6 Differences Between SIers and IT Consultants! What Are the Benefits of Making the Switch?

“What is the difference between SIers and IT consultants?” “Can I transition from an SIer to an IT consultant?” If you have these questions, you’re in the right place.

The differences between SIers and IT consultants include the following:

• Purpose of work
• Job responsibilities
• Required skills
• Who is suited for each role
• Average salary
• Career path

While the purpose of work and job responsibilities of SIers and IT consultants are entirely different, they are both in the IT field, making a successful transition significantly more achievable than switching from an unrelated industry.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 6 differences between SIers and IT consultants, including average salaries and career paths. If you are considering a career move to IT consulting, please read to the end.

What Is the Difference in [Purpose] Between SIers and IT Consultants?

Understanding the “purpose” is key to knowing the difference between SIers and IT consultants.

• SIer: A company that undertakes system development, operation, and maintenance
• IT Consultant: A company that leverages IT technology to comprehensively resolve management challenges

Both ultimately aim to resolve clients’ management challenges, but they differ in which phases of the process they handle.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

The Purpose of SIers

SIers are companies whose purpose is system development, operation, and maintenance. They address client challenges by delivering system-based solutions. The typical flow is that IT consultants propose solutions, which SIers then concretely implement.

However, in recent years, more SIers have begun handling the identification of client challenges—similar to IT consultants—so the distinction between the two has been diminishing.

The Purpose of IT Consultants

IT consultants are firms that leverage IT know-how to improve the management challenges clients face, thereby achieving greater operational efficiency and increased revenue. It is no exaggeration to say that IT consultants handle upstream processes beyond those of SIers, as they begin by identifying management challenges.

Even when it comes to system development, IT consultants often take on the role of overall project supervisor.

Differences in [Job Responsibilities] Between SIers and IT Consultants

Because SIers and IT consultants operate in different domains, their job responsibilities also differ.

IT consultants handle upstream processes from planning through requirements definition, while SIers handle the phases from requirements definition through operation and maintenance.

	SIer	IT Consultant
Upstream	Exploring solutions to challenges
↓	Planning
	Requirements definition	Requirements definition
		Design
		Development & testing
Downstream		Operation & maintenance

Below, we will explain each role in detail.

SIer Job Responsibilities

The responsibilities of an SIer can be broadly divided into four areas.

• Requirements Definition
  The process of determining the requirements (expected outcomes) that the client seeks. It also aims to align the understanding of both the client and the development team, preventing discrepancies during development.
• Design
  Based on the requirements definition, the basic design and specifications of the system to be developed are determined. This phase is primarily handled by SEs and includes hardware design and programming design.
• Development & Debugging
  Programming is carried out based on the design documents and specifications. Debugging to fix bugs and errors also takes place during this phase.
• Operation & Maintenance
  This involves confirming that the system operates according to the client’s requirements definition, and investigating the cause of any errors that occur while implementing measures to prevent recurrence.

The above represents the typical main responsibilities of an SIer. However, some SIers also handle the exploration of solutions to management challenges, similar to IT consultants, so not all companies operate the same way.

IT Consultant Job Responsibilities

The responsibilities of an IT consultant can be broadly divided into three areas.

• Exploring Solutions to Challenges
  Management challenges are extracted from the client, and strategies for resolving them are discussed. Proposals include introducing new systems utilizing IT know-how or restructuring existing systems.
• Planning
  Using the approved proposal as a framework, a detailed project plan is developed. A project schedule and Gantt chart are created, and the person responsible for each section is selected.
• Requirements Definition
  Working alongside the SIer, the requirements (expected outcomes) sought by the client are finalized, setting the direction for the subsequent development and operation phases.

The main responsibilities of an IT consultant are to explore and execute solutions to corporate challenges using IT tools. Project management is also part of the role, with IT consultants serving as overall project supervisors.

Differences in [Required Skills] Between SIers and IT Consultants

SIers and IT consultants differ in the skills they require. SIers need skills as IT specialists, while IT consultants place greater importance on overarching management skills.

Let’s take a closer look at each below.

Required Skills for SIers

Since SIers are responsible for everything from system design to operation and maintenance, the following skills are required.

• System development skills using programming languages
• Skills to adapt to the latest trends
• Communication skills (essential for requirements definition)
• Logical thinking

While advanced IT skills are naturally required, soft skills such as communication ability and logical thinking are also important elements.

Required Skills for IT Consultants

Since IT consultants are involved in all phases from upstream to downstream, knowledge beyond IT is also required.

• Logical thinking (current situation analysis and solution planning)
• Management skills (coordination with departments and members)
• Progress management skills for plans
• Communication skills (acting as a negotiator with clients)
• Presentation skills
• Logical thinking
• Awareness of industry trends

IT consultants are required to have many skills in order to keep projects running smoothly. In particular, logical thinking is essential when analyzing the current situation and formulating solutions. Without being able to analyze the current situation and develop solutions, concrete action is impossible. For IT consultants, thinking logically and calmly rather than subjectively is extremely important.

Differences in [Who Is Suited] for SIers vs. IT Consultants

Both are IT-related professions, but because the roles required differ, the type of person suited to each also differs. By understanding the characteristics of people suited to each, you can assess your fit for either SIers or IT consultants.

Who Is Suited for SIers

The characteristics of people suited for SIers are as follows.

• People who can constantly update their knowledge
  IT technology changes rapidly, and some technologies become outdated within a year. Those with the motivation to continuously update their knowledge and skills are well-suited.
• People who can communicate smoothly
  Projects can involve dozens of engineers. Smooth communication is indispensable when advancing work as a team.
• People who don’t mind repetitive, unglamorous work
  Those who don’t mind repetitive, unglamorous tasks—such as testing to improve quality and creating documentation—are well-suited.

While system design and development are the main tasks for SIers, new information in system development is updated daily. Therefore, people who can embrace new challenges—such as keeping up with the latest technologies and actually trying out new systems—are well-suited. SIers also have active interactions with subcontractors and clients. Having strong communication skills will allow you to work more efficiently and smoothly.

Who Is Suited for IT Consultants

The characteristics of people suited for IT consultants are as follows.

• People with strong logical thinking skills
  The ability to systematically grasp cause-and-effect relationships and map out a course of action is needed to resolve the challenges clients face.
• People with advanced communication skills
  Since there is frequent interaction with the executive management of client companies and various internal departments, IT consulting can be described as a communication-based profession.
• People with foundational knowledge of management and industry insights
  Since they handle upstream processes, they need to understand the foundational knowledge, insights, and trends of the industries they work with.
• People with strong mental resilience
  The mental strength to handle demanding requests from clients and tight schedules is required.

Since IT consultants are also in a position to oversee projects, a certain level of IT skills and knowledge is necessary. However, since the main tasks are to determine direction through logical thinking and to oversee projects, communication ability and knowledge of management for resolving business challenges are arguably more important. In addition, being in such a position often leads to very demanding schedules, and being caught between the project team and the client is not uncommon, so having strong mental resilience is also a plus.

Differences in [Average Salary] Between SIers and IT Consultants

SIers and IT consultants differ in their average salaries. To get straight to the point, IT consultants average approximately 9.285 million yen, while SIers average around 4 to 5 million yen, meaning IT consultants tend to earn significantly more.

Below, we introduce the salaries of SIers and IT consultants, along with the reasons for the difference.

Average Salary of SIers

The salary for systems engineers working at SIers is said to be approximately 4 to 6.5 million yen. According to the National Tax Agency’s “2023 Survey on the Actual State of Private Sector Salaries,” the average salary in Japan is 4.6 million yen, so this is a field where it is quite possible to earn above average.

Furthermore, at major SIers, it is not uncommon for salaries to exceed 10 million yen.

	Average Annual Salary
Nomura Research Institute ※1	12.42 million yen
Dentsu Soken (formerly Dentsu International Information Service) ※1	11.28 million yen
SAP Japan ※2	10.99 million yen
ITOCHU Techno-Solutions ※1	10.29 million yen
OBIC ※1	10.06 million yen

Of course, even outside of major companies, you can aim for a salary increase based on your abilities, so those looking to boost their income should consider taking on the challenge.

Average Salary of IT Consultants

According to the “Survey on the Actual State of Salaries in IT-Related Industries” published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the average annual salary of IT consultants is approximately 9.285 million yen. This high income of nearly 10 million yen significantly surpasses the average salary of SIers.

The reason IT consultants earn high salaries is that resolving a company’s management challenges can be expected to generate significant profit. Since the issues are of great importance to the company, requests are often made for high fees in the hundreds of thousands or millions of yen, and consultants who bear heavy responsibilities receive substantial compensation in return.

Of course, career advancement can lead to salaries exceeding 10 million yen. Since IT consulting, like SIer work, is highly performance-based, the more your skills develop, the higher the income you can earn.

Differences in [Career Path] Between SIers and IT Consultants

The differences in career paths between SIers and IT consultants are as follows.

SIer: Aiming to become a specialist as an engineer
IT Consultant: Aiming for a senior position or leveraging experience to change jobs

Let’s take a closer look at each.

SIer Career Path

For SIers, the career path mainly involves aiming to become a specialist as an engineer.

Examples of career paths are as follows.

Role	Responsibilities
Full-stack Engineer	An engineer active across multiple domains including infrastructure and applications
IT Consultant	Resolves clients’ management challenges
Project Manager	A role that manages and advances projects
SIer Sales	Builds relationships of trust with clients and bridges the gap between companies and SIers

SIers have multiple career path options, but skill development is essential regardless of which role you aim for. Since the responsibilities also differ somewhat from those of an engineer working within an SIer, acquiring new knowledge and further skill development are also necessary. While it is not an easy path, those who want to aim for a high income or work on more upstream tasks should consider taking on the challenge.

IT Consultant Career Path

There are two career paths for IT consultants. The first is building a further career as an IT consultant.

Career advancement within IT consulting is as follows.

Level	Title
Senior	Partner	Involved in the management of the IT consulting firm
↑	Director / Principal	Co-manages with Partner, project manager
	Senior Manager	Project management (leadership, budget management, client relations, etc.)
	Manager	Project management (leadership, budget management, etc.)
	Senior Consultant	Project management and system development
	Consultant	Task lead, analyst management, information analysis
Junior	Analyst	Task executor (research, document creation)

As shown above, even within the title of “consultant,” there are different levels with different responsibilities. Since you will start as an analyst, we recommend aiming for a senior position so that you can be entrusted with more advanced work. Notably, the more senior the position, the greater the involvement in management, and salaries also increase accordingly.

The second option is changing jobs leveraging the skills and experience gained as an IT consultant.

• Transitioning to a business company (work related to information systems)
• Transitioning to a large company (domestic or overseas companies)
• Transitioning to a competitor (another consulting firm)
• Transitioning to a non-IT consulting firm (general or strategy-focused firms)
• Transitioning to a venture company

The title of IT consultant works in your favor when changing jobs. Companies are always looking for talented individuals well-versed in project execution and management, so there is also the option of targeting companies outside the consulting industry.

Why Many People Transition from SIers to IT Consultants

Many people choose IT consulting as their next career move from SIers, and the reasons lie in both the nature of the work and the compensation.

Listening to the actual voices of those who have made the transition, the reasons include the following.

• Wanting to be involved in projects from the upstream conceptual stage
• Wanting to do interesting work rather than fixed tasks
• Wanting to advance their career by leveraging their expertise
• Being attracted to an environment where producing results leads to a salary increase

It seems many people make the transition because they are drawn to an environment where they can place themselves in a more results-driven workplace, enhance their own added value, and increase their income. If the above resonates with you, transitioning to IT consulting as your next career move is also a recommended option.

Benefits of Transitioning from SIers to IT Consultants

What benefits are there to transitioning from SIer to IT consultant?

• Learning about business broadens your future career options
• A salary increase can be expected
• Working on large projects leads to personal growth

We will introduce each in detail below, so if you currently work at an SIer, please use this as a reference.

Learning About Business Broadens Your Future Career Options

IT consultants can develop knowledge and skills across a broad range of business areas beyond just IT knowledge, which broadens future career options.

For example, transitioning to a consulting firm in another field is one option.

• General consulting firms
• Strategy consulting firms
• Think tank consulting firms
• Domestic independent consulting firms

As shown above, there are many consulting fields beyond IT consulting, so learning about business will broaden your career options.

A Salary Increase Can Be Expected

Transitioning from SIer to IT consultant can be expected to lead to a salary increase. While engineers at SIers earn approximately 4 to 6.5 million yen, the average annual salary for IT consultants is approximately 9.285 million yen.

Ranking IT consultant company salaries, the results are as follows.

Rank	Company Name	Average Annual Salary
1st	Dream Incubator	17.76 million yen
2nd	Nomura Research Institute	12.42 million yen
3rd	BayCurrent Consulting	11.17 million yen
4th	Sigma Xis	10.08 million yen
5th	Simplex	9.56 million yen

At major companies, it is common for salaries to exceed 10 million yen. Depending on your career path, it is even possible to aim for a salary of over 20 million yen, so those seeking higher income should consider taking on the challenge of IT consulting.

Working on Large Projects Leads to Personal Growth

IT consultants may take on large projects with budgets ranging from hundreds of millions to tens of billions of yen. Large projects come with heavy responsibility, but they are equally rewarding, and successfully completing them leads to personal growth.

Additionally, even with limited experience, you can work alongside executive management at companies, allowing you to gain deep insight into business.

However, in the case of SIers, careers often begin as SEs responsible for a single phase of system development, so developing skills is the top priority first.

Points to Note When Transitioning from SIer to IT Consultant

There are three points to note when transitioning from SIer to IT consultant.

• High performance is demanded
• More meetings and increased interaction with clients
• Increased non-development work such as meetings
• Greater input is needed to meet high skill requirements

IT consulting requires a higher level of work and a broader scope than SIer roles, so workload tends to increase. To avoid regret after transitioning, make sure to understand these points in advance.

High Performance Is Demanded

What clients seek are visibly high results. Since they are paying high fees to have work done, it is only natural that they expect results commensurate with the cost.

The main reasons companies pay high fees to commission work are primarily to resolve issues related to corporate management.

• Revenue improvement (the business is at an impasse)
• Talent shortage (unable to resolve the issue internally)
• Time reduction (entrusting specialized areas to specialists)

These are management issues that affect the future direction of the company, but since they cannot be resolved on their own, the intent of the client company is “we want you to lead us to a resolution, even if it means paying high fees.” Be aware that while the expectations are high—and the rewards are correspondingly great—the responsibility you take on is also extremely significant.

Increased Interaction with Clients and Team Members

As an IT consultant, meetings with clients and project team meetings will increase. With the addition of other tasks like those below, communication skills are required.

• Client interviews and proposals
• Project execution
• Team management

Since you will be working through tasks with many people, this can be a very stressful environment for those who struggle with communication.

Increased Work Beyond System Development and Design

While the main work of SIers is system development and design, IT consultants will have additional tasks beyond those.

Examples of work that increases beyond development and design include the following.

• Document creation (current situation analysis, proposal document creation)
• Schedule coordination (adjustments to IT tool design, etc.)
• Meetings (from client negotiations to inter-departmental meetings)
• Budget management (operations with limited resources)
• Management (overall oversight and coordination of project members)

Becoming an IT consultant means shifting from being responsible for a single phase to overseeing the entire project. Additionally, with tasks spanning document creation, schedule management, and project execution, there is a tendency for overtime hours to increase.

However, due to work-style reform efforts across all industries, overtime hours have been decreasing compared to before, and the same is true in IT consulting, where more work-friendly environments are being established.

Greater Input Is Needed to Meet High Skill Requirements

IT consultants must continuously update their information and knowledge. This is because the IT industry faces constant competition from rivals, and the latest information and knowledge are needed to win competitive bids.

Recent market trends in IT consulting include the following.

• Growing demand for My Number-related services targeting financial institutions
• Expanding demand for fintech, the convergence of finance and IT
• Strengthening of information system security measures

Given that services adapted to the trends of the times are in demand, there is no avoiding the need to continuously take in new information.

Skills Required to Transition from SIer to IT Consultant

The skills required for IT consultants are as follows.

• Project management ability
• Problem-solving ability
• Logical thinking

We will explain the situations in which each of these is needed.

Project Management Ability

Since IT consultants are involved in a wide range of tasks spanning many departments, project management ability is indispensable.

Situations where project management ability is needed include the following.

• Understanding the current state of a project (budget and progress management)
• Getting back on track when trouble arises
• Coordinating project members (leadership)

Since client deadlines are fixed, project management ability—needed to lead the team and achieve maximum results with limited resources—is crucial.

Problem-Solving Ability

In the rapidly changing IT industry, problem-solving ability is required. Problem-solving ability refers to “the power to analyze the challenges a company faces, think through how those challenges can be resolved, and arrive at an answer.”

Since resolving clients’ management challenges is the primary mission of IT consultants, problem-solving ability is the most essential skill.

Characteristics of people with strong problem-solving ability include the following.

• Strong logical thinking skills
• Able to take proactive action on their own initiative
• Strong communication skills

Developing problem-solving ability enables you to perform beyond what is expected, making it easier to produce results.

Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is essential for resolving challenges. Logical thinking refers to “the ability to systematically organize the cause-and-effect relationships of things and explain complex problems in an easy-to-understand manner.”

In presentations to clients and between departments, the ability to communicate things clearly is important because it affects the progress of a project.

The foundational ways of thinking in logical thinking are as follows.

• Think based on facts
• Think from a zero-based perspective
• Extract commonalities from information and draw conclusions (induction)
• Combine information to draw a conclusion (deduction)

However, even if you can explain things in a logically structured way, there are cases where the recipient does not understand, so be careful not to over-rely on it.

Frequently Asked Questions About SIers and IT Consultants

Related questions about IT consultants are as follows.

• What is the difference between SIers and SEs?
• Can you transition to SIer or IT consulting without prior experience?
• Are there any certifications required to become an IT consultant?

We will answer frequently asked questions.

What Is the Difference Between SIers and SEs?

There is a significant difference between SIers and SEs.

An SIer is not a job title but a company that performs system development, while an SE refers to an IT engineer who handles system development. In other words, SEs are the people who work within SIers.

Can You Transition to SIer or IT Consulting Without Prior Experience?

It is possible to transition to an SIer without prior experience, but certain conditions need to be met to improve your chances of being hired.

Transitioning to an SIer	Transitioning to IT Consulting
Hold IT certifications (IT Passport, FE, etc.)	Rich IT certifications and knowledge
Have a track record of app development	Work experience at an SIer
Project management experience	Project management experience
Sales experience	Strong logical thinking skills
Communication ability	Strong communication skills

Both SIers and IT consultants are easier to get hired at if you have IT knowledge and project management experience. However, note that the difficulty level is higher for transitioning to IT consulting.

Are There Any Certifications Required to Become an IT Consultant?

Certifications are not strictly required to work as an IT consultant. However, the following certifications are recommended for further career and skill advancement.

• Certified Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant (Chusho Kigyo Shindan-shi)
  A specialist who advises and diagnoses small and medium-sized enterprises on management matters
• IT Strategist (ITSS)
  Leverages IT to formulate corporate management strategies such as improving management efficiency and reducing costs
• Applied Information Technology Engineer (a higher-level qualification above the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer)
  Formulates strategies leveraging IT and carries out system construction
• Project Manager (PM)
  Possesses deep IT knowledge and serves as the person responsible for a project, providing overall supervision

Certifications like the above can add credibility to your profile as a consultant, so obtaining them is well worth the effort.

Summary

The 6 differences between SIers and IT consultants are as follows.

• Purpose of work
• Job responsibilities
• Required skills
• Who is suited for each role
• Average salary
• Career path

While both are in the IT field, the purpose of work and job responsibilities differ, so those considering a transition should understand that they will need to acquire new skills and essentially start from the beginning. Transitioning from an SIer to an IT consultant also leads to a salary increase.

If you are not satisfied with your current salary or want to work on more upstream tasks, please consider taking on the challenge.