The digital consulting market is fast becoming a big industry. As more and more corporations hire digital consultants to do their online tasks, Forbes set out guidelines to help firms determine when to hire one.

According to Forbes, this industry has grown to over $125 billion in international spending. Companies from all over the world hire consultants to improve online business, implement IT aspects, risk management, and even strategic planning.

IT hiring became was better illustrated by General Electric's transfer of headquarters from Fairfield County to Boston in order to recruit more "technologically fluent workforce." Computer World reported that GE has recently announced a $6 billion unit that would bring the company to the top 10 software firms by 2020. This isn't only true to GE as more IT workers are moving away from infrastructure support, since it is vulnerable to outsourcing and shift to cloud services.       

Forbes tips on determining when to hire digital consultants consist of understanding the role of a chief digital officer, creating a digital strategy, planning for a digital transformation, coming up with a digital marketing program, designing a product, and even acquiring a competitor.

Digital consultants help corporations figure out what type of CDO they need for their size, the industry they are in, and the current condition of their business. They can also help pin point the major competitors and threats in the online market that a corporation is pursuing. They will strategize a plan to avoid of overcome these challenges.

Goal setting is important in transformation, and digital consultants can help corporations set those targets and how to attain them.

Most companies are now bringing their business online, but according to Memeburn, there are no magic bullets, or short cuts to attaining success in this industry. Digital consultants help corporations optimize these marketing programs.

If a firm plans to buy a digital competitor, it would be smart to hire a digital consultant to figure out how to get the best out of the deal. Meanwhile, external digital and design consultants can help businesses come up with an effective digital product. All these elements should be factored in before hiring a digital consultant.