A business process consultant is an external consultant who helps businesses by researching and analyzing the processes and systems that a business implements. Once this has been done, he or she will make recommendations to improve these processes and practices with an eye to improving overall efficiency. The consultant may also be involved in designing simulations to test proposed process improvements. A business process consultant would generally report to top management.
Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.Robert A. Heinlein
Question – Would You Really Let a Critical Business Process Loose in Your Business?
Although the first impression you may get from a short definition is that business process consultants are paid meddlers, there’s a lot more to it than that. A real professional in this field will have a great breadth and depth of experience and will very likely have some pretty impressive qualifications.
If your impression has now changed from “I don’t want this meddler!” to “I can’t afford a pro like that!” you might be right. After all, anyone with the credentials to be a business process consultant isn’t small fry. There’ll be a big business background positively littered with incredible efficiency-enhancing achievements. That’s how it should be. After all, you wouldn’t want to let a graduate student test his or her wings by messing around with the way your business does things.
How Does Business Process Consultancy Work?
Being a business process consultant is hard work. A consultant may even employ a team to help him. To begin with, analyzing business processes on paper isn’t enough. One has to see them in action, and a quick glance won’t be enough to provide data from which a consultant can make a conclusion about the process as a whole.
So, the first step a business process consultant takes will be to get to know your business processes as intimately, if not more so, than you already do. He or she will watch your people at work, asking questions for clarification as needed.
Now, the business process consultant strives to find more efficient ways of handling the processes that have been observed. He or she will look for inefficiencies in the system, seeking ways to eliminate them so that the work can flow more smoothly and efficiently. Areas for improvement would include:
- Bottlenecks where work piles up in one area
- Inefficient use of resources
- Inefficient use of time
- Redundant processes that could be eliminated
- Redundant processes that could be automated
- The incidence of errors that call for redoing parts of the process
- Physical layouts that increase the time needed to complete a task
- Areas where poor communication or lack of accountability affect productivity
Finally, the business process consultant reports to management, highlighting areas for improvement and making suggestions for improvement. In certain instances, the consultant or business owner will want to see how the proposed new workflows operate in practice, and then a trial run will be set up.
How do you Know if This Intervention Will Work?
The success of a business process consulting intervention will depend on the quality of the consultant. If you decide to use a consultant, you should check past results, getting your information directly from the consultant’s client. A really good consultant might not need experience in your line of work, but the more specialized the area, and the less experience he or she has of it, the longer it will take to perform the preliminary evaluation.
Benefits of using a business process consultant
One of the biggest benefits of using a business process consultant is that you get a “fresh pair of eyes.” When we’re in the thick of things, it can be difficult to spot inefficiencies that are painfully obvious to an outside observer.
Since a proper business process consultant is highly qualified and will have a strong business background, you will also get the benefit of this experience. And although you will certainly pay for this professional’s time, it still works out a lot less costly than hiring a person with that skill level as an employee.
Finally, a business process consultant will be perfectly honest and will be comfortable with raising issues that your own staff members might be reluctant to bring to your attention. For example, if you have a strong sense of ownership of processes you introduced, your staff might be reluctant to tell you about flaws for fear of offending you.
Drawbacks of using a business process consultant
Although getting an outsider’s impressions can be valuable, this person may not obtain a deep enough understanding of what you do and why you chose to implement certain processes in the way you did. There have been many success stories stemming from the use of business process consultants, but there has also been a fair share of disappointments in which companies feel that they failed to gain suitable recommendations.
To maximize your chances of obtaining a good outcome, you and your consultant should meet in advance so that you can discuss your expectations and clarify the reasons why you thought business process consultancy could help your company. This will guide the consultant during the business process evaluation.
Alternatives to using a business process consultant
You or a trusted staff member could undertake the process of evaluating workflows, both on paper and at the coalface. You won’t have the advantage of a fresh pair of eyes, but you will have the advantage of the pre-existing knowledge of your company. If you can eliminate bias to a large degree by preparing yourself to approach the process with an open mind, you could identify areas for improvement as efficiently as a consultant would.
The primary drawback of this alternative is the time it will take. You and your staff members already have functions to fulfill, and unless your workflows are carefully tracked, you could miss important areas that need attention.
Tallyfy offers a solution to overcome time constraints. Your real workflows can be tracked in detail, and even when you don’t have your eye on the ball, you can draw analytics after the fact to see how each portion of a process fared.
Once you have identified problem areas, it’s just a matter of finding out what the cause of the problem is. Addressing it may mean having to adjust the workflow, getting new equipment to make your employees’ jobs easier, or even employing extra staff members to cope with the workload in certain areas.
If the reasons for hitches in work process flows aren’t obvious, you’ll at least know which areas will need closer observation in order to determine how you can improve efficiency. Would you like to know how Tallyfy can turn you into your own business process consultant? We’ll give you a free demo, or you can sign up for a free trial and take it from there. Why not try it? It could be the best thing you ever did for your business. We also offer paid services, of course.
Related Questions
What is the role of a business process consultant?
A business process consultant is like a doctor for companies. They examine how a business operates, spot areas that need improvement, and suggest ways to make things run smoother. These experts dive deep into a company’s day-to-day activities, looking at everything from how teams communicate to how products are made. Their goal is to help businesses work smarter, not harder, by streamlining processes and cutting out unnecessary steps. They’re problem-solvers who bring fresh eyes and new ideas to help companies grow and succeed in today’s fast-paced world.
How much does a business process consultant earn in the US?
The salary of a business process consultant in the US can vary widely, depending on factors like experience, location, and the size of the companies they work with. On average, these professionals earn between $70,000 and $120,000 per year. However, top consultants working for big firms in major cities can make well over $200,000 annually. It’s worth noting that many consultants also receive bonuses, profit-sharing, and other perks that can significantly boost their total compensation. As businesses increasingly recognize the value of streamlining their operations, skilled process consultants are in high demand, which can lead to even more attractive pay packages.
What does a business process specialist do?
A business process specialist is like a detective and an architect rolled into one. They investigate how a company operates, looking for clues about what’s working well and what’s causing headaches. Once they’ve gathered all the evidence, they design better ways of doing things. These specialists might suggest new software to automate repetitive tasks, reorganize teams to improve communication, or create step-by-step guides to make complex jobs easier. They’re always on the lookout for ways to save time, reduce costs, and make employees’ lives easier. Essentially, they’re the go-to people for turning a chaotic workplace into a well-oiled machine.
What is a process consultant’s job description?
A process consultant’s job is all about making businesses run like clockwork. Their typical day might involve meeting with company leaders to understand their goals, watching employees work to spot bottlenecks, and crunching numbers to measure how well things are going. They’re part analyst, part teacher, and part innovator. These consultants create detailed maps of how work flows through a company and then brainstorm ways to make that flow smoother and faster. They might train staff on new procedures, help implement cutting-edge software, or advise on industry best practices. Their ultimate aim is to leave a company better than they found it, with happier employees, satisfied customers, and a healthier bottom line.
What is the process consulting approach?
The process consulting approach is like being a coach for a business. Instead of coming in with a ready-made solution, the consultant works side-by-side with the company’s team. They ask lots of questions, watch how things are done, and help the team see their own strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to empower the company to solve its own problems. It’s not about quick fixes, but about helping the business grow and improve over time. This approach builds skills within the company, so they can keep getting better even after the consultant leaves.
What are the 5 steps of the consulting process?
The consulting process is like planning a road trip. First, you have the Entry step, where the consultant and company agree to work together. Next comes Diagnosis, where they figure out what’s really going on in the business. The third step is Action Planning, where they map out what needs to change. Implementation follows, putting those plans into action. Finally, there’s Termination, where the consultant’s job is done, and the company takes the wheel. Each step builds on the last, creating a journey of improvement for the business.
How Do Different Industries Benefit from Process Consulting?
Process consulting is like a Swiss Army knife – it’s useful in all sorts of situations. In manufacturing, it might help streamline production lines. For healthcare, it could improve patient care processes. In tech companies, it might make software development more efficient. Retail businesses could use it to enhance customer service workflows. Even creative industries like advertising can benefit by organizing their project management better. The beauty of process consulting is that it adapts to each industry’s unique needs, helping businesses of all types run more smoothly and successfully.
