Report:
The Forrester Wave™: AI Consulting Services, Q2 2026
How does Forrester define the AI Consulting Services market in 2026?
AI consulting services providers must bring together strategy (what to do) and viability (engineering feasibility that it can be done) to ensure successful AI transformation. The market requires providers that tackle both business change and technology enablement simultaneously, with strategy and technology intertwined as never before. Providers are increasingly shifting to results-based pricing models to ensure stronger alignment with clients and achieve desired outcomes. The evaluation assessed 10 providers across three placement tiers: Leaders (PwC, Accenture, EY, IBM), Strong Performers (Capgemini, Boston Consulting Group, KPMG, McKinsey & Company), and Contenders (Deloitte, Bain & Company). All providers expressed visions of AI-powered business transformation and bring blended teams of strategy, governance, process reinvention, change management, architecture, and engineering talent.
Key Facts for The Forrester Wave™: AI Consulting Services, Q2 2026 in 2026
- Publication Date: 29-May-2026
- Document ID: adf825f6
- Summary: In our evaluation of AI consulting services providers, we identified the most significant ones and researched, analyzed, and scored them. This report shows how each provider measures up and helps you select the right one for your needs.
- Authors: Ted Schadler
How did the AI Consulting Services market evolve in 2026?
- AI business transformation requires providers that bring together strategy (what to do) and viability (engineering feasibility)
- AI service providers must tackle business change and technology enablement simultaneously
- Strategy and technology, strategists and engineers, are intertwined as never before
- Alternative pricing models (other than time and materials) are increasingly used to ensure stronger alignment
- Shift to results-based pricing is emerging as AI industrializes services
- 10 most important providers of AI consulting services were evaluated
- All providers expressed vision of AI-powered business transformation
- Providers bring blended teams of strategy, governance, process reinvention, change management, architecture, and engineering talent
What product features are required to be included in this year's evaluation?
- A significant track record for delivering projects in AI strategy and execution. The providers in this evaluation have demonstrated experience in AI consulting services, with over $250 million in services revenue in the past 12 months.
- A dedicated set of practices that Forrester considers to be AI consulting services. The provider shows commitment to the market with a focus on developing and delivering AI consulting services at scale.
- Mindshare among Forrester's enterprise clients. Forrester clients frequently mention the provider as one they are considering for an AI consulting services project. We hear about the provider from our clients in the form of inquiries, advisories, consulting engagements, and other interactions over the past year.
What are the common features of top products in the AI Consulting Services space?
No common features specified.
Scope Exclusions
- AI technical services with 11 additional capabilities such as AI lifecycle management and sustainability are evaluated separately in The Forrester Wave™: AI Technical Services, Q4 2025
- Vendors not meeting the $250 million revenue threshold in AI consulting services
- Vendors lacking dedicated AI consulting services practices at scale
- Additional vendors in the broader AI consulting services landscape are covered in The AI Consulting Services Landscape, Q3 2025
Inclusion Criteria
Vendors must, among other requirements:
- Significant track record for delivering AI strategy and execution projects with over $250 million in services revenue in the past 12 months
- Dedicated set of practices that Forrester considers to be AI consulting services
- Mindshare among Forrester's enterprise clients who frequently mention the provider for AI consulting services projects
Offering Strengths — Relative Weighting
- Business strategy development — 15%
- Value management — 10%
- AI operations and operating model — 10%
- AI governance — 10%
- AI security and compliance — 5%
- Process reinvention — 10%
- Change management — 10%
- Data and model engineering — 10%
- AI architecture and applications — 10%
- AI-powered delivery platform — 5%
- Productized assets — 5%
Strategy Strength — Relative Weighting
- Vision — 20%
- Innovation — 20%
- Partner ecosystem — 20%
- Pricing flexibility and transparency — 20%
- Supporting services and offerings — 10%
- Talent strategy — 10%
FAQs
Q: What does this research cover?
A: This research evaluates the 10 most important providers of AI consulting services, analyzing their capabilities in business strategy development, AI operations, governance, security, process reinvention, change management, data and model engineering, AI architecture, and AI-powered delivery platforms. The evaluation assesses both current offerings and strategic vision, with customer feedback incorporated to identify leaders, strong performers, and contenders in the market.
Q: Who should use this research?
A: This research should be used by enterprise technology and business leaders who are seeking AI consulting services providers to help with AI-powered business transformation. It is particularly relevant for CEOs, CIOs, chief AI officers, and operating executives who need help developing AI strategy, establishing AI operating models and governance, architecting new foundations for AI-native business, and scaling AI scenarios from pilots to production. The report helps buyers shortlist providers based on their specific industry needs, transformation maturity level, and whether they need strategy-focused or engineering-heavy capabilities.
Q: What are the mandatory features of vendors included in this market?
A: Vendors must have: 1) A significant track record delivering AI strategy and execution projects with over $250 million in services revenue in the past 12 months, 2) A dedicated set of practices focused on developing and delivering AI consulting services at scale, and 3) Mindshare among Forrester's enterprise clients who frequently mention the provider for AI consulting services projects through inquiries, advisories, consulting engagements, and other interactions.
Q: What are some reasons for not being included in this report?
A:
- Less than $250 million in AI consulting services revenue in the past 12 months
- Lack of dedicated AI consulting services practices at scale
- Insufficient mindshare among Forrester's enterprise clients
- Primary focus on AI technical services rather than AI consulting services (strategy and execution)
- Declined to participate in the full Forrester Wave evaluation process
- Did not meet vendor inclusion criteria outlined in the evaluation methodology
Q: What should buyers consider when evaluating products in this market?
A:
- Understand your industry, function, and differentiation - insist on evidence that the provider brings best practices from your industry and from more advanced industries
- Energize and serve all your stakeholders - need a provider that can help CEOs, CIOs, chief AI officers, and operating executives with trust and service across technology, security, governance, and talent
- Help you architect new foundations for AI-native business - establishing AI technical architecture, approach to curating proprietary knowledge, culture of workforce adaptability, discipline to prioritize and scale AI scenarios, and diligence to persist with right use cases
- Bring engineering talent, not just strategy consultants
- Offer alternative pricing models beyond time and materials, including results-based pricing
- Demonstrate ability to blend strategy and viability assessment before scaled implementation
- Show evidence of successful change management and process reinvention
- Provide strong AI governance, security, and compliance capabilities especially for regulated industries
Q: How has the AI Consulting Services market evolved in 2026?
A:
- AI business transformation is not digital transformation - there is nothing universal or horizontal about it
- Strategy and engineering must be intertwined - providers need to bring both strategists and engineers together
- Shift from time and materials (T&M) pricing to results-based pricing models to ensure stronger alignment between provider and client
- AI is increasingly industrializing services, requiring alternative pricing models
- CEOs must own the AI strategy, not just CIOs executing technology
- Chief AI officer role is expanding into an operating role for curating data and establishing AI operating models
- Need to architect new foundations for AI-native business including technical architecture, proprietary knowledge curation, workforce adaptability culture, and scenario prioritization discipline
Q: What differentiates Strength of Offering vs. Strength of Strategy?
A: Strength of Offering (Current Offering) evaluates vendors' actual capabilities and services delivery across 11 criteria including business strategy development, value management, AI operations, governance, security, process reinvention, change management, data/model engineering, AI architecture, delivery platforms, and productized assets. It represents what vendors can deliver today. Strength of Strategy evaluates vendors' strategic positioning and future direction across 6 criteria including vision, innovation roadmap, partner ecosystem, pricing models, supporting services, and talent strategy. It represents where vendors are headed and their ability to adapt to market changes.
Reference
- Forrester, The Forrester Wave™: AI Consulting Services, Q2 2026, 29-May-2026, ID adf825f6
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