Consultants Know How To Nose In; French Tech Under Silicon Valley’s Shadow

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In-House Helpers

Consultancies are cashing in on in-housing. Firms like PwC, Accenture and Deloitte are using the media transparency debate to position themselves as in-housing experts, picking up marginal revenue – and helping brands cut out agencies in the process, reports Digiday. Because consulting firms have a heritage in systems integration, organization structure and strategic planning, they’re well positioned to help clients set up in-house data operations. “Unlike agencies, consultants are more used to one-off projects,” ANA SVP Bill Duggan told Digiday. “They [also] have their ear all the way up to the CEO or CFO, not just the CMO.”

Pardon My French

French lawmakers and entrepreneurs are dealing with a double-edged sword. Investments in tech, data and AI – sometimes made explicitly to develop national business or technology – end up accruing to the Silicon Valley crew. French President Emmanuel Macron announced a series of new AI research hubs and investments, but Facebook is the biggest partner. A new tech visa program helps secure talent … but disproportionately for the biggest companies. Atos, the French IT services giant, recently picked Google as its AI development partner despite bitter local competition, Reuters reports. The same effect can be seen in the rollout of GDPR, which was crafted partially to balance the field of competition in Europe, but has already proven a relative boon to the likes of Google and Facebook.