Boutiques demand ops + systems chops
Hiring briefs show boutiques strongly favor process optimization, business-systems fluency (ERP/CRM/automation) and the ability to translate strategy into implementation—skills that beat pedigree this hiring cycle. The trend shows up across MBA hiring commentary and role descriptions for mid-market firms. (thehansindia.com, nationalcioreview.com)
Point B’s live Lever listings include Manager roles labeled “AI & Process Automation” and “Intelligent Operations,” reflecting active hiring for systems-centered strategy and operations delivery. (jobs.lever.co) West Monroe is recruiting a Director, SAP Strategy Development to lead SAP ERP transformations for Consumer & Industrial Products, signaling boutique demand for ERP strategy-to-execution specialists. (glassdoor.com) Slalom’s 2026 positioning emphasizes end-to-end delivery “from strategy to implementation” and markets AI-enabled implementation as a core client capability on its careers and outlook pages. (slalom.com) A recent CSP Global survey reported 37% of employers plan to increase MBA hiring in 2026 and listed AI fluency, the ability to quantify business impact (31%), and applied portfolios as top priorities for MBA hires. (online.csp.edu) Industry analyses for 2026 highlight skill-specific growth in Workday, ERP modernization, cloud migration and AI-driven capabilities—trends that drive boutique demand for consultants who can integrate core ERP with business-unit systems. (theplanetgroup.com) Recruiting commentary and boutique job descriptions show employers prioritizing candidates who can map and optimize processes, configure ERP/CRM workflows, run automation pilots and demonstrate ROI, rather than defaulting to pedigree-based screening. (empiric.com) Hiring-outlook pieces predict a shift toward skills-based hiring and embedded AI in recruitment that will shorten time-to-fill for niche ERP/automation roles and push interviews toward practical casework and hands-on demos in 2026. (blog.ongig.com)
