Operationalizing AI: How Real Consulting Firms Are Turning Ambition into Action

Operationalizing AI: How Consulting Firms Are Putting AI Into Practice

AI in consulting extends beyond client projects. Firms are also using it to connect internal knowledge, improve resource planning, automate routine work, and support delivery decisions.

In this Pursuit Power Half Hour session, Kantata host Brent speaks with Tom Rodenhouser from Kennedy Intelligence about how boutique and mid-sized consulting firms are operationalizing AI—and what that means for their people, processes, and commercial models.

How are consulting firms using AI in their operations?

Consulting firms are using AI to make collective knowledge more accessible, improve workflows, support resource allocation, and accelerate proposal development. Tom discusses how boutique firms can apply these capabilities to compete with larger organizations and spend more time executing strategies for clients.

What should consulting firms establish before scaling AI?

AI governance should define how, where, and why teams use AI, including restrictions around client data and client-owned platforms. The conversation explores why transparency with clients, human judgment, and change management are essential as firms introduce AI into their operations.

How is AI changing consulting talent and pricing?

As AI takes on more routine work, junior consultants increasingly need to evaluate outputs, apply context, and think critically. Faster execution also puts pressure on traditional hourly billing, increasing the importance of measurable outcomes and clear agreements about how client success will be assessed.

Watch the Kantata Sales Accelerator Demo

The session concludes with Jacquelyn Blayer, Solutions Engineer at Kantata, demonstrating how Kantata Sales Accelerator uses a firm’s delivery history to help sales and services teams evaluate opportunities before contracts are signed.

See how teams can:

• Identify scope risks and potential cost overruns using similar past projects.
• Analyze discovery-call transcripts and surface relevant client proof points.
• Generate draft RFP responses informed by previous project experience.
• Recommend delivery teams based on roles, skills, and work history.
• Evaluate how pricing and timeline changes affect margins and resources.
• Create a more complete handoff from sales to delivery.

Speakers: Brent, Session Host, Kantata; Tom Rodenhouser, Kennedy Intelligence; and Jacquelyn Blayer, Solutions Engineer, Kantata.

Explore Kantata’s professional services automation software or request a demo to see how Kantata supports planning, resourcing, and delivery.