Consulting and business services deserves an expert voice.

Markets Insider reports on this development. Read the source and add your perspective on what it means for your industry.

Consider: What does this development mean for businesses or customers in consulting and business services?

A first-person article explains the Japanese national qualification "Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant," describing exam structure (two stages: multiple-choice and case-based written), required practical experience for registration, and typical consulting topics like finance, marketing, HR, operations and IT. The author recounts personal study and training experiences.

Consider whether clients or staff could benefit from consultants holding this national qualification when seeking specialist SME advisory skills in areas such as finance, HR, or operations.

Consider: How might consulting firms operationalize the practical-training requirement to accelerate newly qualified advisors into billable SME engagements?

A paid press release announces Greater Prairie Business Consulting's new "AI-Enabled Business Value Acceleration Program" for privately held companies. The program includes a 360 Biz Status Assessment, a Profit Improvement Plan identifying operational priorities and potential AI use cases, and follow-up through a Profit Assurance Partnership.

Consider exploring how packaged AI-assessment and follow-up programs could be positioned to address owner concerns about connecting AI to profitability, resilience, and exit readiness.

Consider: What measurable KPIs should firms include in an AI-enabled value-acceleration offering to demonstrate links between AI projects and business value for private owners?

An experienced consultant outlines risk-related consulting (risk advisory), defining risk per ISO/COSO and describing growing demand for services such as risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, and accounting/management control. The piece emphasizes increasing prioritization of risk by management and opportunities for careers in risk consulting.

Considerations for consulting firms and recruiters about demand and hiring needs in risk advisory and governance work.

Consider: What core competencies should firms prioritize when recruiting or training consultants for risk advisory roles to meet growing corporate demand?

A small business consultant advises that successor-led new ventures should not be judged simply as for or against the idea. Instead, evaluate which existing company assets—skills, client trust, supplier relationships, sales know-how—can transfer to the new venture while protecting core business operations and frontline capacity before execution.

Considerations for succession planning and new-business rollout that balance legacy operations with successor innovation.

Consider: What structured steps would you recommend to map which existing assets can be repurposed for a successor's new venture without jeopardizing core operations?

Share practical expertise grounded in the linked industry sources and your own experience.

Consider: What should customers understand before making an important decision?

Share practical expertise grounded in the linked industry sources and your own experience.

Consider: Which priorities will matter most over the coming years, and why?