Technology, data, digitalization – these were the main topics of discussion of this year’s panel discussion at the Austrian chamber of commerce, the Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO), in Vienna. Though the consulting landscape is rapidly changing, consultants expect a bright and challenging future.
Vienna, June 5, 2019 – “What am I going to wear today?” In his keynote speech, Dr. Rudolf-Christian Hanschitz emphasises the importance of the understanding of roles when it comes to consulting. In fact, the consulting industry is experiencing a very dynamic change consultants have to adapt to. The discussion’s main question quickly morphed into “How quickly is the consulting industry changing nowadays?”
Not only the individual’s understanding of his or her job is changing. Digitalisation and technology pose challenges, and opportunities, for consultants as well. “Those who don’t adapt, are at risk”, underlines Hans-Georg Göttling of the WKO’s professional association for consulting, accounting and IT, UBIT. “UBIT and the International Consultants Day are here to strengthen their members and make their accomplishments visible in order to maintain the positive image they enjoy on the market.”
Austria’s consultants truly earned their reputation. “Consultancy is the engine and turbo of the Austrian economy”, says UBIT chairman, Alfred Harl. The industry boasts more than 34 billion Euro in revenue and 89,000 employees in 8,620 companies – and a 118,9 % increase in revenue in the last ten years. “Today, we celebrate that!”, says Harl.
Present at the International Consultants Day 2019 panel were: Alfred Harl (UBIT), Mag. Dr. habil. Rudolf-Christian Hanschitz (private lecturer), Michael Zettel (Country Managing Director, Accenture GmbH.), Mag. Nikolaus Schaffer (Partner & Director, Deloitte), Alexios Seibt (Arthur D. Little), Mag. Gerhard Zeiner (SAP), Manuela Rott, MBA (FinancePartners BeratungsgesmbH), Dr. Georg Tschare (Tschare Unternehmensberatung), Mag. Dr. Wilfried Drexler (suxxess consult), Lilly Bereuter (Bereuter consulting), KommR Hans-Georg Göttling (Professional association UBIT, consultancy group), Mag. Claudia M Strohmaier (UBIT, cms consulting).