Transforming the future of professional services

Oxford Brookes Business School is partnering with a leading digital technology company to deliver a pioneering project which will transform next-generation professional services.

The project, which is funded by Innovate UK, is led by tech firm Engine B and supported by nine audit firms including KPMG and Grant Thornton. It involves developing a data access platform which will standardise client data. This will enable businesses to become more competitive as well as boosting innovation and productivity.

Oxford Brookes Business School’s Dr Cristian Gherhes and Professor Tim Vorley are examining how the Engine B platform will transform the business models of professional services firms. They are also considering its potential to speed up the development and adoption of new digital services. Few firms are currently able to invest the time and resources required to offer these services. Shamus Rae, CEO and founder of Engine B, explained “The approach of Engine B is to develop and scale an innovative open data model that will be a catalyst to the diffusion of technology in professional services firms.”

The work at the Business School builds on previous research funded by Innovate UK which explored the readiness of professional services firms to adopt artificial intelligence. Cristian Gherhes, a Research Fellow at the Business School, commented, “This project enables us to apply our research to industry, building on our work exploring AI readiness among professional services firms, and highlights the value of academic-industry collaborations.”

For more information contact Cristian Gherhes (cgherhes@brookes.ac.uk)