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Big Four - Digital Ecosystem
Some studies about client services' digital ecosystem of the Big Four companies and other professional services offer to the client include The Digital Transformation Initiative, A Comparison of the Big Four Professional Service Firms, The Forrester Wave™: Global IoT Services for Connected Business Operations, q4 2018, The Forrester Wave™: Global Cybersecurity Consulting Providers, q2 2019, Global Management Consulting Services Market 2019 by Company, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2024 and The Forrester Wave™: Innovation Consulting Services Providers, q4 2018.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE
- The Digital Transformation Initiative is a World Economic Forum’s project that aims to be a focal point for new opportunities and themes in the digitalization business and society. This study provides an overview into several innovations and digital transformations The Big Four companies are included.
Some topics covered:
- According to the report, professional services are evolving, building digital platforms to facilitate conversations with clients, supplying relevant digital services by using digital as an integrated growth platform and developing data-based services Ex: BCG Digital Ventures and Lex Machina.
- Fostering a digital environment. Ex: KPMG and IBM deploying cognitive technology to enhance professional services and Accenture’s Open Innovation Platform helping to bring innovative start-ups to Market.
- Intelligent Automation. Ex: McKinsey Solutions servicing clients with software and technology-based analytics.
- Developing a flexible workforce. Ex: PwC creating a Marketplace for Freelancers.
- New ways of hiring. Ex: The Big Four changing hiring practices with Data Analytics.
- E-discovery software: Ex: KPMG
A COMPARISON OF THE BIG FOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS
This Norwegian study about the Big Four provides an overview about each company. Most of the study is about their history and practices, but it provides insights about their platforms.
PwC
- Their technology is implemented globally to ensure consistency
- Focus on improving quality and efficiency of audit through connectivity, automation and mobility
- Some applications: Aura Now, Count, Connect and Halo
- The Technology GL uses algorithms that are developed and trained to copy decision-making processes, examining transaction with great detail and may find deviations that humans do not.
- PwC has a service dedicated to help their clients understand how technology can help them
Ernst & Young
- System Integrator for cloud-computing
- EY has formed alliances with GE Digital, IBM, Microsoft and SAP
- EY GAM
- EY Canvas
- EY Helix
KPMG
- eAudIT
- Strategic focus on D&A.
- KPMG Clara, an online solution that facilitates efficient and real-time communication, this platform can manage higher data volumes and provide scope for future improvements.
- KPMG Digital focused on Digital Consumer Experience, Digital Enterprise, Digital Capabilities and Digital Operations.
Deloitte
- Deloitte Digital is an innovative leader in online and mobile strategy, design and development
- "They offer everything digital from strategy, multi-channel, bespoke development and managed solutions."
- Deloitte’s Financial Advisory business adopted multiple platforms to support clients, such as a forensic digital platform, analytics platforms like ValueD and iDeal that provide advanced insights on multiple levels, including benchmarks
- FY2017
THE FORRESTER WAVE™: GLOBAL IOT SERVICES FOR CONNECTED BUSINESS OPERATIONS, Q4 2018
- 27-criterion evaluation of global internet-of-things (IoT) services for connected business
- operations providers
- Leaders: Deloitte, IBM, Accenture, HCL and Atos
- Strong Performers: KMPG, EY, PwC, Wipro, Tata, Cognizant and Infosys
- Contenders: Capgermini and Dimension Data
- Deloitte offers a breadth of IoT assessment, implementation, and operations services
- Accenture’s global Industry X.0. unit offers comprehensive industrial IoT services.
- KPMG’s targeted investments and Innovation network highlight its IoT approach.
- EY’s IoT IP helps enterprises architect and protect their connected environments.
- PwC expands beyond GE Predix with broader IoT industry participation.
THE FORRESTER WAVE™: GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY CONSULTING PROVIDERS, Q2 2019
- 23-criterion evaluation of global cybersecurity consulting providers.
- Leaders: PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and Accenture
- Strong Performers: EY, IBM, Rapid 7, Optiv, Crowe, Secureworks, and Booz Allen Hamilton
- Contenders: BAE Systems, Wipro and NTT
- “PwC shines with IP-based consulting enhanced by delivery teams.”
- Deloitte plays on its size, scale, and polish to satisfy clients .
- KPMG stands out with clear, concise, executive-level engagement abilities.
- Accenture’s value-chain-focused approach complements its technical chops.
- EY augments risk conversations by adding trust to the discussion.
GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES MARKET 2019 BY COMPANY, REGIONS, TYPE AND APPLICATION, FORECAST TO 2024
- Up-to-date paid report (released in February 2019), claims to have detailed information about Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Accenture, McKinsey and others.
- Offers Business Overview, Management Consulting Services Types and Applications, Product A, Product B, Revenue Gross Margin and Market Share for each company.
- Also offers Global Management Consulting Services Market Competition, by Players, Market Competition Trends, among many other insights.
- Cost: 1-user pdf $3,480/Enterprise PDF: $6,960
THE FORRESTER WAVE™: INNOVATION CONSULTING SERVICES PROVIDERS, Q4 2018
- Leaders: EY, Deloitte and Accenture
- Strong Performers: BCG, KPMG, McKinsey, and PwC
- Contender: Capgemini
- EY’s approach focuses on an end-to-end model from ideation to scale.
- Deloitte maintains a globally coherent innovation consulting offering.
- Accenture’s innovation consulting offering includes strong technical capabilities.
- McKinsey’s innovation offering includes strong consulting and change management.
- PwC addresses product, technology, and business model innovation.
- KPMG’s innovation approach leverages data-generated insights .
INTERESTING ARTICLES
How are the Big Four accounting firms approaching decentralized ledgers?
This article shows how “The Big Four” are dealing with Blockchain and it seems to imply that EY and Deloitte are ahead of the game in this area
Voices Digital is transforming accounting firm consulting
Winning: Deloitte with a 12% market share.
PwC rolls out new auditing tool for cryptocurrencies as Big 4 race to meet demand
This article covers how PwC has launched an updated auditing solution for clients who hold cryptocurrencies. Winning: PwC and EY.
How Big Four Auditors Delve Into Blockchain: PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG Approaches Compared
This article offers a more detailed insight into how each company is dealing with the Blockchain trend
The Big Four Accounting And Auditing Firms Are Becoming Challengers In Digital Transformation Services
Designing KPMG Online: Case Study
This article takes a closer look into the development of the KPMG APP, including its tools and features.
AI in the Accounting Big Four — Comparing Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY
This article compares how each company is dealing with AI technology implementation, automated services and AI initiatives and strategies.
Research Strategy
We started our research by looking for studies and research about the digital ecosystem, platforms, and applications of the main consulting service providers, with a focus on the six companies requested. Although we did find some articles relating to the topic (that are linked above), we could not find specific studies about the subject, either for the whole pack or for individual companies that would provide insight into pure client digital experience.
We then broadened our research to digital solutions and innovations those companies may be providing in order to find what digital services they may be offering their clients. With this strategy, we were able to find a few free studies and reports that showcased what each company is doing in different areas, including some reports about the competitive landscape and how one company is rising above others. We also found a study that claims to address some of the client’s needs behind a paywall.
Expanding on this success, we attempted to find information about features, UI, templates those companies use, hoping that would lead to a more detailed insight about their digital platform. According to Bloomberg, most of them do not disclose a lot of information about their platforms and tools in order to maintain a competitive advantage, so we only found information that comes straight from their website or from partners, which was of limited usefulness.
Finally, we once again broadened our research and looked for overall comparisons between the companies from credible sources, we ended up locating a few more articles that shine some light into how they handle their digital solutions and services that were included in the report. We considered including market shares and revenues as a display of how the companies may be "winning", however, it would not add much insight into the client experience or digital platforms, so those findings were left out of this report.