PlatOps vs Big 4 Consulting Firms
Compare PlatOps managed services with Big 4 consulting firms. Get enterprise-grade expertise without the enterprise overhead, junior consultants, or million-dollar engagements.
Head-to-Head Comparison
How PlatOps compares to Big 4 firms (Deloitte, EY, PwC, KPMG, Accenture)
| Factor | PlatOps | Big 4 Consulting | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $150-200/hour effective rate | $300-500/hour standard rate | PlatOps |
| Team Composition | Senior engineers (8+ years exp) | Often junior consultants led by partner | PlatOps |
| Team Continuity | Same team stays with your project | High rotation, consultants move frequently | PlatOps |
| Engagement Length | Month-to-month, ongoing partnership | Large multi-month projects, fixed SOW | PlatOps |
| Implementation Focus | Hands-on building and operating | Strategy decks, recommendations | PlatOps |
| Time to Value | Start delivering within days | Weeks/months of discovery before work | PlatOps |
| Overhead & Layers | Work directly with engineers | Multiple layers (sales, PMs, account mgrs) | PlatOps |
| Brand Recognition | Growing reputation | Established global brand | Big 4 |
| Enterprise Relationships | Direct partnerships | Extensive C-suite network | Big 4 |
| Audit & Compliance | Technical implementation | Deep audit/compliance expertise | Depends |
True Cost Comparison
Understanding the real cost difference beyond hourly rates
Big 4 Consulting
Typical engagement costs
PlatOps Partnership
Monthly subscription model
Potential Savings: $400K-4.5M/year
* Big 4 costs based on published rate cards and typical engagement structures. PlatOps pricing varies by scope and team composition.
Three Approaches Explained
From lean engineering partnerships to enterprise consulting, find the model that fits your needs
PlatOps Partnership
Lean, senior engineering team
Work directly with senior engineers who implement, operate, and stay with your project long-term. Focus on hands-on execution and ongoing partnership.
Typical Cost Range
$15K-50K/month
Advantages
- Direct access to senior engineers doing the work
- Predictable monthly pricing, no surprises
- Team stays with you, builds deep context
- Start delivering value within days
- No layers - engineers work directly with you
Challenges
- Smaller brand name for board presentations
- Less C-suite networking opportunities
- Not ideal for audit/compliance-only needs
- Limited global office presence
Ideal For
Best when: You need hands-on technical expertise and ongoing partnership
Big 4 Project Engagements
Large transformation initiatives
Engage Big 4 for major strategic projects, digital transformations, or enterprise-wide initiatives. Typically delivered via fixed-scope statements of work.
Typical Cost Range
$500K-2M+ per engagement
Advantages
- Global brand recognition and credibility
- Extensive C-suite and board relationships
- Deep audit and compliance capabilities
- Large teams can scale to major projects
- Established enterprise procurement processes
Challenges
- Very high costs ($500K-2M+ typical)
- Junior consultants often do the actual work
- High team rotation and turnover
- Long discovery/scoping periods before value
- Focus on recommendations vs implementation
Ideal For
Best when: You need brand credibility or audit expertise and have large budget
Hybrid Approach
Strategy + execution partnership
Use Big 4 for high-level strategy and board presentations, then partner with PlatOps for hands-on implementation and ongoing operations.
Typical Cost Range
$200K strategy + $20K-60K/month execution
Advantages
- Board gets Big 4 credibility for strategy
- PlatOps delivers actual implementation faster
- Lower total cost than Big 4 full engagement
- Best of both worlds for specific needs
- Clear separation of strategy vs execution
Challenges
- Requires managing two vendor relationships
- Potential for overlap or handoff challenges
- Still carries some Big 4 cost burden
- Complexity in coordinating approaches
Ideal For
Best when: You need brand credibility but want efficient implementation
Key Decision Factors
Consider these factors when choosing between PlatOps and Big 4 consulting
Budget & Cost Structure
PlatOps
Predictable monthly fees, transparent pricing, no hidden costs
Big 4
Large upfront commitments, variable costs, extensive overhead
Time to Value
PlatOps
Start delivering within days, iterative approach
Big 4
Weeks/months of discovery and planning before implementation
Team Experience Level
PlatOps
Senior engineers (8+ years) doing the actual work
Big 4
Junior consultants often assigned, partners oversee
Continuity & Context
PlatOps
Same team builds deep understanding over time
Big 4
High rotation, knowledge loss with each transition
Focus & Deliverables
PlatOps
Hands-on implementation and ongoing operations
Big 4
Strategy decks, recommendations, transformation roadmaps
Brand & Credibility
PlatOps
Growing reputation, results-focused
Big 4
Global brand, board-level credibility, C-suite network
Which Partner Do You Need?
Warning signs that indicate which approach is right for your situation
Signs You Need PlatOps
- Big 4 proposal is mostly discovery and recommendations, light on implementation
- You need hands-on technical work, not just strategy slides
- Budget doesn't justify $500K+ multi-month engagement
- Previous consulting engagements delivered reports but nothing changed
- You want engineers who stay with the project long-term
- Need to start delivering value quickly, not in 3 months
- Tired of paying for junior consultants at senior rates
- Want direct access to people doing the work
Signs You Might Need Big 4
- Board requires Big 4 name for credibility
- Need audit or compliance expertise specifically
- Major enterprise-wide transformation across divisions
- Complex procurement requires established vendor relationships
- C-suite networking and relationships are critical
- Need global presence in 20+ countries
- Project has strong political/organizational change component
- Regulatory requirements mandate specific certifications
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