Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has launched its BCG Gamma division in the Netherlands, as the consulting firms seeks to support Dutch corporates and the public-private sector with embracing artificial intelligence and advanced analytics.
BCG launched its BCG Gamma practice several years ago, and the division has seen strong growth since, riding on the wave of the big data boom. The unit currently employs around 900 data consultants, scientists and engineers, working on topics including artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning, and image recognition.
According to Sylvain Duranton, Global Leader of BCG Gamma, a wealth of opportunities can be unlocked through the application of cutting-edge data science techniques, with the gains that can be realised being “easily to the tune of 1% to 3%” of company turnover."
In one example, BCG Gamma helped a telecom company achieve more than $10 billion in savings through a revised data-driven strategy for its internet broadband roll-out, while closer to home, BCG is helping KLM streamline its maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) processes for its fleet and spare parts through artificial intelligence.BCG launches its BCG Gamma division in the NetherlandsAllard Creyghton, a senior partner at Boston Consulting Group in the Netherlands, said that the decision to launch in the country builds on such and the many more opportunities seen in the local market. “The use of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important for organisations to create value and gain a competitive advantage,” he said. Echoing recent BCG research, which found that 70% of employees globally consider artificial intelligence as an essential driver for the future growth of their company.
Dutch catch-up?
However, while the Netherlands is documented to be well positioned to play a front running role in the data science landscape, a report released last year by DenkWerk, a think tank founded by Hans Wijers (former CO of AkzoNobel) and Frans Blom (senior partner at BCG), cautioned that the country risks falling behind due to a too passive public-private investment agenda.
Several ‘warnings’ have since been released, but in October this year, the Dutch government – criticised for being sluggish in its agenda – played catch-up and unveiled its artificial intelligence strategy for the coming decade. A budget of 2 billion euros has been made free for artificial intelligence research & development in the coming seven years, to be spent in collaboration with a consortium of institutions. Meanwhile, a group a five Dutch multinationals – Ahold Delhaize, KLM, ING, NS and Philips – last month pledged to ramp up their investments with “tens of millions” of euros.
BCG Gamma will now seek to tap into this agenda, and will focus on helping private sector organisations “unlock the potential of artificial intelligence,” said Creyghton. International BCG research shows that despite its top of mind profile, company leaders are struggling with execution and scaling up meaningfully.
“The use of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important for organisations to create value and gain a competitive advantage.”
– Allard Creyghton, Boston Consulting Group
One of the caveats to successful delivery is siloed-thinking. Not blending in data science and technology into broader business transformation goals may leave organisations behind with top-notch systems, with sub-optimal or unaligned benefits. To this end, BCG Gamma combines its deep artificial intelligence expertise with BCG’s strategy and transformation competences, said Creyghton. “We help organisations make artificial intelligence an integrated part of their strategy and business operations, enabling them to achieve measurable impact.”
Martin van den Heuvel, BCG Gamma’s leader in the Netherlands, added, “We are unique in our approach – our multidisciplinary experts work together in one team, side-by-side, with clients.”
In the Netherlands, BCG Gamma operates alongside BCG (BCG’s strategy and management consulting brand) and BCG Platinion (the firm’s technology implementation arm). Other BCG labels such as BrightHouse (purpose consulting), Inverto (supply chain consultancy) and BCG Digital Ventures (venturing and concept incubation) are not (yet) active on the ground, with these services provided by fly-in teams.
“With the launch of BCG Gamma, we are even better able to help our customers in the Netherlands realise their ambitions,” concluded Van den Heuvel.
Earlier this year, BCG Gamma acquired Kernel Analytics in Spain and The Simulation Group in Australia.
Sourced from Consultancy.eu