Hi,I would like to know your views on the future of CRM and CEM (Customer Experience Management). Are these promising fields to work in or are these too specialised? What is the future of these areas/fields?I am asking this because I have got an offer from a boutique consultancy who are involved only in CRM and CEM. I will be working there as a Senior Business Consultant. Though there will be some interactions with the Technical guys, but my main responsibilities will be in the business side.But I am quite nervous about taking this job since I do not want to be slotted as a pure CRM specialist or as a techinical person. Hence I would like to know what is the future of CRM and what will be my future job prospects if I take up this job.My ultimate goal is to get into corporate strategy consulting. If I take up this job (in the areas of CRM and CEM), will I be able to fulfill my career ambition in (say) 5 years time?Thank you in advance for your views.Cheers, Ben

Come on people. I am sure somebody must have atleast some idea about these fields. If you cannot share, what is the purpose of this forum?I am in urgent need of some insight/guidance as I need to sign the contract. Hence the urgency.....come on please!Thanks in anticipation.Ben

Hello Ben,At some point (soon) in your career you'll have to specialise anyway - and there are far worse places to be than CRM. Most people prefer to be focused on the market-facing elements of a business, and obviously CRM is right in that slot. Strategy consulting may be a bit of a stretch, but at least you'll be building skills in Marketing, which is a close second, in my opinion (assuming you'll be working more on the business side, and less the technical side). Being a CRM person is no bad thing. Being a technical 'anything' is less good, unless you later transform through an MBA, etc. Absent any other info on your situation, if I had to make the call, I would take the job. But the key thing (for me) is what else you are considering...Good luck whatever you decide...

Strategy Consulting is not really a career objective. It can be a good starting point and/or provide an interesting couple of years. However 90% move out of it within five years and go into industry positions or elsewhere. So perhaps you should reconsider your goal anyway.Agree CRM/CEM consulting is a bit of a niche. Jury is out on pace of growth as it is quite a small field - Dunnhumby seem to be doing well mainly due to the commitment of Tescos; and there are a number of small consultancies that have started up in the last couple of years suggesting there is growth. However it seems to be focused almost entirely on FS and telecoms and is an "emerging market" so could go either way.If it goes the wrong way then I think you would still have reasonable prospects in product management or other marketing related areas.Largely depends on your alternative options.

Thanks Arthur and TA. Your views are much appreciated.