Objectives

The goal of this research was to map out the current and future business priorities of consulting service buyers across 12 key Asia-Pacific markets. We sought to move beyond general feedback to identify the specific decision drivers that lead C-suite executives to choose one consulting firm over another.

The study provided a comprehensive view of the APAC landscape, covering:

• East Asia: China/Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
• Southeast Asia: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
  
  

Methodology

Given the seniority of the target audience and the strict disqualification criteria, we implemented a high-touch recruitment strategy:

• Executive Outreach: We utilized personalized one-to-one engagement to secure participation from C-suite executives and primary buyers.
• Vetted Digital Sourcing: Strategic digital advertising was paired with manual screening to verify that every participant held genuine decision-making authority over consulting firm selection.
• Niche Network Access: We leveraged our established network of senior professionals from previous high-level studies to ensure a reliable and authoritative sample.
• Precision Quota Management: Real-time adjustments were made to balance recruitment across diverse markets, company sizes (from 1k to 10k+ employees), and various industries.

Challenges

• Reaching senior buyers with strict disqualification criteria (around consulting service usage and provider selection) added complexity.
• Verifying that all participants had real decision-making authority over consulting firm selection.
• Managing quotas across diverse markets, industries, and seniority levels required precision to secure a representative sample.

Our Approach

RONIN employed its proven expertise in engaging niche senior audiences:

• Personalized one-to-one outreach for authentic and high-level engagement.
• Verified digital advertising, with manual screening to guarantee qualified respondents.
• Accessed a trusted network of senior executives from our previous research.

Results

The research provided a clear roadmap of how senior buyers select their partners and where they see the most value in consulting services:

• Identified Key Decision Drivers: Reputation, specialized expertise, and a firm’s ability to align with a client’s specific strategic priorities emerged as the top factors for selection.
• Growth Opportunities: The study pinpointed high-value areas where consulting firms can solve immediate challenges and enable long-term growth for their clients.
• Strategic Insights: By interviewing the actual decision-makers, we delivered actionable data on how firms can better position themselves in a highly competitive APAC market.