Pertama vs McKinsey: AI Consulting Compared
McKinsey is the gold standard for Fortune 500 AI strategy. Pertama brings practical AI to SMBs in Southeast Asia. Different firms for different needs.
Quick Comparison
AI Training & Advisory for SMB
Best For:
SMB needing hands-on AI training and implementation
Global strategy consulting leader
Best For:
F500 needing world-class AI strategy and transformation
Detailed Feature Comparison
| Feature | Pertama Partners | McKinsey |
|---|---|---|
| SMB Accessibility | Designed for SMB budgets | Enterprise budgets only |
| Government Funding Support | Full support (HRDF, SkillsFuture, CEF) | Not applicable |
| Global Brand Recognition | Regional SEA presence | World's most recognized consulting brand |
| Proprietary AI Research | SEA-focused SMB research | McKinsey Global Institute, QuantumBlack |
| Hands-on Implementation | We build alongside your team | Strategy + oversight, implementation via partners |
| Transparent Pricing | Published tier-based pricing | Custom enterprise quotes |
Who Each Firm Serves Best
- SMB with 20-500 employees
- Companies with $10K-$200K AI budgets
- First-time AI adopters in SEA
- Teams needing practical, hands-on support
- Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies
- Companies with $500K+ consulting budgets
- Board-level AI strategy mandates
- Multi-country, multi-year transformation programs
Service Comparison
McKinsey and Pertama operate in fundamentally different market segments. The comparison matters most for mid-market companies deciding between premium and practical.
| Service | Pertama | McKinsey |
|---|---|---|
| AI Strategy | ||
| Executive Training | ||
| Government Funding Support | ||
| Hands-on AI Building | ||
| QuantumBlack AI Research | ||
| Board-level AI Advisory | Growing | |
| Global AI Benchmarking |
Pricing Approach
Transparent, tier-based pricing
Three tiers designed for SMB budgets. Most companies can start with training for under $20K, with government subsidies covering up to 90%.
- Accessible SMB pricing
- Government subsidy support
- Start for under $20K
- Scale up when ready
Premium enterprise pricing
Minimum engagements typically $500K+. Weekly team rates for senior consultants. World-class talent comes at world-class prices.
- Access to QuantumBlack AI capabilities
- Global best practices and benchmarks
- McKinsey brand credibility with boards
- Multi-year transformation support
When to Choose Pertama
- Your AI budget is under $200K (most McKinsey engagements exceed this)
- You're an SMB that needs practical implementation, not a 200-page strategy deck
- You want to leverage government subsidies to reduce costs
- You need a partner who works alongside your team, not above them
- You're in Southeast Asia and need local market expertise
When to Choose McKinsey
- You're a Fortune 500 company with a $500K+ consulting budget
- Your board has mandated a top-tier consulting firm for credibility
- You need global AI benchmarking data and QuantumBlack capabilities
- You're planning a multi-year, multi-country AI transformation
- Brand recognition of your consulting partner matters to stakeholders
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. McKinsey minimum engagements typically start at $500K+ with weekly team rates often exceeding $100K. Pertama's full AI readiness audit starts at a fraction of that, and training programs can be 70-90% funded through government subsidies.
McKinsey has unmatched brand recognition, global research (QuantumBlack), and decades of enterprise experience. Pertama doesn't try to replicate that. Instead, we deliver practical, hands-on AI implementation specifically designed for SMBs at accessible price points. Different value propositions for different markets.
If you're raising a Series C+ and need McKinsey's brand on your board deck, or if you're a mid-market company about to IPO and need enterprise-grade AI strategy, McKinsey's credibility could justify the investment. For practical AI adoption at SMB budgets, Pertama is the better fit.