Big 4 Consultant Reveals: SAP Recommendation Was Set From Day 1! #shorts

Third Stage Consulting Group
Third Stage Consulting GroupMay 11, 2026

Why It Matters

It exposes how predetermined vendor choices can inflate consulting fees and erode trust, urging firms to seek unbiased assessments for critical technology investments.

Key Takeaways

  • Consulting firm pre‑selected SAP before any client analysis
  • $1‑1.5 M fees paid for work already decided by consultants
  • Project focused on justifying pre‑chosen solution
  • Highlights potential bias in large‑scale software evaluations for enterprises
  • Raises questions about value delivered by top consulting firms

Summary

In a short interview, a former Big‑Four consultant recounts his first software‑evaluation engagement for a Fortune 500 client, revealing that the firm entered the project with SAP already chosen as the answer.

The consulting team billed the client roughly $1 million to $1.5 million for a multi‑month assessment, yet the recommendation was fixed from day one. Their work centered on justifying the pre‑selected ERP system rather than objectively comparing alternatives.

As the consultant put it, “It wasn’t even a question of what we were going to recommend… it was just a matter of how we were going to recommend and justify SAP to this client.” The narrative underscores a process where the deliverable was predetermined, and the client paid for confirmation.

This anecdote highlights potential conflicts of interest in large‑scale vendor selections, questioning the value delivered by top consulting firms and prompting companies to demand more transparent, independent evaluations to avoid paying for predetermined outcomes.

Original Description

Months of assessment, a million-dollar fee, and the recommendation was already decided: SAP. The client paid for a journey to a predetermined destination. #Consulting #SAP #Business #Software #Sales

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