There are two conversations about AI in the Colombian business world. The first is fascination: this is going to change everything. The second is dismissal: it’s a fad, just like blockchain. Both are wrong in the same way — they oversimplify what is, in reality, a gradual but structural transformation.

For management consulting in particular, AI is neither a threat nor a panacea. It is a tool that amplifies capabilities when used well, and generates noise when used poorly.

What has actually changed

Until recently, analyzing large volumes of information was a privilege of large firms. A mid-size or small firm lacked the analytical muscle to process thousands of records, identify non-obvious patterns, or generate alternative scenarios quickly.

That has changed. Large language models, automated analysis tools, and code assistants have democratized capabilities that previously required specialized teams.

The practical result: a consultant well-supported by AI tools can do in hours what previously took days. Document analysis, synthesis of sector information, identification of inconsistencies in financial data, generation of structured drafts.

What AI cannot do (yet)

AI is powerful for processing. It is weak for judgment.

It can synthesize a hundred sector reports, but it cannot tell the manager whether to enter a new market. It can identify that gross margin fell 3 points, but it cannot know whether that is the result of a correct long-term decision or an error that needs correcting.

Judgment — the capacity to weigh uncertain factors, read human context, and take a position under uncertainty — remains human. And in consulting, that is exactly where the value lies.

How ANCALOFA incorporates AI into its work

We do not use AI to replace analysis; we use it to amplify it. That means:

  • Faster and more complete information analysis: we can review more data, in less time, with less risk of human error in the mechanical layer.
  • More agile models and scenarios: we iterate faster, which allows the client to explore more options before committing.
  • Higher-quality documentation: deliverables are clearer, more consistent, and easier to use.

What does not change: the responsibility for the recommendation is always human. The consultant signs what they deliver.

The right question

The question is not should I use AI in my company? The question is in which specific decisions can I make better choices if I process available information more effectively?

That is a strategy question, not a technology question. And it is, precisely, where consulting begins.