IT staffing vs traditional consultancy

    Both models give you IT consultants. The difference is who selects them — and why.

    Traditional consultancy vs IT staffingVisual comparison of the matching model in a traditional consultancy and IT staffingTraditional consultancyIT StaffingPermanently employed consultantsAvailability determines who you getAvailabilityYour business• Margin and overhead on hourly rate• Long binding agreementsBroad consultant networkBest fit for your need is selectedQuality and fitYour business• Transparency in price and process• Flexible agreements without commitment

    Traditional consultancy

    A traditional consultancy employs consultants permanently and leases them out to clients. The model is well-established but has clear limitations.

    • Consultants are employed by the firm, not selected specifically for the assignment
    • Margin and overhead added to the hourly rate
    • Client gets access to available resources, not necessarily the best ones
    • Long agreements and notice periods are common
    • Focus on utilisation rate, not always on the best match

    IT Staffing (IT brokerage)

    IT staffing is a model where an independent party matches the business's needs with the best-suited consultants from a broad network — without owning the resources themselves.

    • Consultants selected based on precise need, not internal availability
    • Lower costs as there is no overhead from permanent employment
    • Flexible agreements without long-term commitment
    • The broker is independent and works in the client's interest
    • Quality assurance and follow-up throughout the assignment

    When does IT staffing work best?

    IT staffing suits you if:

    • You need specialist expertise not available internally
    • You want to avoid long contracts and high margins
    • You want an independent party that matches based on quality, not availability
    • You have a defined need and want the right person fast
    • You want transparency in price and process

    That means you always get the best-suited consultant — not just the one who happens to be available.