulting firm PM Expert with a clearly defined task - to find and implement a solution to reduce the load on the company’s call center. IT consultants developed and implemented a “virtual consultant” system. The purpose of the system is to answer popular customer questions without the participation of call center employees.

Management consulting

Management consulting is a set of measures to ensure a sustainable position of an enterprise in the market and improve its key indicators. One of the main tasks of management consulting is to find problems that hinder the effective development of the company and eliminate them in the early stages of their occurrence. Management consulting helps managers and business owners in developing an overall strategy for the development of their enterprise, in creating strong competitive advantages in the market, in increasing the client base, in assessing the profitability of new projects and optimizing interaction between company departments.

A management consultant can be compared to a general practitioner who identifies a general problem, draws up a treatment strategy and refers to highly specialized doctors.

The consultant's goal is to see the holistic picture and identify ways to increase the profitability and competitiveness of the company. He forms and controls a strategy to achieve long-term goals, which will ultimately lead the company to a new stage of development. Developing a step-by-step strategy is the main goal of strategic consulting, which is part of management and is closely related to it. Without developing a strategic action plan, it is impossible to solve current problems and provide the company with a stable market position.

Methods are being developed to implement the resulting strategy advertising promotion companies on the market, analyzing the target audience, searching for effective advertising channels. This is done by marketing consulting, whose actions are aimed at increasing the company’s profits, increasing the number of loyal customers and reducing production costs.

Thus, strategic, marketing and management consulting- these are three parts of a single mechanism.

Financial advisory

Financial consultants are engaged in comprehensive improvement of the financial position of a business. This includes advice on ways to manage expenses, developing and implementing investment strategies, advice on corporate insurance, tax issues and day-to-day financial expenses.

Financial consultants will help you allocate wisely financial resources, estimate the costs of implementing projects, estimate the payback period of these projects, calculate financial risks and draw up a financial strategy for effective distribution Money.

Manufacturing company turned to a consulting agency to review financial statements and find opportunities to increase profits and reduce costs. The company produces 30 types of products and contains 5 large workshops. Having studied the annual financial statements, the consultant came to the conclusion that the company could increase profits if it divided production into 5 separate areas, which would be distributed among workshops. The financial report showed that the 2nd workshop was generating losses and should be abandoned, and the 4th workshop would bring 2 times more profit if the financial resources freed up when closing the unprofitable line were directed to its development. The consultant also assessed the payback period additional investments and calculated the possible risks. After the work done and recommendations implemented, the company’s profit increased by 50%.

HR consulting

HR consultants specialize in the social life of a company. They evaluate personnel composition, identify problems in the interaction of departments, hire new employees and correctly distribute social roles. A HR consultant tests, develops and implements systems for motivating and rewarding staff, resolves conflicts and looks for ways to prevent them.

The head of the sales company contacted the consulting firm. mobile phones and accessories. The company consisted of 10 branches and had a staff of 120 employees. Management noticed that Last year the number of complaints from customers has increased. Most of the complaints pointed to insufficient competence of the sales staff. Customers did not receive answers to their questions and refused to purchase. The consultants' task was to evaluate the effectiveness personnel reserves and increasing staff motivation for further development and improvement of their knowledge. Management wanted to solve this problem through certification. But the staff HR specialists did not have sufficient knowledge in this matter.

The consultants were able to carry out the certification without causing discontent or stress in the team. Based on the results of the inspection, employees were sent for additional training. Some employees had to be fired. Over the next 3 months, the company did not receive a single complaint, and profits increased by 20%.

Investment consulting

Investment consultants search for and evaluate investment projects For profitable investment funds, help choose a broker, draw up an investment plan and investment portfolio, advise companies or individuals on asset allocation.

TO independent consultant A military pensioner at the age of 53 applied with the goal of increasing his pension savings through profitable investments and regular replenishment of his investment portfolio. The client had active earnings of 30,000 rubles, and a pension of the same size, which he did not spend, but accumulated for the initial investment capital. The consultant carried out a calculation and found out that after 10 years the client will be able to receive passive income in the amount of 10,000 rubles per month, subject to the accumulation of $100,000, taking into account inflation and the subsequent investment of the collected funds. The consultant drew up an investment plan, according to which the client was recommended to open a savings account in foreign company with the condition of a monthly replenishment of $500 and the possibility of receiving a permanent passive income already in 7 years, that is, by 60 years.

Legal consulting

The task of a legal consultant is to search for, prevent and solve legal problems of an organization or individuals. The scope of activity is extensive - legal assistance in matters of employment, documentation, corporate and intellectual property, real estate and other aspects.

The founder decided to liquidate the organization, Chief Accountant which he quit and was unable to solve the company's problems. To look for possible violations in reporting and better understand the liquidation process, the director turned to a consultant. The consultant found the company’s debt, advised on the methods and timing of solving the debt and warned the client about possible risks. Having the necessary information, the manager was able to close the debt before the start of the company's liquidation and carry out the liquidation procedure without any problems.

Accounting consulting

Accounting consultants put things in order in accounting, help companies understand reporting documentation, and find opportunities to reduce tax base, analyze accounts payable and determine the profitability of the business.

The company enters into a contract for the supply medical equipment with a foreign organization. In-house accountants do not have sufficient experience to handle the transaction. The manager hires a consultant from a consulting company to support reporting documentation and currency control in order to comply with legal regulations and avoid errors in reporting.

Educational consulting

Educational consulting performs the following functions: training employees, conducting trainings and seminars, drawing up methodological documentation.

The head of the company needed the help of third-party consultants to train sales staff. Sales department employees were poor at cold negotiation techniques and faced constant objections from clients. The company was making losses. The consultants wrote selling scripts and taught the staff how to handle objections and telephone negotiations. With the implementation of scripts and the knowledge gained, sales increased by 30%, and the company's profit increased.

How not to make a mistake when choosing a consultant?

There is no magic formula or secret that makes one consultant more successful than another. A good consultant knows the nuances and subtleties of the area in which he advises.

He is not afraid to take responsibility and give guarantees. The results of his work are measurable. This is the main difference between a good and a bad consultant.

Main criteria when choosing a consultant:

1 Specific results.

The effectiveness of the work done is determined in precise measurable indicators. If the consultant is not ready to provide them, then his qualifications are insufficient for consulting.

2 Awareness of the client's problem.

A professional will study the client’s problems in advance. By pointing out solutions that the client has not seen before, he will demonstrate interest and confident knowledge of the subject. It is important.

3 Craving for questions.

An experienced specialist does not hesitate to ask questions. He is not in the shadows and actively participates in the project. The more expert questions the consultant has, the more likely it is that the client has made the right choice.

4 Flexibility.

A professional respects his own point of view, but listens to the opinion of the client. Flexibility is one of the main qualities of a good specialist.

5 Practical activities.

A professional prefers practice to theory. The consultant's desire to implement the generated ideas indicates his experience and desire for greater achievements.

Now you can choose your own consultant. But what about a consulting firm? Which one should I contact? Read more about this.

Services

Our consulting agency provides consulting services to enterprises and organizations interested in improving their performance through the search for new and more effective methods planning and organizing processes.

The consulting agency has extensive industry experience, wide range functional specialization and has a valuable analytical and resource base. Therefore, rendering management services for us, first of all, it means partnerships and working with clients side by side, in order to bring our customers’ businesses to a qualitatively new level of performance and growth in the long term.

We work not only with the private but also with the public sector, where the provision of services is primarily aimed at helping to improve their service and, where necessary, reducing costs and achieving savings. SCM Consult's consulting services are aimed at solving our clients' most complex problems and exploring the most important challenges and opportunities within any industry and geographic location.

Consulting services for business in the context of functional specialization:

– the main focus of this functional practice of our agency is on achieving competitive advantages and sustainable development activities of our clients. Within the framework of this area, assistance is provided in developing a company strategy with carrying out competitive analysis, defining short-term objectives and long-term goals. Marketing consulting will allow you to study the company’s positioning in the market and its strategic opportunities. Quality and Compliance human resources corporate tasks will allow you to organize personnel consulting. If organizational changes are necessary, our consultants will prepare possible solutions to exit crisis situations and recommendations according to best global practice. In addition, as part of anti-crisis consulting, we will help prepare a comprehensive transformation program and bring the company out of a crisis situation.

– consulting services in the field production planning and sales, providing assistance in the development, management and optimization of processes, optimal use of resources, inventory management, building quality control and monitoring systems through management panels, technologies lean manufacturing(Lean and Six Sigma), integration and supply chain management, from procurement to consumer distribution and returns.

Our consulting agency will help you break down organizational silos, unlocking the full potential for growth and innovation to create long-term and sustainable momentum for development.

Consulting services in this area include assistance Russian enterprises those wishing to expand their sales or supply markets (international procurement), or who are in search of investors for a project (investment consulting) and require investment and financial support, as well as international companies that have decided to develop the Russian market. Our consulting agency provides support throughout the entire project cycle, including building operational processes (project management) at the implementation stage, regardless of geographic location.

– providing assistance in the formation of socio-economic policy through economic research, improving the function of public management and preparing targeted programs and strategies through strategic planning, introducing innovative practices such as clusters, industrial and technology parks.

Clients

home » How to earn » Consulting company about the company. What is consulting: types, forms, its difference from coaching, the main tasks and goals of a consulting company. What problems do consulting companies solve?