Hi guys,I'm Dave and new to the forum. I'm actually developing an idea that would provide valuable AND affordable advisory and consulting services to SMEs across the UK. I don't have any specific consulting experience, however, and would appreciate if any of you guys have the time and inclination of hearing some of my ideas?Thanks a lot.

Hi Dave!Welcome to the forum.Don't ask to ask, just ask!:)

[quote]valuable AND affordable[/quote] boom.

Idea came about due to me working a lot with SMEs and on reading a fantastic piece of research by BMG research and Middlesex University indicating a significant appetite for external assistance - particularly advisory assistance - but guess what one of the biggest barriers to acquiring that service was? Benefits and value.Now I can already see you guys' eyes roll as I'm typing this, but my "solution" to this is to provide a reliable 'remote service application' via a website where potential clients can update their confidential data based on the explorative questions in the survey/questionnaire published on the site.Naturally this won't be the end of the transaction, but will dramatically reduce the time and cost of pre-sales meetings to both the client and firm??

Idea came about due to me working a lot with SMEs and on reading a fantastic piece of research by BMG research and Middlesex University indicating a significant appetite for external assistance - particularly advisory assistance - but guess what one of the biggest barriers to acquiring that service was? Benefits and value.Now I can already see you guys' eyes roll as I'm typing this, but my "solution" to this is to provide a reliable 'remote service application' via a website where potential clients can update their confidential data based on the explorative questions in the survey/questionnaire published on the site.Naturally this won't be the end of the transaction, but will dramatically reduce the time and cost of pre-sales meetings to both the client and firm??

Idea came about due to me working a lot with SMEs and on reading a fantastic piece of research by BMG research and Middlesex University indicating a significant appetite for external assistance - particularly advisory assistance - but guess what one of the biggest barriers to acquiring that service was? Benefits and value.Now I can already see you guys' eyes roll as I'm typing this, but my "solution" to this is to provide a reliable 'remote service application' via a website where potential clients can update their confidential data based on the explorative questions in the survey/questionnaire published on the site.Naturally this won't be the end of the transaction, but will dramatically reduce the time and cost of pre-sales meetings to both the client and firm??

Sorry guys don't know what happened there!

[quote]Sorry guys don't know what happened there! [/quote]Damn, you should have kept that one to yourself. I'm publishing my website based on your idea as we speak.

Love the sarcasm. Very helpful.

Love the sarcasm. Very helpful.

Hi decuture, Given you are yourself an SME, perhaps you could build a marketing message around the fact that your last couple of posts have already generated a 50% reduction in inefficiency inherent within your data entry process?It's what the big boys would claim...

I also saw the same research. I think it also mentioned that many SME directors would also like to wear saville row suits, drive a rolls Royce and drink Krug for breakfast.In fact 99% said that if there was a cheap way to access these products, they would definitely purchase them

[quote]I also saw the same research. I think it also mentioned that many SME directors would also like to wear saville row suits, drive a rolls Royce and drink Krug for breakfast.[/quote]Sorry Cool, I think the quote you refer to was 'many SME directors would also like to wear Saville Shell suits' drive a rolls Royce and drink Krug for breakfastDC

[quote]Hi decuture, Given you are yourself an SME, perhaps you could build a marketing message around the fact that your last couple of posts have already generated a 50% reduction in inefficiency inherent within your data entry process?It's what the big boys would claim...[/quote]Can't argue with that to be fair.

Ouch. How's about that then!

Aren't benefits and value the same thing?

Clients don't give a sh*t about the pre-sales work - it's all fire off the demands usually via an eSourcing tool and let the Consultancies foot the BD to reply. Your idea would be good if clients were flocking to Consultancies, but it's the other way around. Consultancies are the prison b*tches of clients - we will bend over for them. RfP day before Xmas vacation? Sure! Want it back on the 5th January? Sure thing boss! Also, no one will upload confidential data based upon a survey and a website for a single Consultancy - it's a pain to get this data even when you've won...So kudos on having the balls to express your idea in this cage fight of a forum - which again is pretty much like prison (Mars is the gang boss, BEP is the old convict who only shanks people when he has to, you are the skinny first-timer) but no banana....

Besides, most consultancies drag out the pre-sales process to A) work out what the heck the client actually wantsB) twist the clients requirements so that they match up to something the consultancy knows something aboutC) get time in the diary of their senior network at the client so that they can hijack the procurement process

[quote]Aren't benefits and value the same thing?[/quote]If you think they are, then please stay far away from consulting.

Ha.

Ha. Ha.

Ha. Ha. He.

Ha. Ha.

Hey guys, sorry for the delay in replying. Just like to say a big thank you for taking the time to give me your advice. Definitely some food for thought there.In particular with the two concerns from Arby, absolutely taken on board the issue with the "pull" of SMEs to the site. Taking it online exclusively ultimately is taking the gamble whether or not I can urge SMEs seeking these kinds of services to the site in the first place--it will take time, work and money, but is what the operation will centre around.The second issue regarding the data--very insightful and something that to be honest I have overlooked thus-far in the conception of the idea. I guess what I'd love to know is what clients would consider confidential information that advisory/consulting houses need to formulate some sort of idea of what the client requires. If that makes sense?