Navigating the perfect storm 

Businesses today are facing a “perfect storm” of challenges. Anish Patel paints a challenging picture of the current business landscape, highlighting multiple pressures that companies must navigate simultaneously. "We come out of COVID. We have a cost-of-living crisis. We have a war in Europe driving prices up. We have supply chain issues. We have demand versus supply irregularities. And that's all the context for why we are building and really investing in advisory services—to help our clients navigate a really, really tough market." 

These factors, Patel explains, create an environment where businesses are struggling to balance growth with profitability while adapting to seismic shifts in consumer behaviour, economic volatility, and technological innovation. 

Adding to the complexity is the rapid acceleration of digital transformation. "All the investment at the moment is going to be digital-first and data-led," Patel noted, underscoring how many clients struggle to integrate these elements effectively into their strategies while simply trying to remain profitable amidst the market conditions. 

This landscape, according to Patel, demands a more hands-on than traditional strategy development is capable of delivering. It requires the ability to execute and adapt quickly, making a multidisciplinary approach critical for businesses looking to adapt and survive the market conditions. As costs increase, businesses that experienced rapid growth through digital channels are now facing a scaling back.

There are five key questions businesses are looking to answer in this landscape:

How do we grow profitably in this market?  

We see many businesses experience rapid growth by investing heavily in the digital landscape and now face the challenges of having scaled operations too quickly. This acceleration is not always sustainable and makes long-term growth more difficult. 

How do we transform into a digital first, data-led business? 

Businesses are under pressure to evolve, and many are struggling to make this transition, requiring significant investment and expertise. At the heart of any transformation, there needs to be a solid strategy, informed by the practicality of tailored solutions.  

How do we manage costs? 

Most businesses manage to go through the first phases of restructuring, but they need tailored cost-reduction strategies that balance efficiency with preserving customer experience and employee engagement.

How do we find value and consolidate in the market? 

The growing trend of consolidation in the market is urging companies to strengthen their positions in a competitive and fragmented environment. Successful consolidation requires careful planning and execution to ensure smooth integrations and maximize the value of mergers or acquisitions. 

How do we deliver on our sustainability promises?

Most businesses have bold sustainability commitments. Investments across the board are going into data, digital and ESG, proving that consumers, investors, and regulators are driving businesses to develop their sustainability strategies and capabilities.

We propose finding value at every step 

Collectively, we have built over the last decade the intellectual property that is Metyis. As a collection of people’s experience and expertise across practices and industries, we are led by the belief that understanding a business strategy is only the beginning. Metyis' value proposition lies in its ability to address the full spectrum of challenges businesses face, ensuring impact across every phase of transformation.

Strategy and Planning

As Anish explains, our approach begins by focusing on critical questions like, “What should my business look like in three to five years?” and “How do I adapt my operations to remain competitive?” These conversations often lead to building operating models and designing organisations that align with future needs.

AI & Data Strategy, Digital Commerce, and Technology

In the next phase, we uncover where we can support clients in becoming digital-first and data-led. This involves much more than offering solutions on paper—it’s about embedding technological advancements into the business model and making data the cornerstone of decision-making processes.

Cost Reduction

Cost efficiency is another cornerstone of the Metyis methodology. As Anish puts it, “In most businesses, people represent the biggest cost.” Through cost reduction strategies, we help clients manage pressures across all areas, ensuring improved profitability while maintaining operational efficiency.

Deal Support

For businesses navigating mergers, acquisitions, or consolidation in the market, Metyis offers comprehensive services like commercial and data due diligence, ensuring organisations find value in a competitive market.

Sustainability

Bold sustainability commitments are more important and urgent than ever, and Metyis is already supporting businesses with tailored ESG and a CSRD roadmap with data solutions. Our approach and expertise ensure that businesses are equipped with the necessary regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and technological capabilities to meet these commitments.

The art of combining disciplines 

There are instances where Metyis provides pure advisory services but our true strength lies in our ability to go beyond traditional consulting. As Patel explains, "working together with the right partners to develop their plans, to develop their thinking, is really important to us." What sets Metyis apart is a commitment to long-term, transformative partnerships rather than merely delivering point solutions. 

Rather than simply "building someone's website or running it, or building a client’s D&A capabilities," Metyis focuses on helping clients meet challenges head-on with a vision of long-term value. Patel describes this approach as "a long-term partnership to help our clients change over time," ensuring that solutions are not only strategic but also actionable and sustainable. By mastering both the art of consulting and implementation, Metyis has created an "interface between thinking and doing," a space where traditional firms fall short. This approach enables Metyis to act not just as advisors, but as partners who actively transform businesses in complex markets. 

Metyis can be interpreted in four very tightly integrated circles that intersect Advisory, AI & Data, Digital Commerce, and Marketing & Design practices. 

It’s very rare to have projects revolve around only the Advisory practices because multidisciplinary teams are used to contributing across projects. Patel shares the fluidity of this scheme from experience, “I don't think I've ever worked on a project within Metyis where we just do advisory. There is always someone from the digital practice to phone. Or there is always someone from marketing or from our data solutions practice to help improve the way advisory services work. And we are one of the few unique firms that can describe themselves with an interface that connects all four practices seamlessly.” 

Building adaptive roadmaps 

Clients want to understand the journey and a roadmap is key to explaining that journey. Anish states that when someone presents a proposal, the first thing he asks is, "When do we get to the roadmap?" because that's what clients really want to see. He emphasises that creating a roadmap shouldn't be a lengthy, drawn-out process. With the right client, a solid, high-level roadmap can be created quickly, even in an afternoon. The key is to get the core elements down, and the specifics can be fleshed out later.

Unlike rigid, linear plans often seen in traditional consulting, Metyis advisors often present roadmaps that are able to evolve with challenges and opportunities. This flexibility ensures that plans remain actionable and effective, even in complex or uncertain environments.

Building resilience into plans

Metyis anticipates potential setbacks because we understand no plan is perfect, but if you design roadmaps to absorb disruptions, you can ensure progress continues. For example, in a fire remediation project for a house building company in the UK, Metyis quickly adapted its roadmap when initial milestones proved unrealistic due to regulatory complexities, demonstrating its ability to recalibrate without compromising long-term goals.

Integration across disciplines

Metyis’ roadmaps are inherently multidisciplinary, reflecting its philosophy of connecting advisory, digital, marketing, and data solutions. This ensures that strategies bring in expertise from all relevant domains to contribute to the final outcome.

Delivering pace and clarity

Speed of progress is a big concern and something Metyis excels at. Patel noted that clients often say to him, “We didn’t think we could move as fast as that". This ability to fast-track progress is due to parallel workflows and industry expertise, which enable clients to achieve fast results. For example, Patel shared a success story: "We started working with a leading grocery retailer in the UK, and in four weeks, we moved them further than they had in the previous four months".

The triple A advantage: availability, amiability, and ability

At Metyis, the Triple A—Availability, Amiability, and Ability— defines how we build and sustain client relationships. These principles reflect a commitment to collaboration, responsiveness, and expertise, setting Metyis apart from traditional consultancies.

Availability

Patel highlights the importance of being available when clients need support—and stepping back when they don’t. "Unlike traditional firms that overstay their welcome, we aim to do ourselves out of a job," he explains. By focusing on empowering clients rather than fostering dependency, Metyis ensures its presence is meaningful and impactful.

Amiability

Amiability forms the foundation of Metyis’ client interactions, fostering trust and a sense of shared purpose. Patel recalls a defining moment: "One of the best compliments I’ve ever had from a client was when they said, ‘I never knew you and your team were external.’” This seamless integration is a hallmark of Metyis’ approach, creating joint teams that function as true partners rather than external advisors.

Ability

Ability has gotten us this far, and as Patel explains: "Clients who approach us can already count on our ability to deliver. What differentiates us is how we integrate it with amiability and availability". This balance ensures that Metyis not only delivers expertise but does so in a way that aligns with client needs and culture, ensuring both short- and long-term success.