Reconfiguring Professional Services and Business Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing, and Circular Economy Models

Abstract

The contemporary business environment is undergoing a profound structural transformation driven by advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, edge computing, and sustainability-oriented economic models. Professional service firms, particularly management consulting and business advisory organizations, are positioned at the intersection of these technological and institutional shifts. This article develops an integrative and theoretically grounded analysis of how emerging digital technologies and circular economy principles are reshaping business intelligence, consulting practices, organizational forms, and value creation mechanisms. Drawing strictly on established literature spanning professional service firm theory, business intelligence, artificial intelligence applications, and educational and cultural competence research, the study synthesizes fragmented scholarly conversations into a coherent analytical framework. The article explores how AI-driven predictive analytics, fraud detection systems, real-time personalized marketing, and IoT-enabled predictive maintenance are redefining consulting value propositions, while circular economy models challenge traditional linear business logics. At the same time, institutional theory and the economics of the firm are used to examine how professional legitimacy, knowledge asymmetries, and organizational boundaries are being renegotiated. The methodology follows a qualitative, integrative literature synthesis approach, emphasizing theoretical elaboration, comparative interpretation, and contextual analysis rather than empirical measurement. The findings suggest that professional service firms are evolving from expertise-based advisory models toward hybrid configurations that combine technological platforms, data-driven insights, and culturally embedded human judgment. The discussion highlights structural tensions, ethical risks, capability gaps, and future research directions, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and emerging markets. The article concludes that sustainable competitive advantage in professional services increasingly depends on the alignment of advanced analytics, organizational adaptability, and socially embedded professional practices.