Pertama Partners
Alternatives Guide

EY AI Consulting Alternatives

EY bundles AI with their audit/tax/advisory services — great for enterprise, but SMBs often don't need (or want) that integration. Here are independent alternatives.

Why Look for EY Alternatives?

You don't have an existing EY relationship to bundle with
You want independent AI advice, not audit-bundled consulting
Your AI budget is under $200K
You prefer transparent, standalone AI pricing
You want government subsidies EY doesn't specialize in
You need hands-on implementation, not advisory frameworks

What to Consider When Switching from EY

When evaluating alternatives to EY, it's important to look beyond surface-level comparisons. The right AI consulting partner should align with your organisation's size, budget, timeline, and strategic objectives. Many companies initially gravitate toward large-name consultancies for their brand recognition and global reach. However, this often means higher costs, slower engagement timelines, and frameworks designed for Fortune 500 enterprises — not the agile, results-oriented approach that mid-market companies need. Key pain points that drive companies to seek alternatives include opaque pricing structures, lack of hands-on implementation support, generic recommendations that don't account for Asia-Pacific regulatory environments, and consultant dependency that never leads to internal capability building. The ideal partner combines strategic advisory with practical implementation, offers transparent pricing, provides genuine knowledge transfer to your team, and has deep expertise in your specific industry and geographic context.
Pricing Transparency

How clearly the firm communicates costs upfront. Look for fixed-fee engagements vs open-ended time-and-materials billing.

SMB Focus

Whether the firm genuinely serves small-to-mid-size companies or treats them as secondary to enterprise accounts.

Local Presence in Asia-Pacific

On-the-ground teams who understand regional regulations, languages, and business culture — not just a regional office.

Implementation vs Strategy Only

Does the firm help you build and deploy AI, or just hand over a slide deck? Execution capability separates advisors from consultants.

Team Training & Enablement

Post-engagement knowledge transfer ensures your team can maintain and extend AI initiatives without ongoing consultant dependency.

Industry-Specific AI Expertise

Generic AI knowledge is insufficient. Look for firms with deep domain expertise in your specific industry vertical.

Best EY Alternatives

Pertama Partners
Top Pick
AI Training & Advisory for SMB in Southeast Asia

Independent AI consulting with no audit bundling. Purpose-built for SMBs with government funding expertise.

Key Strengths:

  • Independent AI advice (no audit conflicts)
  • Government funding expertise (HRDF, SkillsFuture, CEF)
  • Transparent pricing without bundling
  • Hands-on implementation
  • SMB-focused methodology

Best for: SMB wanting independent AI advice with funding support

Protiviti Hong Kong
Responsible AI with 5-phase model

Strong governance and compliance focus for regulated industries, without Big 4 bundling.

Key Strengths:

  • 5-phase responsible AI framework
  • Regulatory compliance expertise
  • More focused than Big 4 on AI governance

Best for: Regulated industries needing AI governance without Big 4 ties

ABeam Consulting
Japanese consulting, social impact & ESG focus

Japanese consulting with ESG focus. Good alternative for companies wanting social impact integration.

Key Strengths:

  • 40+ year track record
  • ESG and social impact integration
  • Strong Asia presence

Best for: Companies wanting ESG-integrated AI consulting

Side-by-Side Comparison

FirmTarget MarketPrice PointGeographyBest For
Ernst & YoungEnterprisePremiumGlobal, Singapore, Hong KongBig 4 consulting with AI transformation practice
Pertama PartnersTop PickSMBMid-MarketSingapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, VietnamSMB wanting independent AI advice with funding support
Protiviti Hong KongEnterprisePremiumHong Kong, GlobalRegulated industries needing AI governance without Big 4 ties
ABeam ConsultingEnterprisePremiumSingapore, Asia-Pacific, GlobalCompanies wanting ESG-integrated AI consulting

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use EY for both audit and AI?

Using the same firm for audit and AI consulting can create conflicts of interest and over-dependency. Many companies separate these functions. Use EY for audit/tax if you have an existing relationship, and a specialized firm for AI implementation.

Is EY.ai worth the investment for SMBs?

EY.ai is designed for enterprise-scale AI transformation integrated with EY's broader services. For SMBs, it's typically overscoped and overpriced. Specialized SMB AI firms deliver focused value at appropriate price points.

What does 'independent AI advice' mean?

It means your AI consultant has no other business relationship with you (like audit/tax) that could influence their recommendations. Independent advisors recommend what's best for your AI goals, not what might benefit a broader service relationship.

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