How SIs and Tech Consulting Firms Can Win in the AI Era

It's a given that, to thrive in today's AI-driven market, system integrators (SIs) and technology consulting firms must focus on delivering exceptional services, integrating innovative technologies, and overcoming fierce competition for talent.

It's also a reality that, as businesses increasingly adopt AI-driven, real-time applications, they often lack the necessary expertise and resources to effectively compete. And more and more, companies are demanding real-time systems. This creates a compelling dynamic for SIs and consulting firms that are positioned to capitalize on this gap by offering outstanding solutions, expertise and resources that surpass client expectations. Winning in this era requires embracing AI while utilizing best-in-class technologies to build real-time, scalable, enterprise-grade, AI-based solutions that demonstrably impact the business.

Recognizing the Rising Demand for AI Expertise

The need for AI and real-time capabilities is surging across industries, pushing companies to find external expertise to stay competitive. SIs and consulting firms with expertise in these areas will be in high demand. According to a report by BCC Research, the global AI consulting services market is expected to grow to $64.3 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.2% from 2023-2028.

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Major consulting firms are investing heavily in AI to position themselves for this growth. PwC has committed $1 billion over three years to enhance its AI capabilities, while Ernst & Young invested $1.4 billion. These investments reflect the rising need for AI-driven services, especially in mobile and real-time applications. This signals a clear opportunity for SIs and consulting firms to expand their market shares.

Competing for Talent

However, winning business in this competitive landscape requires overcoming a major challenge —talent acquisition. The race for AI talent, especially against tech giants like Apple, Google, Meta and OpenAI, is a significant hurdle. These companies aggressively recruit top computer science talent and new college graduates, including Ph.D. graduates, to develop generative AI systems. With a limited pool of qualified candidates, tech leaders are collectively hiring more than 1,700 AI and machine learning professionals, according to their job postings earlier this year, leaving smaller firms struggling to attract specialists.

This talent gap is particularly evident in non-tech industries like retail and manufacturing. Well-established companies in these sectors frequently lose top talent to those leading in AI innovation. Professionals in these sectors often seek roles at companies more deeply involved in AI development, where they can engage with advanced technologies and grow their expertise.

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Standing Out in a Competitive Market

To differentiate themselves, SIs and consulting firms must provide a comprehensive suite of services that go beyond the basics. Offering best-in-class technologies, such as high-performance hardware, cloud services, security measures, user interfaces and data platforms, is key to exceeding client expectations.

Real-time data platforms, in particular, are crucial for managing the vast amounts of data required for AI-driven applications. SIs and consulting firms that can showcase their expertise in these platforms will be well-positioned to win business. By highlighting the scalability, flexibility and performance of real-time data platforms in response to requests for proposals (RFPs), firms can stand out in a crowded market.

Investing in Real-Time Data Platforms

Real-time data platforms allow firms to deliver faster, more accurate AI predictions by ensuring that AI algorithms can read/write real-time data predictably with the lowest latency. These platforms can ingest, persist and retrieve massive data volumes with low latency, improving performance and scalability while reducing infrastructure costs. Their flexibility also allows firms to handle vector search, key-value, and graph data, making them adaptable to various AI-driven applications.

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Managing billions of data points efficiently, these platforms can scale from terabytes to petabytes, which is essential for real-time AI decision-making. They streamline data ingestion from streaming sources and systems of record, improving model precision and performance while cutting costs by up to 80%. This combination of scalability and low total cost of ownership (TCO) makes them a highly cost-effective investment.

Real-time data platforms support a variety of AI use cases, including:

Exceeding Client Expectations

As AI continues transforming industries, SIs and technology consulting firms must excel by strategically balancing talent, technology and innovation. Addressing the talent competition head-on, investing in best-in-class technologies such as real-time data platforms, and providing tailored, impactful services are critical strategies for success. By continuously adapting to market changes and offering strategic insights and new solutions, firms can meet evolving client needs, and unlock significant revenue potential. Those who excel in these areas will navigate the competitive landscape effectively, and position themselves as leaders in the AI-driven market.