Columbus Consulting International

What Columbus Consulting International does

Columbus Consulting International is a privately held, vendor-agnostic retail consulting firm founded in 2001 by Rick Amari, former Group CIO of Limited Brands. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio (4200 Regent Street, Suite 200) with a regional EMEA headquarters in London, the firm employs 250+ retail practitioners who previously held senior executive roles at retailers and brands including Target, JCPenney, Walmart, L Brands / Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Bath & Body Works, Disney, rue21, La Senza, and more. The firm serves 400+ retailers, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, and grocery operators across North America and Europe, including named clients such as Walmart, American Eagle Outfitters, Williams-Sonoma, Bealls Inc., Hibbett, SPARC Group (Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, Lucky Brand, Nautica, Reebok, Aeropostale), J. Crew, Peter Millar, Under Armour, Finish Line, SpartanNash, Food City, Helzberg Diamonds, Hunkemöller, Halfords, Eileen Fisher, and Carhartt.

The company's core offering is professional services across two integrated engagement streams: (1) Strategic Consulting Services covering business strategy, transformation, process design, organizational design, change management, and interim leadership, and (2) Technology Implementation Services covering functional design, system selection, program and project management, system architecture, configuration, integration, testing, and training. Crucially, Columbus does not sell a proprietary software product; instead, it operates as a vendor-agnostic systems integrator and implementation partner across a broad technology ecosystem that includes Oracle, SAP, Anaplan, Manhattan Associates, Blue Yonder, Microsoft, Salesforce, NetSuite, Board, RELEX, o9 Solutions, Aptos, Bamboo Rose, SymphonyAI, and 20+ other platforms. Domain-aligned spotlight service lines cover unified commerce, merchandising and category management, planning and inventory management, sourcing and supply chain, data and analytics, finance and operations, people and organization, IT, AI consulting, and ESG/Digital Product Passport/Sustainability.

The revenue model is project-based consulting with quote-driven pricing tied to scope, team composition, and engagement duration; contract cadences run multi-year. Go-to-market relies on direct enterprise consulting engagements built through long-term relationships (96% client re-engagement), industry event presence at NRF, Retail Technology Show London, Oracle Cross Talk, and Anaplan events, content marketing, and a complimentary Tech Tour service at trade shows. The firm has operated independently since founding with no disclosed external equity financing, and currently is led by CEO Jon Beck, Board Chair Elizabeth Elliott, and Vice Chair Charlotte Kula-Przezwanski (EMEA head).

Name

Columbus Consulting International

Legal name

Columbus Consulting

Website

https://columbusconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Columbus Consulting International is a vendor-agnostic retail consulting firm employing 250+ former retail executives to deliver strategic advisory and technology implementation services to 400+ retailers, CPG, and grocery brands across North America and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ERP, CRM & Enterprise Applications Consulting (BPAHAEAI), Organization Design & Change Management Consulting (BPAHACAD), Manufacturing & Operations Excellence (Lean/Six Sigma) (BPAHAHAC)

Keywords

• Retail consulting services
• Merchandise planning consulting
• Technology implementation services
• Inventory management consulting
• Digital transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements covering business strategy, transformation, process design, organization design, change management, and interim leadership services. Engagements range from assessments through full implementation.
2. Technology Implementation Services: System implementation, configuration, integration, testing, and support services for selected retail technology platforms. Includes training and ongoing optimization support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Columbus Consulting International is a retail consulting firm whose practitioners deliver strategic advisory and technology implementation services for retailers, CPG, and grocery brands. Engagements span business strategy, IT vision, process and organization design, change management, interim leadership, system selection, configuration, integration, testing, training, and support. The firm is vendor-agnostic and works with leading retail technology platforms to deliver unified commerce, merchandise planning, inventory management, sourcing and supply chain, data analytics, AI, ERP, and grocery transformations.

Product overview

Columbus Consulting International is a retail consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional services rather than a unified software product. The company's offerings span strategic consulting (Business Strategy & Roadmap, IT Vision & Roadmap, Business Process Design, Change Management, Organization Design, Interim Leadership), technology implementation services (Functional Business Design, System Selection, Program & Project Management, System Architecture, Development/Configuration & Integration, Testing & Quality Assurance, Training & Support), and domain-specific spotlight services (Unified Commerce, Merchandising & Category Management, Planning & Inventory Management, Sourcing & Supply Chain, Data & Analytics, Accounting/Finance & Operations, People & Organization, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Digital IDs/ESG/Sustainability, ERP, Grocery & Convenience Retail, Strategy & IT Roadmap). Additional offerings include Staffing/Resource Services, Technology Tour Services for trade shows, and Columbus Circle Live networking events. The firm is vendor-agnostic and works with leading technology providers including Anaplan, Board, Manhattan Associates, Microsoft, NetSuite, Oracle, RELEX, Salesforce, SAP, and others to deliver client solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Consulting Services Strategic consulting practice that helps retailers establish unified vision, build business and IT roadmaps, design processes, manage change, restructure organizations, and provide interim executive leadership during transitions. Targeted at senior retail leadership (CIOs, CTOs, VPs of Merchandising, VPs of Planning) at enterprise and mid-market retailers, CPG, and grocery brands.
• Technology Implementation Services End-to-end retail technology implementation services including functional business design, vendor system selection, program and project management, system architecture, configuration and integration, comprehensive testing, and end-user training and support. Targeted at enterprise retailers and consumer brands implementing or modernizing retail technology platforms.
• Unified Commerce Consulting Integration of customer journey, CRM, digital asset management, eCommerce, marketing operations, order management, POS, product information management, and store experience into a unified commerce architecture. Targeted at omnichannel retailers modernizing their cross-channel technology stack.
• Merchandising and Category Management Consulting Consulting expertise in assortment management, buying, category management, market and product development, merchandise operations, and pricing and promotion management. Targeted at retailers, CPG companies, and grocery chains seeking to optimize merchandising performance.
• Planning and Inventory Management Consulting Services covering allocation, assortment and item planning, demand planning, forecasting, merchandise planning, open to buy, replenishment, and supply chain planning. Targeted at retailers (notably Hunkemöller and SpartanNash) needing to optimize inventory and allocation across channels.
• Sourcing and Supply Chain Consulting Services covering global trade management, product lifecycle management, sourcing and purchase order management, supplier management, transportation, and warehouse management. Targeted at retailers and consumer brands with complex global sourcing and supply chain operations.
• Data and Analytics Consulting AI/ML-powered analytics covering assortment optimization, customer data management, inventory optimization, lifecycle price optimization, master data management, and reporting. Targeted at enterprise retailers and CPG companies seeking AI-driven analytics and master data transformations.
• Artificial Intelligence Consulting AI integration and optimization services covering generative AI, agentic AI, predictive analytics, and AI readiness assessments for retail transformation. Targeted at retailers evaluating AI deployment across planning, merchandising, supply chain, and customer engagement.
• ERP Consulting ERP system assessment and modernization services, helping retailers evaluate and implement appropriate ERP solutions including Oracle Cloud Applications, NetSuite, and SAP. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market retailers modernizing or selecting ERP platforms.
• Grocery and Convenience Store Retail Consulting Specialized grocery consulting covering digital transformation, pricing and profit strategies, merchandising, and systems selections and integration. Targeted at national and regional grocery and convenience store chains, demonstrated by SpartanNash and Food City engagements.
• Digital IDs, ESG, DPP, and Sustainability Consulting Digital product passport (DPP) and sustainability consulting including digital ID implementation and ESG strategy alignment. Targeted at retailers and consumer brands preparing for emerging regulatory and sustainability requirements.
• Accounting, Finance, and Operations Consulting Services spanning accounting, audit, risk management, compliance, enterprise performance management, FP&A, real estate management, and treasury for retail clients. Targeted at CFOs and finance leadership at retail and CPG organizations.
• People and Organization Consulting Organizational development including change management, learning management systems, organizational design, training, and workforce and labor planning. Targeted at retailers and CPG companies undergoing large-scale transformation and needing organizational alignment.
• Information Technology Consulting IT services including ERP assessment and roadmap, program and project management, security, system implementation, integration, and selection for retail and CPG clients. Targeted at CIOs and IT leadership at enterprise retailers.
• Strategy and IT Roadmap Consulting Business and technology alignment consulting creating actionable roadmaps that accelerate transformation and drive sustainable growth for retail clients. Targeted at senior retail leadership executing multi-year transformation agendas.
• Staffing and Resource Services Talent staffing services filling positions from C-suite to individual contributors to support retail transformation initiatives. Targeted at retailers needing interim leadership and specialized consulting talent to backfill or augment internal teams.
• Technology Tour Service Complimentary trade show navigation service helping retailers identify appropriate technology vendors, align vendor visits with business needs, manage schedules, and provide post-show summaries. Targeted at retailers attending major retail technology trade shows.

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationOracle is a major technology partner with Columbus implementing Oracle Cloud Applications, NetSuite, and Oracle Retail solutions. Joint case study with Hibbett showcasing Oracle ERP modernization and POS transformation. Columbus team members Lynn Cramer Hughes and Kris Merz spoke at Oracle Cross Talk 2026.
• AnaplancoreTechnology or IntegrationAnaplan is a leading connected planning platform partner. Columbus team (Paul Gill, Brad Sterling, Timothy Mark, David Edwards) attends Anaplan's annual events including AKO27. Columbus consultants are Anaplan solution architects (e.g., Drew Achabal).
• BoardcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoard Enterprise Planning Platform partner for unified business intelligence and planning. Charlotte Kula-Przezwanski participated in Board panel discussions. Columbus received Board Global Rising Star Award in 2026.
• RELEX SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationRELEX is a leading retail optimization software provider. Columbus team members Craig Rosenblum and Stuart Tattum joined RELEX Solutions partners to discuss AI-powered retail planning solutions in Nashville.
• Manhattan AssociatescoreTechnology or IntegrationManhattan Associates is a supply chain commerce solutions partner. Columbus Consulting helped Bealls, Inc. implement Manhattan Active Omni for fulfillment optimization.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAP is a major enterprise application software partner. Columbus team member Amanda Hilgers has SAP certifications and works on SAP implementations.
• SalesforcemajorTechnology or IntegrationSalesforce is a customer relationship management platform partner for retail clients requiring CRM and customer experience solutions.
• MicrosoftmajorTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is a technology partner providing cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities. Columbus Consulting collaborates with Microsoft on AI and retail technology initiatives. Microsoft session at NRF 2026 focused on AI and business transformation.
• NetSuite (Oracle)coreTechnology or IntegrationNetSuite is the #1 AI Cloud ERP serving as a technology partner. Columbus implements NetSuite for retailers ranging from startup to multi-billion revenue companies.
• Blue Yonder (formerly JDA)majorTechnology or IntegrationBlue Yonder provides machine learning-driven digital fulfillment platform. Drew Wilmot held positions at Blue Yonder before joining Columbus.
• Impact AnalyticsmajorTechnology or IntegrationImpact Analytics offers retail-focused AI-powered planning and merchandising products. Columbus partners on AI solutions with their SaaS platform.
• o9 SolutionsmajorTechnology or Integrationo9 Solutions provides AI-powered platform for integrated planning and operations capabilities. Columbus works with o9 on digital transformation projects.
• AptosmajorTechnology or IntegrationAptos provides cloud-based Singular Retail solutions trusted by over 1,000 retail brands in 65 countries. Columbus implements Aptos solutions for clients.
• Bamboo RosemajorTechnology or IntegrationBamboo Rose provides Multi-Enterprise Product and Supply Chain Platform connecting the retail community with PLM, sourcing, and trade management capabilities.
• SymphonyAImajorTechnology or IntegrationSymphonyAI provides AI-enabled revenue growth management solutions with CINDE conversational AI interface for retailers and CPG manufacturers.
• Centric SoftwaremajorTechnology or IntegrationCentric provides product lifecycle management and retail planning solutions. Listed as an industry partner.
• Retail ConsultcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner in Hibbett case study. Joint panel presentation at Oracle Cross Talk 2026 on multi-phase digital transformation. Becky Wrzosek (Koller), VP Sales from Retail Consult participated.
• National Grocers Association (NGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partnership with NGA for Tech Scan guest blog series authored by Craig Rosenblum. Collaborative annual retail technology survey with grocers. Joint events and insights sharing.
• Pixyle.aiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-powered product discovery partner for London breakfast event on how AI influences customer product discovery before reaching product pages.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bluefin: Bluefin is a boutique consulting firm specializing in retail technology selection, implementation, and unified commerce, with deep vendor partnerships across Microsoft, NCR, and other platforms. It directly competes with Columbus for North American retailer transformation mandates and shares a similar practitioner-led, vendor-agnostic positioning.
• enVista: enVista is a mid-market consulting and systems integrator focused on retail, supply chain, and commerce, offering unified commerce, ERP, and workforce optimization services. Its boutique scale, retail-exclusive focus, and implementation-centric model make it one of the closest mid-market competitors to Columbus.
• St. Onge Company: St. Onge is a supply chain and logistics consulting firm serving retail, manufacturing, and distribution clients with strategy through implementation services. It overlaps with Columbus' sourcing and supply chain practice and competes for similar retail and CPG transformation budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Cognizant: Cognizant is a Fortune 500 IT services firm with a dedicated Retail and Consumer Goods practice offering consulting, systems integration, and digital transformation at global scale. Its scale, delivery footprint, and bundled offerings compete with Columbus on large retailer transformation RFPs.
• Accenture: Accenture operates a large Consumer Goods & Retail industry practice spanning strategy, technology, and operations across global retailers. As the dominant Tier-1 consultancy, it competes for board-level transformation mandates where Columbus' 250-person bench is unlikely to match delivery scale.
• Deloitte: Deloitte's Consumer Industry practice offers end-to-end retail consulting including strategy, digital transformation, M&A, and technology implementation. Its Big 4 brand and cross-functional advisory portfolio compete with Columbus for CIO- and board-level retailer transformation engagements.
• KPMG: KPMG's Consumer & Retail practice provides advisory, technology, and transformation services across the retail value chain. As part of the Big 4, KPMG bundles transformation with audit-adjacent advisory, creating direct competition for Columbus' finance and operations practice.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): TCS is a global IT services leader with a dedicated Consumer Goods & Retail practice delivering consulting, analytics, and platform implementation services worldwide. Its scale and global delivery model compete with Columbus for large international retailer transformation programs.
• Wipro Limited: Wipro operates a Consumer Goods, Retail, and Manufacturing practice delivering technology services, consulting, and digital transformation to global retailers. Its large global delivery footprint competes with Columbus on multi-region transformation engagements.
• Infosys Limited: Infosys runs a Retail, Consumer Goods & Logistics practice that spans digital transformation, systems integration, and analytics across global retail customers. Its scale and cross-vertical capability make it a competitor for enterprise retail technology mandates that Columbus also pursues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-consulting-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbus Consulting International