Part 14/16:
A Broader Collapse of “Illusion-Based” Business Models
The decline of consulting underscores a broader trend: industries that rely on selling an illusion of value—through branding, jargon, and superficial solutions—are inherently fragile when technology exposes the true measure of outcomes.
Travel agencies vanished online, stockbrokers faced fierce competition from zero-commission apps, and parts of higher education now face doom from online courses. As technology makes results more transparent and affordable, these once-glamorous industries unravel. Consulting’s reliance on vague, expensive advice without clear accountability is now exposed as unsustainable.