The benefits of an efficiency consulting partner, why every business needs it and 5 ways it unlocks robust savings and new capabilities – here’s what you need to know about efficiency consulting
Need to cut costs and drive productivity?
It’s never been more important: Global business execs have said in PwC’s 2024 CEO survey that they see the need for companies to reinvent themselves accelerating – 56% of CEOs say advancing technology is the main driver of change in business today.
Globally, companies want to prioritise operational efficiency by using smart analysis, better workflows and the right technology to stay competitive and protect their margins. And, in South Africa, where the threat of loadshedding, inflation and market volatility adds to everyday business pressure, we need to do even more with less.
That’s where efficiency consulting comes in: It’s a proven way to unlock more value across your operations. Here’s how it works and how it drives ROI for tech-enabled businesses:
Efficiency consulting is a strategic advisory service that helps companies streamline operations, eliminate waste and embed automation to drive sustainable performance improvements. It goes beyond basic cost-cutting — focusing instead on systematic analysis and smart redesign of internal workflows.
Efficiency consultants use process audits, performance metrics and technology enablement to help your team operate at its best. Whether it's cutting down delays in service delivery, automating internal tasks, or aligning teams around high-impact priorities, efficiency consulting transforms how businesses operate from the inside out.
In short: efficiency consulting is a consulting service that helps you draft and execute your company’s efficiency strategy.
Efficiency consulting is ideal for mid-to-large organisations that want to scale, reduce friction, or modernise their operations.
Customer expectations have shifted. Teams are increasingly distributed. And the pressure to do more with less — especially in resource-constrained environments like South Africa — continues to intensify. Companies need data-driven strategies that align processes, technology and people for maximum impact.
Efficiency consulting helps companies become more resilient, agile and cost-effective, enabling:
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Efficiency consultants start by diagnosing how your business works. They use tools like value stream mapping, workflow visualisation and time tracking to document how tasks move from start to finish. Interviewing employees, reviewing systems and uncovering recurring issues reveal delays or redundancies leadership wasn’t aware of.
For instance, you might learn that a customer onboarding process is taking days because it requires multiple layers of approval, or that data captured manually is introducing costly errors. This analysis forms the baseline from which consultants build a smarter, evidence-backed improvement plan.
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With the pain points identified, consultants apply methods like Lean, Six Sigma, or design thinking to reengineer processes for clarity, speed and alignment. The goal is to cut unnecessary steps, empower employees to act faster and create seamless handoffs between teams.
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Efficiency consulting means choosing only the right tools and implementing them properly. Consultants review your existing tech stack, assess gaps and recommend scalable platforms that align with your business goals.
Whether it’s workflow automation, robotic process automation (RPA), cloud-based dashboards, or collaborative workspaces like Jira or Notion, the aim is to eliminate repetitive tasks and empower smarter decision-making.
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Reducing costs isn’t about slashing budgets or staff — it’s about creating leaner, higher-performing systems. Efficiency consultants identify quick wins (like consolidating SaaS subscriptions or digitising manual reports) as well as deeper changes (like rethinking your delivery model or inventory controls).
They also look at cost in broader terms: employee burnout, slow response times, or poor customer retention all have financial consequences. By addressing operational friction holistically, consultants unlock savings that go far beyond line items—often freeing up capital to reinvest in growth.
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Perhaps the biggest ROI from efficiency consulting is unlocked when teams work smarter — not harder. With the right systems, visibility and autonomy, employees can collaborate faster, reduce context switching, and focus on delivering results.
Consultants often introduce frameworks like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) or project delivery methodologies like Agile to boost team effectiveness. They align workflows to performance goals and create feedback loops that keep everyone focused.
The result? A business where people, tech, and strategy move in sync — at speed.
At Specno, we specialise in helping South African businesses design and execute tech-enabled efficiency strategies that deliver real and measurable results. From high-level process audits to full custom tech builds, our team works with mid-to-large corporates across finance, logistics, health and retail.
We don’t just advise — we execute. And we’ve seen first-hand how even small process changes, when paired with the right technology, can unlock major growth and savings.
See the impact we’ve made in companies of every size.
Need help driving efficiency in your business?
Let our team of digital consultants help you do it right, save money and get it done faster.
