What Does a Business Process Consultant Do?

A business process consultant is a person who analyzes a business and figures out strategies for improving its day-to-day operations and overall functioning. Succeeding at this career usually requires an individual who is adept at problem solving, is creative and has excellent interpersonal skills. In most cases, it takes a bachelor's degree in business or a related field to become a business process consultant. Some common responsibilities of this job include observing business operations, identifying problem areas, developing practical solutions, executing changes and assisting employees throughout the process.

Before improvements can begin, it's important for a business process consultant to first observe a business's operations. This practice typically involves things like monitoring employee performance, investigating organizational habits and determining overall efficiency. In addition, an individual might get feedback from both employees and supervisors to get a feel for a business.

After a period of observation, a business process consultant will identify the primary problem areas of a business. For example, he might decide that a company's warehouse is disorganized, and that getting products from shelves is unnecessarily difficult. In another instance, he might discover that ineffective employee scheduling is hurting a company's production. Being effective at this job requires a person to find specific flaws and take note of them.

Once he has a clear understanding of a business's problem areas, it's up to him to develop practical solutions to correct those problems. In the case of a disorganized warehouse, he might consider installing new shelving or adjusting the layout. For poor company production, he might suggest experimenting with different scheduling. Essentially, it's the job of a business process consultant to find the most effective solutions with the minimum amount of hassle. In most cases, he will need to run his ideas by department heads or supervisors before implementing changes.

The next phase of this job revolves around executing the proposed changes. For small assignments, a business process consultant may work alone. Larger jobs may require him to bring in a team of professionals. When he is required to purchase materials, a business process consultant must keep careful track of the budget and avoid overspending.

In addition, he will often assist employees throughout the process to make the transition smoother. This duty might include holding workshops or training seminars to help familiarize employees with new policies and changes. Along with this, he may provide some one-on-one help with certain employees who are experiencing difficulties. Consequently, it's helpful for a business process consultant to have good communication skills and be able to build rapport with others.