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Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Caleb Clark Caleb Clark New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS OD6144

Revenue

$27.3bn

2024

$28.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

135k

Businesses

50,267

Wages

$X.Xbn

Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry analysis

The Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services industry provides expert analysis and consultation in supply chain management and distribution optimization. In the consulting industry, demand is primarily influenced by health in the broader economy and its effect on business investment. In the current period, distribution and logistics consultants have benefited from positive economic growth, corporate profit levels, industrial production and aggregate private investment. However, disruptions early in the period damaged the industry's high proportion of smaller distribution and logistics consultants, mitigating growth. Nonetheless, rising corporate profit and retail sales have provided the industry with robust demand, offsetting other mishaps. Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services industry revenue has been accelerating at a CAGR of 4.2% over the past five years and is expected to total $28.5 billion in 2024, when revenue will jump by an estimated 2.1%. Profit has remained steady over the past five years as revenue and wages have grown parallelly.

Trends and Insights

  • Consulting companies center around their employees. Wages represent the single largest cost, with additional lavish spending on continued education, transportation and employee retainment.
  • Demand from retail trade and consumer goods markets increased early on in the period and has continued to remain strong. The temporary stay-at-home shift boosted e-commerce growth. Many retail companies had to alter their strategies to cater directly to the consumer.
  • Strategic location near major cities and airports helps consultants save on travel costs. These locations are particularly valuable for large consulting companies unable to perform services remotely.
  • Competition has recently increased from companies in other industries. For example, the services provided by the IT Consulting industry (IBISWorld report 54151) have increasingly overlapped with this industry because IT has become more relevant to management, production and logistics strategies.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $27.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Low barriers to entry allow easy industry access

  • The Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services industry represents businesses primarily engaged in third-party consultation for storage optimization, supply chain management and distribution control. While these services are also provided by the Management Consulting industry (IBISWorld report 54161), logistics specializations have become increasingly important in recent decades as many customers and businesses expect physical products quickly.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Healthy macroeconomic conditions will fuel revenue growth

  • Following complications that plagued the previous period, revenue growth for the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services industry will continue to be consistent.

Biggest companies in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Accenture Plc
3,660.5
503.0
13.7
Keep Truckin, Inc.
415.9
21.6
5.2
Online Consulting, Inc.
4.0
0.2
5.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transportation consulting services, Inventory carrying consulting services and Warehousing consulting services. Transportation consulting services is the largest segment of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Transportation consulting services are the largest product offering

  • Distribution and logistics consultants determine the most cost-effective and efficient transportation method for companies across various industries. Transportation is often one of the largest costs many companies incur and is often passed on to the downstream customer.
  • More insights available in the full report

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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Global Management Consultants
  • Management Consulting in Canada
  • Management Consulting in Australia
  • Consulting Services in New Zealand
  • Warehousing & Storage in the UK

View all industries in United States

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations in multiple areas, including manufacturing operations improvement; productivity improvement; production planning and control; quality assurance and quality control; inventory management; distribution networks; warehouse use, operations and utilization; transportation and shipment of goods and materials; and materials management and handling.

What's included in this industry?

Transportation consulting servicesInventory carrying consulting servicesWarehousing consulting servicesOther consulting services

Companies

Accenture PlcKeep Truckin, Inc.Online Consulting, Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER (DTC)WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SOFTWAREOMNICHANNEL

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54161 - Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Consulting companies center around their employees. Wages represent the single largest cost, with additional lavish spending on continued education, transportation and employ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand from retail trade and consumer goods markets increased early on in the period and has continued to remain strong. The temporary stay-at-home shift boosted e-commerce g...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Strategic location near major cities and airports helps consultants save on travel costs. These locations are particularly valuable for large consulting companies unable to p...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition has recently increased from companies in other industries. For example, the services provided by the IT Consulting industry (IBISWorld report 54151) have increasi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Small companies dominate this industry. Accenture Plc, the industry's largest company, has the biggest market share and is increasingly integrating new services.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Accenture Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Keep Truckin, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Online Consulting, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Accenture Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Keep Truckin, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Online Consulting, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand boomed in 2021 as many downstream companies sought to strengthen their supply chain networks and operational framework. The economic downturn heightened the focus on s...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profits shrink because of rising competition. New companies offer lower prices to attract customers, lowering the overall profit margin. Higher wages have also eaten into pro...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States is $27.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in 2024?

There are 50,267 businesses in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services market in United States are Accenture Plc, Keep Truckin, Inc. and Online Consulting, Inc.

What does the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US in United States include?

Transportation consulting services and Inventory carrying consulting services are part of the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Accenture Plc.

How competitive is the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Distribution and Logistics Consulting Services in the US industry in United States.