Clients no longer want AI experiments. They want AI that shows a return, and that is reshaping the business of Miami-based The Hackett Group.
The Nasdaq-listed consulting firm reported third-quarter results on November 3. Management used the call to argue that its own AI platforms are changing how it sells and delivers work.
A Consultancy Using Its Own Tools
The firm calls itself an AI-enabled enterprise transformation company. Its platforms include XT and AIX.
XT applies the firm’s benchmarks and best practices to find performance gaps and size the value of closing them. AIX is aimed at software implementation work.
Management said both could eventually be used in most of the firm’s engagements. CEO Ted Fernandez called the company early in that transition.
He said the platforms are beginning to improve sales and delivery productivity. “We have just begun to realize the benefits from our AI transition strategy,” Fernandez said.
The results show a modest picture. Quarterly revenue was slightly below a year earlier, but margins improved.
The CFO tied part of the margin gain to AI-enabled productivity. He also cited headcount reductions and resource alignment tied to the AI transition.
The firm advises on finance, human resources, procurement, IT and supply chain. It also does Oracle and SAP implementation work.
That mix explains why it needs AI inside delivery. Software projects are where speed and quality are easiest to measure.
What Clients Are Asking For
Fernandez described a shift in demand. Clients are moving away from technology-first AI experiments toward programs measured by return on investment.
Standalone AI projects are giving way to AI components inside larger efforts. He said nearly all new enterprise transformation and software implementation opportunities now include an AI element.
That matches the pitch in the release. “Meaningful ROI from AI transformation requires more than technology,” Fernandez said.
The firm says it needs deep transformation expertise to redesign critical processes. It also says it needs benchmarks to quantify the value.
Hackett is discussing more formal go-to-market arrangements with its channel partners. Fernandez said Hackett would take part directly in client work, not just hand over intellectual property.
Fernandez said a newer version of XT will set client baselines faster. It should also develop transformation solutions more quickly than the old approach.
The SAP business dipped from the prior quarter, while Oracle and the global S&BT unit grew. Mixed segments are normal in a transition.
What to Watch Next
For the fourth quarter, the company forecast revenue in a narrow range near the current level. It cited fewer working days from holidays and vacation.
Fernandez said he expects net revenue growth as early as possible in 2027. The case rests on selling new work at higher margins as platform adoption spreads.
Management expects margins to rise further in the fourth quarter. The extra week in the fiscal year works against earnings per share.
The firm also expects a transition charge tied to AI. It is a cost of changing how the business runs.
Hackett sits in a Miami market that is hiring for AI. MAIN has reported that McKinsey sees 11 million career switches and that Miami is adding AI training.
Miami Dade College has also launched its AI Elite Talent Hub for students on company projects.
Both stories point to the same pressure. As consultancies use AI, they need fewer people doing routine work and more people who can redesign it.
Management itself calls the transition early. Results will show how fast it moves.
Investors and clients will read each quarter for proof. The firm is selling AI transformation while transforming itself.
The Hackett Group is a test case for that shift, headquartered in Miami. Its next results will show whether its platforms hold up.
Sources: 1. The Hackett Group: Third Quarter 2026 Results, Business Wire, November 3, 2026 2. MarketBeat: What The Hackett Group (HCKT) Said on Its Q3 Earnings Call, November 3, 2026 3. MAIN: Miami AI Jobs: McKinsey Sees 11 Million Career Switches 4. MAIN: Miami Dade College Puts AI Students on Company Projects