In a challenging economic environment, companies must control costs, gain flexibility, and access specialized expertise to stay competitive and innovative.
At the same time, the acceleration of technological transformations requires rapid upskilling, especially in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and sustainable transition.
This global context encourages organizations to rethink their operating models and talent sourcing strategies. The traditional model, based on a limited network of pre-approved suppliers, is showing its limitations. Talent access must become more agile, international, and structured to cover a broader spectrum of expertise.
As a result, the professional services procurement market is undergoing deep changes. Here are five key transformations shaping its future.
A growing and increasingly fragmented consulting market
Steady global growth in the consulting market
According to a recent BRI report, the global consulting market is expected to reach over $420 billion by 2033, growing at a steady rate of 5.3% annually. This surge has led to the emergence of thousands of small, specialized consulting firms worldwide.
This growth stems from a shift in company expectations : organizations no longer seek generic support but highly specialized experts with deep industry knowledge. This is especially true in fields like cybersecurity, generative AI, ESG compliance, and financial risk management.
Greater fragmentation of expertise
In response to this demand, more niche consultancies are emerging, offering hyper-targeted services. This evolution is reinforced by the rise of freelancing, with many experts launching their own boutique firms,bridging the gap between traditional consulting and independent work.
As a result, companies face a fragmented supplier ecosystem, prompting a shift in procurement practices. Procurement departments that previously relied on a handful of approved partners must now operate in a more diverse, agile, and responsive landscape.
Marketplaces and compliance partners as solutions to fragmentation
To manage this complexity, it’s crucial to modernize how experts are identified and vetted. Vendor panels must evolve to include more specialized players, while maintaining centralized governance and compliance. Talent marketplaces and freelance compliance platforms are becoming essential to supplement internal supplier rosters and expand access to qualified talent pools.
Freelancing is now essential to talent strategies
Freelancing driven by diversification and decentralization
Freelancing has become a cornerstone of corporate talent strategies. Experts are now accessible not only via consulting firms or IT service providers, but also directly through independent models.
Globally, the freelance economy is booming. This trend reflects a growing demand for autonomy and flexibility among professionals.
Freelance work is also becoming more geographically diverse. As remote work becomes mainstream, freelance projects are increasingly distributed across multiple regions, not just major tech hubs. This rebalancing pushes companies to rethink their sourcing strategies.
Growing complexity in supplier management and legal risks
This shift complicates supplier management. Identifying top talent now requires centralized comparison tools across freelancers, niche firms, and consulting giants. Contractual complexity also increases, particularly with compliance risks around misclassification, intellectual property, and cross-border payments.
Growing demand for specialized skills
Companies now seek not just providers, but highly specialized experts capable of driving strategic transformation. In a fast-changing regulatory and tech landscape, some skills are becoming critically scarce, triggering competition and higher costs. Here are three main areas illustrating this phenomenon :
Cybersecurity : an urgent priority
Cyberattacks are escalating, and regulations such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive impose stricter requirements for data and system protection. Demand for cybersecurity professionals, like SOC analysts and ethical hackers, is soaring worldwide.
Machine learning and data science
Machine learning and predictive analytics are reshaping business strategy. Organizations want to extract value from data faster and more effectively, fueling demand for data scientists, AI engineers, and ML specialists.
Artificial intelligence : a strategic turning point for 54% of companies
AI is no longer confined to R&D labs. A PwC report shows that 54% of global businesses plan to integrate AI into core operations by the end of the year. This creates massive demand for AI developers, solution architects, and transformation consultants.
These niche skills are scarce and expensive. Companies are competing globally to attract them, driving up rates and prompting broader, more creative sourcing strategies, including specialized platforms.
Professional services now go beyond IT
Historically, professional services procurement focused on IT and engineering. But in 2025, companies are sourcing expertise from new strategic domains beyond tech.
We have observed that more than 30% of the requests for proposals published on our LittleBig Connection platform between January and December 2024 now concern skills outside IT and engineering.
This shift is driven by :
The digitalization of business functions like HR, legal, and finance
Stronger ESG and sustainability regulations
The rising importance of digital marketing, UX, and branding strategy
As a result, freelancers and small expert firms are gaining prominence in the global market. Procurement leaders can diversify their vendor base and adopt smarter selection criteria. Marketplaces that centralize access to top talent, across all specialties, are crucial for managing this shift effectively.
Sourcing is becoming more global
Facing skill shortages and budget pressures, companies are turning to international sourcing models. In 2025, global talent strategies, especially nearshore and offshore models, are key to success.
What drives international sourcing ?
The scarcity of talent in certain local markets, particularly in cybersecurity, AI, data science, and software development.
The rise of remote working, which removes geographical barriers and allows companies to access experts anywhere in the world.
Leveraging regional specializations, which enables a high level of quality to be achieved.
That said, international sourcing brings challenges : legal, tax, administrative, and cultural differences must be managed carefully. IP protection, payment flows, and local compliance are all high-risk areas.
To navigate this, companies are increasingly using digital platforms that manage the full lifecycle of international engagements or rely on freelance compliance providers who mitigate risk and handle onboarding, contracting, and invoicing across borders.
Turning transformation into opportunity
The professional services procurement market is evolving rapidly. At LittleBig Connection, we help businesses navigate this shift with an intuitive and innovative platform that simplifies and optimizes the identification of resources, contracting, and management of intellectual services. By connecting businesses to the best freelance and consulting talent, locally and globally, we help them turn these changes into opportunities for growth and innovation.
Ready to future-proof your talent sourcing strategy ? Contact us to explore how we can help.
