The skills that will be in demand in the next few years aren't easy to explain in a few lines on your resume. A knowledge of business processes from beginning to end and who needs what information at every step of the way will truly separate the successful IS consultants from the also-rans. Also important will be the ability to combine that knowledge with the best available technologies. I need someone who understands procurement or financials or materials resource planning. Consultants must be able to relate the technology to the business.
Electronic commerce tops the list, observers say.
Not how to make it work technically, but how to use the technology to make money for the client. It's an area where successful consultants will bring to the table an intimate knowledge of sales, distribution and billing. Although electronic commerce gets the most attention, knowledge of any business process the manufacturing process of a given industry, for example will be a huge differentiator in a consulting career. The smaller your consulting firm, the more critical your business expertise will become. I position myself not as a technical expert, but as a part of the business team.