Companies are demanding a review of fees charged by consultants due to the productivity gains provided by artificial intelligence. The Big Four and other consultancies, such as Accenture, are on a collision course with their clients regarding the cost of major technology projects they intend to develop, according to the Financial Times.
At Bayer, there are 30 AI agents assisting with code and tests to significantly reduce the number of consultants in the implementation program. SAP's Chief Financial Officer, Dominik Asam, predicts that AI development will massively displace parts of consulting. Commerzbank plans to invest 600 million euros in AI by 2030 to save 500 million euros annually, partly from reducing consulting spending.
Earlier this year, KPMG International asked its auditor, Grant Thornton, to lower fees with the argument that AI makes work cheaper and that savings should be reflected in the bill. Despite efforts to reduce costs, companies are expected to spend 420 billion dollars on technology consultants this year, 8% more than in 2025.
Interestingly, EY is investing 100 million dollars in bonuses for employees who demonstrate human competencies such as adaptability, innovation, and judgment, as well as experimentation with AI, at a time when companies are beginning to value social skills needed to ensure that the use of AI has the desired impacts.
