Until recently, the software consulting industry was almost entirely filled with dinosaurs. Many of the outside firms that helped companies acquire, design, implement, customize, and manage software were slow and expensive; and they were often likely to deliver outdated results by the end of their engagements. Moreover, the same consultants would typically maintain the same system they designed. Complex business applications that promised to revolutionize how business was conducted required teams of professional consultants to drive lengthy requirements and customization phases. This model (often referred to as the waterfall consulting model) led to a cycle where companies made huge financial investments in building overly complicated systems, that by the time they were delivered, were often irrelevant and outdated.

The rise of SaaS and cloud-based business services have in effect killed the dinosaurs. These new breeds of technology empower companies, freeing them from the complications and drawbacks of custom development and bloated, expensive enterprise software packages. SaaS applications are updated with new features and functionality at a regular, almost blinding, pace to help companies increase operational efficiency. Waterfall consulting firms, which advocate taking slow, methodical steps, are not suited to manage the rapid and easy cadence of change promoted by SaaS. Nor is the waterfall approach a match for businesses seeking fast results, value, and flexibility from their consulting partner.