Mike Pongon
CEO
Point B
Q: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2014?
A: Point B continued to grow revenue in 2013, and we nearly doubled our profit over 2012. Point B expects a strong 2014. We have set our sights on becoming a truly national firm in the next two to three years. And we intend to achieve this growth profitably; we expect double-digit growth in profits as the investments we've made in highly valuable specialty practices and skills continue to command a premium in the market. Specifically, we will see significant growth in healthcare, retail, and technology verticals as they leverage mobile and digital technologies to improve care delivery and quality, customer experience, and operational excellence. Finally, we are going to invest in developing our people as we position for expansion.
Q: What signs are you seeing that suggest an increase in demand?
A: There is a bit of a paradox in the market right now: Broad economic indicators suggest sluggish growth, but many companies are investing as if they expect better times ahead. Many of our clients have aggressive growth plans and are asking us to help them execute on these plans.
Some industries, such as retail and healthcare, are going through massive transitions due to the effects of new technologies (e.g. advanced data analytics, mobile commerce) or legislative and regulatory changes such as those related to the Affordable Care Act. Seismic shifts in an industry usually translate into increased demand for consulting services.
Q: How do you see the consulting profession evolving in 2014?
A: We saw significant consolidation in the industry in 2013, with signs that it will continue during 2014. We see competitors going for the scale to take on larger engagements and own more of the engagement lifecycle, from strategy inception to detailed execution and system integration. These trends demonstrate a possible "identity crisis" for many firms as they merge cultures and consolidate engagement portfolios.
Acquisition integration can increase internal competition, and it could divert these firms' focus from their clients' objectives. Point B continues to place our clients' interests above our own. We are, and always will be, focused on helping our clients achieve their goals. Building the relationship doesn't revolve around selling the next engagement; it's about facilitating the development of knowledge and capability within our clients' organizations.
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