https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/Explore expert analysis, insights, and product updates on the Global Nexis Solutions US blog to stay informed and ahead in the business intelligence.en-USTelligent Community 9https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/generative-ai-professional-servicesMon, 13 Apr 2026 10:13:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:a0801f65-70bc-4162-9c7e-277505249949Juni DayritGenerative AI (genAI) is embedded in the professional services industry. Whether through client conversations, internal pilots, or vendor tools, most consultants have had at least some exposure to genAI tools. Understandably, many consultants and other professionals are increasingly interested in how effectively and responsibly it's being used. In this article, we'll outline five practical ways consultants are applying genAI in their day-to-day work. But first—why does this matter to organizational leaders? Why should leaders should care about genAI in the professional services industry? According to the LexisNexis® Future of Work 2026: Management Consulting Industry Report , genAI adoption is widespread, but governance and control are falling behind. While consultants are highly confident in their use of AI, 54% report using tools without approval and 73% use personal tools for work , highlighting a growing gap between usage and oversight. FOW 2026 Report Insight: The 2026 Future of Work report shows this is a cross-industry trend: 53% of professionals have used genAI without approval, and 28% report their organization has no formal AI policy When organizational leaders embrace genAI technology by providing guidelines and policies to their employees for approved gen AI tools, productivity can flourish. Here are five ways consultants can improve speed, accuracy, and outputs using genAI: 1. Automate market and industry research Before engaging with potential clients, consultants need a clear view of markets, competitors, and trends. Traditionally, conducting this type of market research meant hours of sifting through reports, news and gathering data before analysis could begin. GenAI speeds up that process. With specific prompts, consultants can generate tailored research briefs in minutes, freeing up more time for strategic thinking. Example prompt: “Summarize the current state of the wearable health tech market using data from Morningstar and recent news. Include market size, growth projections, and key competitors in approximately 250 words.” 2026 Report Insight: 58% of consultants cite faster decision-making as genAI’s primary benefit ahead of time savings. This indicates that genAI’s value lies in accelerating decision-making, not just completing tasks faster. 2. Drafting client deliverables at speed Turning analysis into polished deliverables—slides, reports, and executive summaries—remains a core consulting task. While the strategic thinking still depends on your expertise, genAI supports and accelerates early-stage drafting across these formats, helping consultants quickly structure content and focus their effort on refinement and strategic framing. Content creation is now the top genAI use case for consultants (50%) , reinforcing its role in accelerating output across engagements. Consultants can prompt genAI to create initial content for presentations, documents, and emails—reducing time spent on first drafts and formatting. However, speed introduces risk. Outputs must be validated before reaching clients, particularly as AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from human work. Think of genAI as your junior analyst—useful for generating first drafts, but still requiring your human expertise to ensure client-readiness . 3. Analyzing transcripts, reports, and financial filings Reviewing and extracting insights from long-form documents—like earnings call transcripts, annual reports , legal rulings, and contracts—is a vital but time-intensive part of consulting work. GenAI reduces the time required to extract key insights by summarizing large volumes of content into focused outputs. Instead of starting from scratch, you can prompt it to do the initial review for you. Example prompt: “Summarize the last three years of 10-K filings for Company X, including revenue, margins, and key risks” In minutes, the AI delivers a focused summary, pulling out the critical numbers and priorities to inform business decisions . This allows consultants to bypass manual review and move directly into interpretation (the strategic thinking clients value). A note on genAI output quality Output quality depends heavily on how prompts are structured—yet 48% of consultants still struggle with writing effective prompts, increasing the risk of incomplete or misleading summaries. While genAI accelerates document analysis, it also increases the risk of unvalidated outputs in client-facing work: 50% of consultants cite misinformation as a top concern Many professionals trust outputs they cannot fully verify, creating exposure in client-facing work As a result, document analysis workflows require built-in validation steps as well as faster extraction. When organizational leaders set the tone with AI governance, validation becomes part of the process. Take the AI capability quiz 4. Monitoring news and market developments Keeping clients informed on market trends is essential—but staying on top of multiple sources daily can eat into strategic time. To streamline this process, genAI can scan thousands of news items and generate summaries tailored to client sectors. Example prompt: “Summarize top retail industry news from the past week, focusing on ecommerce, omnichannel strategy, and Amazon/Walmart.” Within seconds, genAI delivers a news briefing spotlighting key developments, such as M&A activity, sales forecasts, and leadership shifts. However, the challenge is no longer access to information but trust— 48% of professionals want greater transparency in how AI reaches its conclusions . Consultants must ensure that AI-generated summaries are accurate, source-backed, and suitable for client-facing insights. 5. Processing and analyzing client data When working with clients, consultants are often handed large datasets such as sales figures, customer data, operational metrics, and more. Interpreting all this information manually can be a slow, time-consuming process. GenAI can help by quickly analyzing these data sets to surface key trends and insights . Example prompt: “Analyze this customer purchase data and identify differences in buying behavior between new and returning customers. Highlight peak sales periods and top-performing products by region.” Surfacing key information efficiently, genAI enables and frees consultants to work on developing strategic recommendations tailored client goals based on the data trends , rather than spending time identifying patterns. This shift is reflected in how professionals are using genAI today—39% now treat it as a collaborator rather than just a tool Explore our Credible AI Toolkit for Consulting Teams to implement validation, governance, and best practices in client-facing work . The Future of Professional Services with GenAI While these are some of today’s most practical applications, the role of genAI in consulting continues to evolve. The latest findings from the LexisNexis® Future of Work 2026: Management Consulting Industry Report show that adoption is advancing rapidly—but not always with the controls needed to support it. Across industries, the competitive advantage is moving from AI adoption to AI credibility. In consulting, this is defined by how effectively firms ensure insights are credible, validated, and defensible in client-facing work This is fundamentally about elevating how consultants work, not replacing them. Consultants who can combine genAI-driven speed with rigorous validation and governance will be better positioned to lead engagements, uncover insights faster, and deliver work that stands up to scrutiny. Is your genAI strategy keeping pace with the industry? Explore the LexisNexis® Future of Work 2026 reports to understand how firms are balancing speed, insight, and credibility in AI-driven consulting. Download the ReportArtificial IntelligenceFuture of WorkNexis+ AIManagement Consultinghttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/improve-ai-governanceMon, 23 Mar 2026 10:34:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:66501b93-8898-4ee3-b09e-56d043521235Kristan BarczakGenerative AI (genAI) is used daily across industries by approximately half of working professionals. But, according to the latest LexisNexis Future of Work research, genAI adoption is accelerating faster than organizational AI governance. The result? Excess liability and risk. GenAI should help your organization grow—not hinder it. In this article, we’ll help you determine where your organization is on your AI development journey by exploring how organizational policies, guidance, and training are not keeping pace with AI adoption rates. We’ll close with recommended next steps for leaders. Table of Contents: AI and the future of work Key finding 1: AI governance crisis Key finding 2: Overconfidence as a risk Key finding 3: Uneven access to AI training AI and accountability Next steps AI and the future of work As Snehit Cherian, CTO of Global Nexis Solutions, has previously noted , genAI’s most durable value lies in augmenting human effort inevitably freeing professionals to focus on higher-value, more strategic work. The Future of Work Report 2026: Generative AI—Tool, Colleague, or Liability , confirms his point, while also revealing where gaps in oversight, confidence, and trust threaten to undermine it. According to our research, genAI is already deeply embedded in professional workflows. Roughly half of professionals report using genAI frequently, and usage spans everything from basic assistance to full task execution. Yet while adoption has surged, governance and readiness have not kept pace. The result is a widening disconnect between leadership perception and operational reality, potentially exposing organizations to legal, security, and reputational risk. This year’s findings point to three critical themes shaping the future of work: A growing governance crisis driven by shadow AI Rising overconfidence that masks real risk Training progress that builds confidence but leaves access uneven Download the Full Report Key finding 1: The AI governance crisis is leadership’s biggest blind spot GenAI adoption is happening with or without formal approval. While leaders may believe policies and controls are in place, the data tells a more sobering story. More than half of professionals surveyed( 53%)report using genAI tools without formal approval . Nearly one-third (28%) say their organization has no genAI policy at all , and 42% aren’t even sure whether one exists . Meanwhile, 55% pay for their own AI tools , with the majority using them for work purposes. This is the reality of shadow AI: Employees solving real problems with whatever tools are available, often outside approved systems and safeguards. The governance gap is largely caused by misalignment. Teams are moving faster than the infrastructure designed to support them, creating exposure leaders may not see until something goes wrong. AI productivity gains are real but fragile There’s no question genAI is delivering productivity gains. Professionals increasingly treat AI models as more than simple tools. Nearly 40% now view genAI as a collaborator or partner , and 16% rely on it to take over entire tasks . These shifts reflect deeper integration into workflows and real efficiency benefits. This aligns with earlier leadership perspectives emphasizing genAI as a “supportive co-worker” rather than a replacement. But the data also shows that productivity gains are fragile when they’re built on ungoverned usage. Key finding 2: Organizations are ready in theory, but exposed in practice One of the most striking findings in the 2026 report is the gap between confidence and comprehension . Nearly 64% of professionals say they are very or extremely confident using AI responsibly . On the surface, this looks like progress. In practice, it introduces a new category of risk. Many professionals admit they don’t fully understand: Where AI outputs come from How conclusions are generated When AI should not be used More than a third say they are least confident in understanding AI data sources, and another third struggle to know when AI is inappropriate for a task. At the same time, employees increasingly trust AI outputs enough to use them in higher-stakes deliverables, often without consistent validation. The combination of high confidence, low visibility, and expanding use creates a liability blind spot. Trust that begins as appropriate for brainstorming or drafting can quietly extend into decisions with legal, financial, or reputational consequences. When AI moves from assisting to acting The stakes rise further as AI evolves from supporting tasks to initiating actions. More than half of professionals say their organization has launched internal AI agents , yet only 44% clearly understand what those agents are . A quarter report minimal or poor understanding, and some don’t know whether agents are in use at all. Despite this, most professionals still expect human involvement: 65% say human validation is very or extremely important 56% believe humans should remain involved at every stage Only 9% support minimal human oversight Increasing autonomy and limited understanding underscores why governance frameworks designed for assistive AI are no longer enough. As systems begin to act, accountability, explainability, and oversight must be designed in from the start. The 2026 data makes it clear that experimentation without validation introduces significant risk and that governance must be designed alongside adoption. Key finding 3: AI training builds confidence, but access remains uneven Training coverage has improved meaningfully. 82% of professionals now receive some form of AI training , up from 72% the previous year. Training correlates strongly with confidence: nearly 80% of those with mandatory training report being very or extremely confident using AI. But training alone is not enough, and, in some cases, it may even accelerate risk. Professionals with mandatory training report significantly higher rates of unauthorized AI usage than those with no training at all. This suggests that awareness without adequate tools, access, or governance can push employees toward shadow solutions when official options fall short. The workforce is ready and eager to adopt AI. However, the issue is whether organizations are providing credible, secure, and validated tools that match real-world needs. From AI adoption to accountability Taken together, the findings point to a clear conclusion: genAI strategy is now operating-model strategy. Organizations that continue to focus solely on adoption metrics—usage rates, tool counts, experimentation—will miss the deeper shift underway. The next phase of the future of work is defined by accountability, not access. Prepared organizations are: Incorporating AI output validation directly into workflows Treating trust as something to measure, not assume Aligning training with approved tools and clear guardrails Planning governance for AI that acts, not just assists The defining shift of 2026 is no longer asking “Can AI do this?” but “Should we trust how it does this—and are we protected when it does?” Are you AI-ready? Take the quiz Next steps: Explore the AI and the Future of Work Report This article highlights only a portion of the insights from the Future of Work Report 2026: Generative AI — Tool, Colleague, or Liability? The full report explores adoption patterns, readiness gaps, and governance risks across industries and provides leaders with a clearer view of where their organizations stand and what comes next. To understand how your organization compares, and how to close the pace gap responsibly, download the full report . Download the Full Report Get Industry-Specific InsightsFuture of WorkNexis+ AIhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/how-to-mitigate-reputational-riskFri, 20 Mar 2026 17:00:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:59939a94-b148-466b-9c20-14b265bbd7cdKristan BarczakReputational damage can escalate within hours. One comment on social media, one critical blog post, or a sudden spike in negative press, can trigger a series of events that leaves brands in challenging situations. With audiences spread across so many outlets and formats, the media landscape is more fragmented than ever, making it challenging for public relations (PR) teams to track potential risk. But by using leading indicators and catching red flags early, teams can activate a crisis communication plan, align messaging internally, and often contain issues before they spread. In this article, we discuss five early warning signs of a reputation crisis. Keep reading to see how to spot them easily with the right tools. Get Your Proactive Reputation Management Guide 1. Spikes in negative sentiment An increase in brand mentions isn’t necessarily alarming, but it does become a concern when the tone of those mentions turns increasingly negative. Why it matters: A small but sharp dip in sentiment can foreshadow larger backlash because it shows a shift in how audiences are interpreting the brand. If caught early, PR teams can adjust messaging, prepare holding statements, and brief executives before the issue gains traction in mainstream media. How to spot it: Media monitoring tools with built-in sentiment analysis highlight shifts in tone, helping teams separate everyday chatter from early signs of discontent. The Edelman Trust Barometer shows that public trust is highly sensitive to negative narratives, with year-on-year data revealing sharp declines in trust levels across institutions following major crises. 2. Unusual activity from journalists or influencers Journalists and influencers often signal that a story is gaining traction before it reaches a wider audience. When reporters suddenly request comments, or influential voices begin posting questions or critiques on social media, it may signal that an issue is gaining traction behind the scenes. Why it matters: Engaging at this stage allows PR professionals to provide accurate context, correct misinformation, and influence how the story is framed before publication. The rise of video as a source of news has amplified the reach of influencer and personality-led content, meaning commentary from a single creator can snowball into mainstream debate within hours. How to spot it: Tracking tools can highlight when journalists or influencers are engaging more actively than usual whether through increased mentions, critical posts, or a cluster of new articles. Tools like Nexis Newsdesk give you this visibility in real time, helping you identify shifts before they escalate. 3. Rising volume of niche or local coverage While some crises break in major outlets, others begin in local publications or smaller, independent blogs, where they can spread quickly through events like viral sharing on social media platforms . Why it matters: Once a story hits a mainstream outlet, the narrative is harder to influence as it’s already shaped and widely distributed. By contrast, catching a story early in a smaller outlet gives PR teams the opportunity to clarify, provide context, or correct misinformation before it scales. It also creates a chance to engage directly with niche or local audiences, who can be highly influential within their communities or industries. How to spot it: Using real-time monitoring across traditional, digital, and local sources ensures that coverage isn’t missed. 4. Shifts in stakeholder or employee conversations Internal dissatisfaction from employees or stakeholders can create challenges, often found in employee forums, review sites like Glassdoor, or internal communications before reaching the wider public. Employee opinions around workplace culture often finds its way to public platforms if ignored. Why it matters: Issues raised internally can turn into external reputational damage, especially if they align with wider ESG or social concerns that attract activist or media attention. How to spot it: Monitoring sentiment on platforms like Glassdoor, as well as paying close attention to stakeholder feedback, helps identify patterns before they escalate. Addressing and engaging with concerns internally can often prevent external fallout. 5. Sudden drop in positive coverage or engagement Sometimes, the absence of expected positive coverage can be extremely telling. A campaign that usually receives strong engagement but suddenly underperforms could be a signal of decline in trust. Why it matters: Without advocates or positive reviews, a brand becomes more vulnerable to criticism. A decline in visible support can create enough basis for negative stories to emerge. How to spot it: Media analytics dashboards allow PR teams to benchmark performance against previous campaigns and quickly identify anomalies. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer , declining trust often precedes active backlash, making engagement metrics an important part of early warning systems. The ROI of early detection The value of catching these signals early extends beyond protecting reputation. Three-quarters of UK-based organizations reported that their most serious recent disruption had a medium-to-high operational impact. Preventing crises before they develop is far more cost-effective than managing fallout. Early detection buys valuable time to brief executives, coordinate messaging, and activate a crisis communication plan. In a 24/7 media cycle, that lead time can mean the difference between a contained risk and a full-scale crisis. How PR tools help you act before a crisis hits Detecting early warning signs of a reputation crisis across media requires using tools that combine breadth of coverage with genAI and analytics, like: Real-time monitoring reduces blind spots across traditional, digital, and social Sentiment analysis interprets subtle changes in tone Influencer and journalist tracking highlights the voices shaping coverage LexisNexis media intelligence solutions help PR professionals strengthen their reputation management strategies with actionable insights and comprehensive coverage. Want to learn more about how to spot early signals? Download From Signals to Strategy: The Proactive Reputation Management Guide . Get Your Guidehttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/leading-vs-lagging-indicatorsWed, 18 Mar 2026 14:40:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:512b72f5-6511-47d7-b8b3-a92679652690Kristan BarczakPublic relations (PR) teams are often measured by media coverage, share of voice, sentiment shifts, and crisis response metrics. These are known as lagging indicators . They measure impact after events have already occurred. In contrast, leading indicators are early signals that suggest how narratives, risks, or industry shifts are developing before they reach mainstream attention. These signals can include regulatory filings, policy movement, corporate restructuring, ESG disclosures, financial trends, and regional reporting that has not yet drawn national headlines. Understanding leading vs. lagging indicators is essential for modern PR strategy . In this article, we'll explore leading vs. lagging indicators, data sources for each, and how to apply leading indicators to a winning PR strategy. Leading vs. lagging indicators: Definitions for PR professionals To apply this concept effectively, it helps to clarify what each term means in a PR and communications context. Download Your Guide to Proactive Reputation Management What are lagging indicators in PR? Lagging indicators in PR are measurable outcomes that reflect events after they have already occurred. Common lagging indicators include: Media coverage and headline volume Share of voice Social sentiment and engagement spikes Reputation survey results Crisis escalation metrics These indicators establish how an issue has landed in the public domain. They help teams assess tone, framing, and overall impact. However, they do not explain how the issue began or where it is heading next. When something reaches mainstream coverage, the underlying developments that drove it have often been unfolding quietly for weeks or months. What are leading indicators in PR? Leading indicators in PR are early signals that suggest how narratives, risks, or industry shifts are developing before they reach mainstream attention. Examples of leading indicators include: Legal and regulatory activity Policy drafts and committee discussions Corporate and financial filings Leadership changes and hiring patterns ESG and governance disclosures Intellectual property registrations Local and regional reporting Market and competitive performance data Individually, these signals may seem minor. Viewed together, they reveal important clues to potential shifts in public perception and organizational reputation . Leading vs. lagging indicators in PR: Key differences Understanding the distinction helps shift PR from reactive monitoring to proactive strategy. Leading Indicators Lagging Indicators Timing Appear before public attention Appear after issues surface Examples Regulatory filings, ESG risks, IP activity Media coverage, social sentiment Strategic Value Enable proactive planning Measure outcomes Role in PR Inform narrative shaping Reflect narrative impact Lagging indicators tell you how the story unfolded. Leading indicators give you a chance to influence how it unfolds. Why focusing only on lagging indicators limits PR strategy Media monitoring and social listening are essential. They help establish the current narrative and measure amplification. But they primarily capture what is already visible. When teams rely exclusively on lagging indicators, they enter a reactive loop: An issue develops. Media coverage increases. PR responds to framing that is already forming. By that stage, the window for shaping perception may be narrower than leadership expects. Leading indicators disrupt this cycle. They allow teams to identify patterns early, prepare leadership in advance, and engage before the narrative hardens. Data sources for leading indicators The signals that shape reputation and regulation rarely come from a single source, instead emerging across multiple sources. Some data sources include: Legal and regulatory signals Policy shifts often begin in committee briefings, draft legislation, enforcement trends, and regulatory guidance. These developments may receive little attention at first, yet they signal direction. For PR teams, tracking legal and regulatory data enables earlier counsel to leadership. It supports more confident recommendations and reduces the risk of being surprised by enforcement priorities or policy changes. Corporate and financial data Corporate filings, restructuring announcements, investment patterns, and leadership transitions often precede media scrutiny. Financial and market data can also signal competitive pressure, performance trends, or investor expectations. These dynamics frequently shape future narratives around growth, stability, or risk. By monitoring these signals, communications teams can anticipate likely questions and prepare positioning before external stakeholders connect the dots. ESG, IP, and innovation signals ESG disclosures and governance indicators provide early visibility into environmental exposure, social impact, and potential reputation risk. Intellectual property registrations and research activity reveal product direction and long term strategy. These signals can shape thought leadership planning and competitive messaging. Together, they offer a deeper understanding of how an organization may be perceived as its strategy evolves. Local and regional reporting Many national narratives begin at the local level. Regional outlets often surface early concerns, operational friction, or community activism long before a story reaches broader attention. Monitoring local and multilingual reporting helps identify issues close to the source. It expands situational awareness beyond headline level coverage. How genAI strengthens leading indicator analysis The volume of data relevant to modern communications teams is vast. No individual professional can manually review every regulatory filing, financial disclosure, multilingual news source, and ESG update that may influence an issue. Generative AI enhances the ability to process large quantities of information quickly. It can identify themes, detect patterns, and surface developments that warrant deeper investigation. However, technology does not replace strategic judgment. In communications, context and nuance matter. Trust increases when genAI-driven insights are transparent and grounded in credible, licensable sources that professionals can verify. More: Download the 2026 AI and the Future of Work report When used responsibly, genAI relieves teams of manual scanning and synthesis. That time can be redirected toward higher value work such as advising leadership, refining messaging, and shaping narratives grounded in early evidence. Go Deeper: Anticipate PR impact before launch If your team is ready to move from reactive monitoring to proactive strategy, explore the white paper, From Signals to Strategy: Anticipating PR Impact Before Launch . The white paper explains: The difference between leading and lagging indicators in detail The diverse data sources that shape reputation before headlines break How GenAI accelerates insight while preserving transparency and trust How to operationalize early signals within the tools your communications team already uses Download the white paper to learn how to turn early signals into strategic advantage and anticipate PR impact before it reaches the front page. Download Your GuideRisk MonitoringMedia IntelligenceNewsdeskhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/ethical-aiWed, 18 Mar 2026 11:04:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:910a5fc9-fafc-48c0-b144-dc1cd39862d5MelanieRArtificial intelligence (AI) offers an incredible amount of opportunity from enhancing productivity to managing information. But, because AI "learns" from the data you give it, it's critical to develop an ethical approach to using the technology. When AI is adopted without an intentional ethics and governance strategy, you risk bad data outcomes, privacy breaches, and project failure. In this article, we'll discuss why AI ethics matter. Then, we'll outline five steps to follow to develop your own approach to AI adoption. Download the Free Credible AI Toolkit What is AI ethics? AI ethics ensures that artificial intelligence is developed and used in ways that are fair, transparent, accountable, and aligned with societal values. Developing an ethical approach to AI can involve implementing AI governance standards, privacy practices, and communicating those standards to stakeholders. Why is an ethical approach to AI important? The use of AI presents companies with reputational and strategic risks . Customers increasingly fear their personal data is being used in AI tools for ends which are unclear and, if they are not satisfied that a company is using technology and data ethically , they will move their business elsewhere. One reason for the public uncertainty around technology is that AI models aren't always transparent, and the rationale behind their findings is not usually provided. This is particularly true of generative AI solutions. Prominent technology companies are currently facing lawsuits over allegations they inappropriately scraped individuals’ data from the internet, especially from social media accounts. Others have faced regulatory scrutiny over alleged copyright, data protection, and cybersecurity breaches. Any company seeking to bring in AI technology must therefore consider the risks involved and prioritize ethics. How to develop an ethical AI approach Step 1: Source credible data from original sources Over 70% of executives told LexisNexis that using trusted and accurate data sources could improve the overall level of trust in how their company uses generative AI. This data should not only come from accurate and credible sources, but it must be sourced and delivered in a way that adheres to regulations and obtains permissions from the publishers and rights holders. Approval should be sought from publishers to use their content in specific AI tools such as generative AI. Step 2: Ensure human oversight A benefit of AI is that it can surface insights from large data sets which would be difficult or impossible for humans to find. But ensuring that staff members are overseeing the data sources used and reviewing the outputs of AI remains important. This provides an effective counterweight to some of the risks of the ‘black box’ of AI. In a recent GenAI and the Future of Work report , 65% of professionals say human validation is very or extremely important. Over half (56%) say humans should remain involved at every stage. Step 3: Establish ethical guidelines 86% of executives said it will be crucial to establish ethical guidelines and standards around generative AI. This is true for a company’s approach to technology more broadly. Any firm should already have broad values and ethical principles and agree about how these should be applied to the use of technology and data. Examples of guidelines which some firms have implemented include: Only using data from original sources. Requiring all staff to undergo training in ethics of AI. Setting up a committee to consider the ethics of every proposal to use AI for a business need. Using a Retrieval-Augmented Generation approach in a generative AI tool to mitigate the risk of AI hallucinations. MORE : From start to finish: Your checklist for responsible AI Step four: Communicate transparently Transparency is central to trust: 48% of professionals say clearer insight into how generative AI reaches conclusions would increase confidence in its outputs. The CEO must clearly set out the importance of ethics and the company’s efforts to address potential issues. Communications should extend to customers, employees, investors, third parties, and regulators. MORE : Managing collaboration and communication in research Step five: Discuss ethics with third parties A company’s efforts to demonstrate ethics and transparency can be instantly undone if one of its third parties or suppliers is implicated in allegedly unethical behavior. As a result, a company should set high expectations for the ethical standards of all prospective and current third parties. Making this part of the contract can help to formalize this expectation. Companies should also carry out thorough due diligence on any prospective third-party providers of data or technology. Our free checklist outlines 10 questions to ask any data and technology provider. MORE : If you haven’t addressed these third-party risks, you’re behind the curve LexisNexis supports an ethical approach to technology with credible data for AI and generative AI As an established data provider for over 50 years, LexisNexis has extensive, long-standing–and in some cases, exclusive–content licensing agreements with publishers worldwide. We supply data to enable you to advance your goals while recognizing and respecting the intellectual property rights of our licensed partners. From data acquisition to customer onboarding, we pride ourselves on offering data which is up-to-date, compliant with licensing agreements and applicable laws, and safeguarded by robust data security and privacy measures. Our transparency around our trusted data should give you confidence to leverage it for your own AI initiatives and analysis. Our extensive news coverage, enriched with robust metadata , is readily available for integration into your generative AI projects. Over the past year, we have worked diligently and transparently with our publishers to secure the rights to use their data with generative AI tools. Our portfolio covers over 20,000 licensed titles, with thousands of sources available for use with generative AI technology. The generative AI-enabled dataset includes content from industry giants like The Associated Press, McClatchy and more. Download our free Credible AI toolkit to learn more about the how your company can exploit AI’s opportunities and manage its risks with high-quality data. Download the Free Credible AI ToolkitArtificial IntelligenceFuture of WorkDataNexis+ AIhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/develop-a-public-relations-strategyFri, 27 Feb 2026 14:49:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:6b01fc7a-a103-48f6-af92-de13a6e35de5MelanieRBrand recognition in a constantly evolving media landscape requires well-planned public relations (PR) campaigns. Simply having a message isn't enough. To truly stand out and make an impact, you need a solid strategy guiding your PR efforts. In the first part of this series, we took an in-depth look at how good brand , audience and industry research is the necessary first step of a successful PR campaign. Now, let's put that research into action with a comprehensive, end-to-end strategy that harnesses every communication tool at your disposal. We'll go over how the modern PR campaign looks well beyond traditional media relations, leveraging a cross-channel, multifaced approach to reach the right people, in the right place, at the right time, with the right message--and how tools like Nexis Newsdesk can make it that much easier. Let's dive into the world of PR strategy and explore how it can help your business or organization achieve its goals. More: Perfect your proactive risk management with the "From Signals to Strategy" white paper for PR professionals Create key messages The first step to a successful campaign strategy is to develop key messages . Now that you fully understand your brand’s current position and future ambitions, what is it that you want to say? How do you want to say it? And what action do you want it to elicit? Think back to your time spent looking through those observation binoculars. Where did you see whitespace that can be ownable? What messages will most stand out from the competition? What are the things your target audiences will most resonate with? It’s important that these key messages be agreed upon by everyone at the very top of the organization and that anyone speaking on behalf of the brand is well briefed on how to deliver them. Identify your targets Today’s media landscape is not only fragmented but also uniquely personalized to every single individual. Thanks to dozens of streaming services, targeted advertising, politically-centered cable and online “news” channels and the power to curate our own social media accounts, the average consumer lives, for better or worse, in a hyper-targeted echo chamber. To break through, your strategy needs to leverage insights about your target audience(s) to understand what content they’re consuming, where they’re consuming it and when they’re consuming it. This starts with creating customized media list(s) that include not only the most relevant media outlets to your audience but the perfect, specially targeted media contacts who work within those outlets. MORE : What are Journalist Contact Cards on Nexis? Map an omnichannel plan of attack With these messages in place, it’s time to determine the right channels and tactics to spread them far and wide. Your strategy should consider how earned, owned, shared and paid media efforts can complement and amplify one another. As Tom Biddle, General Manager Media Intelligence at LexisNexis explains, “ A well-written press release distributed via a newswire no longer cuts it. Today’s marketplace requires an omnichannel campaign that’s authentic, relevant, targeted and personalized, with many moving parts.” What are the tactics that will most resonate with your target audiences? Here's what to know about the different channels to determine what will be best for you: Earned : What’s often considered traditional PR, earned media includes any coverage of your brand that is, well, earned. Common examples include news stories, bylined articles, executive commentary opportunities secured via newsjacking (aligning your campaign with trending news), speaking engagements, word of mouth and reviews. Owned : Any content that is owned and operated by your brand. This includes websites, blog posts, webinars, videos, podcasts, newsletters and any content marketing materials that are entirely in your control. Shared : Similar to owned, shared media exclusively refers to social media content. Paid : While a less common tactic for PR practitioners, paid media has become a growing part of the modern campaign. This includes traditional and digital ad buys, but also sponsored content, advertorials, native advertising, search engine ads, social media advertising and more. Influencer marketing has become a significant piece of the paid media pie—something that is falling more and more into communication pros’ camps Set (Measurable!) goals and objectives What are you hoping to achieve with campaign? Every campaign has a unique purpose—reputation building, education, awareness, increased sales, investor relations, etc. Think back to when you were researching the brand. You now know the story you want to tell. How is your PR campaign going to help you tell it? When talking about goals generally, consider breaking it down further by identifying goals and objectives. These may seem interchangeable, but goals and objectives have two different purposes and measurement angles. Goals detail what you want to achieve. Objectives detail how you’re going to achieve them. Goals tend to be broader and speak to the brand’s vision and mission. Objectives have deadlines, Known Performance Indicators (KPIs) and are often detailed and more easily attained. It may take several objectives to achieve a goal. Measuring a campaign’s impact has been one of the industry’s biggest challenges for decades, but the growth of digital metrics that can track a consumer’s path to purchase has made it a bit easier The Barcelona Principles The Barcelona Principles were first introduced by the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communications (AMEC) in 2010, as a consensus on measurement and evaluation. Due to the rapidly evolving landscape, they have been revised two times since, most recently in July 2020. Following is AMEC’s overview of the Barcelona Principles 3.0: Setting goals is an absolute prerequisite to communication planning, measurement and evaluation Measurement and evaluation should identify outputs, outcomes and potential impact Outcomes and impact should be identified for stakeholders, society and the organization Communication measurement and evaluation should include both qualitative and quantitative analysis AVEs are not the value of communication Holistic communication measurement and evaluation includes all relevant online and offline channels Communication measurement and evaluation are rooted in integrity and transparency to drive learning and insights To truly show the value of your work, focus on SMART objectives , which The Barcelona Principles 3.0 considers an “essential prerequisite” to communication planning. Use them to achieve your goals and objectives. Specific: What is your objective? Measurable: How are you going to measure its success? Actionable: How are you going to achieve your objective? Relevant: How does the objective tie in (to the brand, a current trend, the story you’re trying to tell)? Time-bound: What is the deadline? Keep Time in Mind Timing is everything when it comes to successful PR, and rightfully so. For every award-winning campaign, there are thousands of great ideas that never got off the ground because they were buried under a breaking news story, launched too early or were rolled out during a period when their audience’s attention was focused elsewhere. And the same is true for the timing of individual tactics. For large organizations, a successful PR campaign will likely require coordination and collaboration with other internal departments to ensure everyone’s goals and objectives are timed appropriately. Keep up with media intelligence to jumpstart your strategy development A good PR strategy requires an in-depth knowledge of everything that's going on in the crowded media landscape. But between planning, researching, creating relationships, and executing your strategy, it can be hard to keep up with any developments that may impact your campaign. That's why you need a top-notch Media Intelligence tool. Nexis Newsdesk™ is a 24/7 media monitoring platform that gives you the real-time information necessary to conduct highly informed industry research. Monitor industry topics, experts, news and conversations across 10,000+ global news sources, 150 million websites and 2.5 million social media feeds. Along with other media intelligence solutions, Newsdesk helps to broaden and deepen your research findings with data that uncovers the: Biggest and most important players in your industry Industry topics getting the most coverage Most respected and prevalent industry news sources Industry influencers that represent your brand and convey its messaging Latest industry developments and disruptions Successes of competitors that you can borrow and/or build on Messaging already in the market and how it’s being received Weakness of competitors Hone your strategy with From Signals to Strategy Anticipating PR Impact Before Launch.Media IntelligenceNewsdeskhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/how-to-write-consulting-pitchThu, 19 Feb 2026 06:44:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:c0ba609a-e84d-48f3-b6c8-f18129165c34Kristan BarczakA consulting proposal sets the standard for your future relationship with a potential client. So why do consulting firms often rush pitch development? Recycled data paired with shallow analysis creates proposals that appear to be polished but fail to demonstrate a deep understanding of the client's competitive reality. A fast pace in the consulting industry is typical, but you shouldn't have to sacrifice quality. In this article, we partnered with a Big 4 management consultant with 10+ years of deal development expertise to outline four practical tips for creating credible, defensible consulting pitches that win. Using a mock example below, learn why the right choice of what information to put in front of your client can be what wins the day for your firm. Disclaimer: The sample pitch proposal content referenced in this article is illustrative only and based on publicly available information about Fluor Corporation, sourced in October 2025. It does not reflect confidential or proprietary information and is subject to change. Download the Pitch Enhancement Toolkit Tip 1: Build a market overview that explains why, not just what The market overview is often the first section clients assess to determine if a consulting team truly understands their environment. It sets the tone for the entire pitch and signals whether the analysis that follows is grounded in insight or assembled by habit. A weak market overview in a consulting pitch misses context: A market overview containing a single market-sizing or valuation chart paired with broad growth projections is delivering the bare minimum. While the data may trend upward, spikes and dips go unexplained, and external drivers are rarely tied to performance. Without interpretation or credible evidence, the analysis reads as directional rather than analytical which makes it easy for clients to question. What a strong market overview delivers A strong market overview explains why value changes. It contextualizes valuation, revenue, or share price movements by linking them to external forces such as policy developments, contract wins, regulatory shifts, or changes in public sentiment. When movements in market performance can be directly linked to observable external events, the pitch turns a performance chart into a clear explanation of why value changes. Declines are explicitly called out and explained using credible third-party sources, showing what happened, explaining why and how risks could have been mitigated or better managed. By grounding analysis in independent research, sector-specific trade publications, and established news sources, the market overview becomes a strategic foundation for the pitch. Market overview example: Click to enlarge What this market overview shows: How specific external announcements correspond with visible inflection points in share price Where spikes in coverage and sentiment align with changes in trading performance Why periods of volatility matter and what credible sources say caused them How independent analyst and media analysis underpin the explanations shown With credible data Independent industry research, news trend analysis, and economic data are used to explain why the market grows, where inflection points occur, and which external forces drive the performance shown in the market overview. Result: A market story clients believe with clear evidence that reputation, visibility, and external perception materially influence enterprise value. As our consulting expert explains: “Great pitching is all about telling a story that connects with the client, and great stories follow a logical progression. There’s a reason for every setback and win. The client may be the hero of the story, but they can only succeed by having a clear view of the obstacles that lay ahead.” Tip 2: Clarify the competitive landscape so clients can see where they stand A competitive landscape should help clients quickly understand the forces shaping the competitive environment and the company’s position within it, yet too often this section does the opposite. A weak competitive landscape creates noise instead of clarity Done poorly, your competitive landscape will be overloaded with data while being short on insight. The long lists of peers, crowded comparison charts, and generic comparisons make it difficult for clients to determine which competitors truly influence their strategic options. What a strong competitive landscape delivers An effective competitive landscape prioritizes relevance over completeness. Instead of trying to document every possible competitor, strong pitches focus on organizing the competitive landscape to highlight competitive threats, where the company stands apart, and how its position may change over time. By structuring competitors according to factors like capability, geographic reach, customer segment, or strategic intent, the competitive landscape helps clients quickly understand how their company truly compares. Competitive landscape example Click to enlarge What these competitive landscape slides show: Which competitors meaningfully influence the client’s strategic choices How positioning differs across capabilities, scale, or focus areas Where competitive pressure is intensifying or shifting What dimensions of differentiation matter most to buyers With clear prioritization The competitive Landscape organizes competitors around strategic relevance, helping clients immediately see where the company stands and why those distinctions matter. Result: A clearer, more defensible view of the competitive environment, helping clients assess positioning quickly. “Any great story needs a great antagonist. A crowded market, economic headwinds, changing regulations—there's no shortage of pitfalls the deal will have to navigate eventually. Ensure you have clear data on the single most important business or market factor standing in the client’s way. That way, you can not only give them clarity about the challenge ahead, but confidence in how your strategy helps them overcome it.” Tip 3: Validate the Consulting Pitch with Independent Third-Party Voices Strong consulting pitches do not rely solely on internally generated claims. Even well-supported analysis can lose credibility if it is not reinforced by independent perspectives that reflect how the market views the company. When Quality Validation Is Missing, Questions Pile Up Claims about market position, growth potential, or competitive strength that are presented without validation or support from external sources invite scrutiny. An absence of credible third-party perspectives will have your client wondering whether the pitch’s narrative reflects broader market reality or simply your consulting team’s interpretation. Strong Third-Party Validation in a Consulting Pitch Looks Like: Effective pitch proposals validate their core narrative by incorporating independent third parties such as analyst commentary, trade press coverage, and authoritative news reporting. These sources help confirm how the company is perceived externally, reinforcing key claims with evidence that exists beyond the pitch itself. Good pitches curate relevant third-party insights that directly support the story being told and avoid overwhelming the reader with citations. Over time, patterns in external coverage help demonstrate consistency, credibility, and market sentiment, strengthening the pitch’s overall persuasiveness. Third-Party Validation Example: Click to enlarge What this slide shows: How analyst commentary reinforces key positioning claims Where independent media coverage aligns with growth or risk narratives How recurring themes in third-party sources validate market perception Why external voices reduce reliance on self-reported claims With credible external perspectives: Analyst research and authoritative media coverage are used to validate the pitch narrative, confirming that the positioning and performance described are reflected in broader market perception. Result: A pitch that carries greater credibility and trust by demonstrating that its claims are supported by independent, external sources as well as internal analysis. Our expert highlights the need for 3rd party validation: “Deal development has never been noisier, which is a double-edged sword. You can find a published source that will go to bat for any market position, no matter how bullish or bearish! You need to be close enough to the client’s industry to know which voices actually matter in the space—reputable trade publication editorials and analyst reports from notable firms are the sorts of options to prioritize. Choosing the right ones to support your strategy is where you can prove your sector expertise.” How Nexis+ AI ™ supports this: Nexis+ AI helps consulting teams validate pitch narratives by delivering real-time insight into market trends and competitive dynamics through trusted third-party sources. Customizable views and filters make it easier to isolate relevant signals, while historical trend analysis and citation-backed insights from multiple independent sources strengthen the credibility of strategic recommendations. Tip 4: Pre-Empt Risk with Proactive Transparency in your Proposal Strong consulting pitches demonstrate a clear understanding of risks. Proactively addressing potential challenges signals that the consulting team understands the realities of the client’s market, operations, and competitive environment. Avoiding Risk Weakens Your Consulting Pitch When risks are ignored or downplayed, clients are left to surface concerns themselves. This creates uncertainty and can undermine confidence, even when the broader analysis is sound. A pitch that appears overly optimistic may raise questions about whether the team has fully considered execution challenges or downside scenarios. What Proactive Transparency Looks Like Effective pitch proposals acknowledge material risks early and address them with evidence and context. Strong pitches explain why risks matter, how they could impact performance, and what signals to monitor as those risks intensify or recede. By grounding risk discussion in credible data, consulting teams demonstrate foresight and preparedness. This approach reassures clients that potential challenges have been thoughtfully considered and that mitigation strategies are informed by real-world conditions. Transparency example: Click to enlarge What this slide shows: Show operational, market, and regulatory risks are explicitly identified Where external signals indicate rising or stabilizing risk exposure How risks are contextualized rather than buried or minimized Why early transparency reduces surprises later in the engagement With proactive transparency: Risks are acknowledged early, demonstrating a clear understanding of the client’s business and market environment. Result: Greater client trust and confidence, driven by a pitch that shows preparedness, realism, and command of both upside and downside considerations. Our expert offers a final perspective: “I’ve seen deals get so caught up in selling clients a blue sky view of the future that they forget to check the foundation for cracks. It doesn’t end well. It can be hard to have frank conversations about the deficiencies a client’s business or vision has, but it will preserve value in the long run. Being transparent about these risks doesn’t just help manage client expectations—it lets your deal team know, and appreciate, the challenge that lies ahead after winning this deal, and executing the strategy.” Turning consulting pitches into strategic assets When applied together, these four enhancements transform pitch proposals from static documents into the springboard for new deals and client relationships. They do not require major changes in process only a shift away from boilerplate and toward evidence-based, insight-driven storytelling. More: Read AI in Consulting By strengthening the market overview, clarifying the competitive landscape, validating claims with independent third-party voices, and proactively addressing risk, consulting teams can produce pitches that are more credible, more defensible, and more closely aligned with how clients evaluate opportunity and uncertainty. The result is not just a better document, but a more confident, informed conversation with the client. Build stronger, more defensible proposals Explore our Pitch Enhancement Toolkit for practical tools, examples, and guidance that help consulting analysts and associates strengthen research, sharpen framing, and build more persuasive pitches. Download the Pitch Enhancement Toolkit Buy Nexis+ AINexis+ AIhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/p/testpageThu, 05 Feb 2026 13:35:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:cae742f9-1218-40ea-9198-e69a926c139fhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/cim-mistakesWed, 12 Nov 2025 23:22:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:4def04f6-0189-41eb-b9b6-f6cdb0cf86b6Kristan BarczakA Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) plays a pivotal role in any M&A transaction . It’s the cornerstone document that introduces the company, sets the tone for buyer discussions, and frames the valuation narrative. But even top investment banks make recurring CIM mistakes that can slow deals or erode buyer confidence. This guide outlines 10 common CIM mistakes seen in investment banking deal materials, plus how to fix each one. Why CIM quality matters A strong CIM goes beyond summarizing a company. It tells a credible, evidence-based story that motivates buyers. Poorly constructed CIMs often lead to: Slower deal velocity Endless buyer Q&A cycles Reduced trust and valuations Fixing these issues starts with recognizing the most frequent pitfalls in M&A deal documentation—and knowing how to correct them. Download the CIM guide 10 common CIM mistakes Mistake 1: Standardized CIM text Many of the most critical sections of a CIM are based on recycled positioning and standardized boilerplate text. How to fix: Investment analysts and associates should make each CIM more concise, data-driven, defensible, and targeted at the prospective buyer. Mistake 2: Inadequate explanation of market trends The Market Overview section of a CIM typically shows graphs of market price or company value without explaining any rises or falls. How to fix: A good CIM will anticipate and answer obvious questions from buyers about why each peak or trough happened. Mistake 3: Lack of external validation Most CIMs make generic claims that the company being sold is an innovator and a market leader without proving it through external validation. How to fix: Each positive claim should be explicitly backed up by third-party recognition such as media coverage, or analyst praise. Mistake 4: Low-quality data Data used in CIMs is often drawn from a wide range of sources with limited reliability and uncertain provenance. Yet buyers need to have confidence that every claim or statement in a CIM is accurately sourced, or they may pull out of the deal after doing their own due diligence. How to fix: Data should come from approved, premium content with clear and reliable sourcing. Mistake 5: Overfocus on the seller The narrative in a CIM is usually driven by the seller and their investment bank , not mapped to strategic buyer intent. How to fix: The best CIMs reflect an understanding of prospective buyers’ portfolio moves, stated strategies, and public statements. This in turn increases deal velocity because buyers will move to a decision more quickly, without a lengthy back-and-forth of questions and answers. Mistake 6: Failure to disclose risks As CIMs are focused on selling a company, that firm’s risks and issues tend not to be a major focus. But this approach is shortsighted because a buyer will carry out their own due diligence, which can lead to a deal collapsing at the last minute if they find something problematic. How to fix: A CIM which proactively flags all issues from the start will build trust with buyers. Mistake 7: Surface-level ownership structure Where companies are described in a CIM, the name of the holding company is typically presented without any insight into their ultimate beneficial ownership or risk exposure. How to fix: Analysts can correct this mistake by drawing on data on PEPs and sanctions, and company data which includes complex ownership structures. Mistake 8: Basic peer lists The Competitive Landscape section of a CIM typically namechecks the seller’s competitors in a generic listing of entities with minimal insight into their latest moves or how they affect the deal environment. How to fix: Enhanced CIMs will help buyers to understand the market by visualizing deal activity among peer firms. Mistake 9: Growth narratives without evidence CIMs make claims about the seller’s future growth strategy, but these are usually presented without independent verification or proper explanation for the forecasts. How to fix: Analysts should go a step further to provide external confirmation of growth indicators, and justification for any projections. Mistake 10: Inefficient compilation process Analysts often juggle multiple sources—some free, some paywalled—to verify data, consuming hours of valuable time. How to fix: Save time, and increase accuracy, by using a content provider which offers a wide range of reliable and relevant data sources through a single access point. Explore Nexis+ AI The payoff: Smarter CIMs, faster deals Fixing these ten Confidential Information Memorandum mistakes can yield significant benefits: Faster buyer decisions and reduced friction Higher trust and deal confidence Better morale among analysts freed from manual verification More consistent, defensible data presentation In short: fewer delays, stronger buyer relationships, and CIMs that inspire confidence. Overcome CIM limitations with premium content from LexisNexis® For over 50 years, LexisNexis has delivered the credible, consolidated data M&A professionals need to craft compelling, evidence-based CIMs. With extensive global content licensing and AI-enhanced tools, we help deal teams create CIMs that are accurate, differentiated, and defensible. Sharpen your CIMs with insights from: The largest approved set of news content licensed for use in generative AI. A global news archive that draws from more than 50,000 sources, some dating back 40 years. A trove of reputational and legal content, including sanctions, blacklists, Interpol watch lists, and more. An extensive collection of global sources on company information, financial data, and ESG indicators. Our own AI research tool, Nexis+ AI™ which prioritizes the most credible ranked sources over free web tools. Download the CIM guide from LexisNexis to learn about five critical enhancements you can make in your next CIM. Download the CIM guideFinancial ServicesNexis+ AINexis Data+https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/market-triggers-into-business-opportunitiesMon, 03 Nov 2025 19:09:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:e63b9125-b767-4e68-90f6-b57a85057032Kristan BarczakIn consulting, every opportunity starts with a market trigger, whether it be a change in leadership, a new industry regulation or an unexpected shift in investor sentiment. These trigger events can open doors for advisory work if you spot them early, understand their implications and respond fast. Why data quality matters more than ever The risks of using the wrong AI data are already clear. In October 2025, Deloitte Australia refunded a government client after AI-generated findings in a $440,000 report on public sector technology were found to be unreliable. According to The Guardian’s article on the matter, sections of the report contained 'hallucinated fake references’ and generic AI-generated content that failed to meet the expected level of professional rigor. This not only led to financial loss, when the errors were flagged and questioned but also drew public scrutiny of the firm’s quality controls and its reliance on unverified AI outputs, highlighted by a senator’s accusation that the consultancy firm had a “human intelligence problem.” When advisory work depends on data integrity, choosing the right AI data and tool provider is essential. To help firms evaluate what credible, compliant AI looks like in practice LexisNexis developed the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit . As consultants, it is important to understand that your insights are only as valid as the data behind them, which is why the choice of AI data is important. Using systems built on licensed, publisher-approved data and accurate sourcing helps AI enhance your analysis rather than undermine it. LexisNexis® AI-ready data solutions — Nexis+ AI™ and Nexis® Data+ — give consultants the foundation to identify, interpret, and act on market triggers with credibility and confidence. Spot the trigger before competitors do Use Nexis+ AI t o stay one step ahead. The platform helps consultants uncover early-stage opportunities by distilling thousands of global news stories, trade publications, and company updates into concise, citation-backed insights. Instead of scanning dozens of sources manually, consultants can use Nexis+ AI to pull from licensed global news and corporate information which helps them stay on top of new developments wherever they appear. The tool also helps firms act on market triggers faster through relevant features like the 90-day news summary, which quickly briefs consultants on unfamiliar market players, and the document analyzer, which extracts key details from lengthy corporate filings like annual reports or earnings call transcripts. Nexis+ AI also offers the industry’s largest collection of news data approved by publishers for genAI use*, which is one of the many reasons why consultants identify strategic insights 50% faster using Nexis+ AI. *Based on reports August 2025. Understand the context behind every trigger Spotting a market trigger is only the beginning — the real value lies in understanding what it means for your clients. Once a potential opportunity or issue is identified, Nexis® Data+ provides the deeper context by connecting firms directly to LexisNexis’ genAI-ready datasets through flexible APIs. This gives consultants and data teams the flexibility to integrate trusted external intelligence into their proprietary systems, dashboards, and analytics environments — without compromising on compliance or data quality. Through flexible APIs, consultants can pull in: Global News Data — Publisher-approved outlets such as CBS, CNN, Fox, The Boston Globe, and EuroNews Company and Financial Data — Morningstar , Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) , Business Insider , American Banker , and com People and Biographical Data — Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and sanctions lists, plus directories like Marquis Who’s Who® and The Official Board Biographies By connecting directly to these datasets, consulting firms can analyze markets, assess risks, and enrich client deliverables with context-rich, verifiable information. This data foundation helps consultants provide actionable insights that strengthen trust and reduce reputational risk, whilst truly understanding the ‘why’s and ‘how’s behind market happenings. To see how firms can operationalize data governance and ensure AI outputs remain verifiable and compliant, explore the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit . Respond with speed and credibility Clients always expect deliverables to be turned around fast, but they’re only helpful when grounded in verified data. Both Nexis+ AI and Nexis Data+ are built around responsible, compliant AI principles, ensuring that every insight you share is supported by: Licensed, publisher-approved content you can cite with confidence Secure, licensed APIs that provide clear usage rights and maintain data trust Traceable, bias-checked information that builds confidence in AI-generated insights By combining these capabilities, consultants can respond to triggers quickly — while protecting both their clients’ reputations and their own. From market signal to client solution With Nexis+ AI surfacing the signals and Nexis Data+ delivering the context, your teams can transform external market events into actionable, credible insights that drive growth and deepen client trust. To build a governance framework that supports this kind of rapid, credible response, explore the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit, a proactive guide to implementing data-driven workflows that turn triggers into opportunity.Nexis+ AINexis Data+https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/why-trusted-data-is-new-competitive-edgeMon, 03 Nov 2025 18:18:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:0a29f5ea-e3fd-43a3-87ea-3e06e4d71a8fKristan BarczakAI is everywhere but credibility isn’t. With 80% of management consultants already using genAI tools in their daily work and over half saving three to four hours each day through AI integration, for many consulting firms, the question top of mind right now is whose AI can be trusted to deliver accurate, compliant results. That’s because the success of any AI tool ultimately depends on its foundation: data. Unverified, biased, or randomly gathered web content can produce impressive-sounding results but, unfortunately, unreliable ones. And in consulting, where decisions shape reputations and financial outcomes, reliability is everything. To build a sustainable advantage in the AI era, firms must focus on the credibility of their data as much as the capability of their models. The AI race is now a data-quality race Generative AI has transformed how consultants gather insight, summarize research, and prepare for client meetings. But as adoption grows, firms are discovering that data quality — not model performance — is the true differentiator. AI that relies on unverified content can misinterpret facts, amplify bias, or even generate fabricated information. The cost of an inaccurate client insight or flawed recommendation is both operational and reputational. As highlighted, in October 2025, when Deloitte Australia refunded the Albanese government after using hallucinated, 'non-compliant' AI findings in a $440,000 report. The fallout: financial and reputational damage to the firm. LexisNexis® AI-ready data helps consulting firms reduce the risk of AI-created errors. Through tools like Nexis+ AI™ and Nexis® Data+ , consultants gain access to publisher-approved, rights-managed data that delivers: Transparent , citation-backed outputs they can verify and share confidently Compliant, licensed sources that respect publisher rights Context-rich insight from global news, company, and financial data Explore how credible, compliant AI tools can support your firm’s risk governance in the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit . Turning credibility into a competitive edge Firms that validate every insight and recommendation can build stronger client trust and higher-value relationships. Partnering with AI systems, grounded in credible, compliant data can accelerate and even amplify that advantage. Credible data builds confidence: Clients can see and trust that insights are sourced from verifiable, authoritative licensed news and company data providers, not just the open web. Compliant data reduces exposure: Every analysis or model output aligns with privacy, copyright, and data-governance standards. Contextual data enhances judgment: Consultants gain nuanced understanding of the forces shaping client markets — not just surface-level summaries — thanks to integration of rich data sources like analyst reports and earning’s call transcripts into generated content By integrating Nexis+ AI into workflows, consultants identify strategic insights 50% faster — using the industry’s largest collection of news data approved by publishers for genAI use. The quality and accuracy of outputs are the top factors professionals use when selecting AI tools (78% of management consultants ranked this as their No. 1 priority) as found in the LexisNexis report, How Management Consultants are Leading the GenAI Revolution . The differentiator in AI adoption isn’t the technology itself but the quality, integrity, and governance of the data behind it. Turning risk into reliability The balance, between being quick, efficient and responsive paired with accuracy is made more difficult when working with AI systems fed unreliable data. Nexis Data+ addresses that challenge head-on by giving consulting firms direct API access to genAI-approved datasets that prioritize compliance and credibility. Available data includes: Licensed global news content — including CBS, CNN, Fox, The Boston Globe, and EuroNews Company and financial data from Morningstar , Dun & Bradstreet , Business Insider, and American Banker Due diligence data such as Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) lists, sanctions, and biographical directories like Marquis Who’s Who® This combination enables consultants to validate insights, manage reputational risk, and deliver outputs that withstand scrutiny, crucial in high-stakes client engagements. Learn how to integrate credible, compliant data into your firm’s AI strategy with the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit . The future belongs to firms that can prove their data As AI continues to evolve, consulting firms will need to demonstrate not only innovation, but integrity in how they manage and apply data. That means being able to answer three questions clients are already starting to ask: Where does your AI get its information? Can you verify its sources? Does it comply with privacy and copyright laws? If your firm can confidently answer “yes” to all three, you’re not just using AI effectively — you’re using it to create a highly strategic advantage. LexisNexis helps consultants do exactly that, providing the credible, compliant, and context-rich data that allows firms to innovate with confidence and stand behind every recommendation they make. Build your competitive advantage on credible AI With LexisNexis as your data partner, your firm can make trustworthy data a differentiator from other firms in the AI arms race. Because AI innovation that responsibly reduces compliance risk and strengths credibility is a win-win for firms and clients alike. Download the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit Learn how to strengthen data governance, reduce risk, and use credible AI to build lasting client trust.Future of WorkNexis+ AIhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/ai-ready-data-management-consultantsFri, 31 Oct 2025 13:10:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:940671e0-eaff-4adf-8572-9c739041264bCaleb MontgomerySee how Nexis+ AI ™ and Nexis Data+ ™ help management consultants power faster research, credible insights, and compliant AI innovation. As a management consultant, d ata is your competitive edge . W hether you’re uncovering new client opportunities, shaping strategy, or managing reputational risk , it can put you ahead of competitors, depending on what you find and how you use it. But not all data is created equal. To make confident, compliant decisions, firms need information that’s credible, transparent, and ready for AI. That’s where LexisNexis® tools , Nexis® Data+ , Nexis+ AI™ , can empower consultants to turn external market signals into strategy, foresight, and growth. Here’s how: 1. Spot emerging opportunities and trends faster with Nexis+ AI Consulting success heavily depends on being first to see a shift , to understand its impact, and first to act. Nexis+ AI helps consultants do that by transforming vast, complex data into immediate, credible intelligence . The platform helps consultants uncover early - stage opportunities by distilling thousands of global news stories, trade publications, and company updates into concise, citation - backed insights. Instead of spending hours scanning sources, consultants can use Nexis+ AI to quickly access licensed , publisher - approved content from trusted global sources and : Identify client and prospect trigger events, such as M&A activity, executive changes, or regulatory shifts Surface patterns across industries or regions that signal new client needs Generate tailored summaries that support business - development outreach or pitch preparation Nexis+ AI offers the industry’s largest collection of news data approved by publishers for genAI use*, which is one reason why c onsultants identify strategic insights 50% faster using Nexis+ AI . Because the content powering Nexis+ AI comes from licensed, publisher - approved data, firms can trust that generated research insights are based on verifiable, compliant information and not unreliable web content. * Based on reports August 2025. 2. Power smarter strategies with flexible, AI - ready data from Nexis Data+ While Nexis+ AI delivers fast intelligence, firms may want to take AI further and embed it into their own proprietary systems and workflows. Nexis Data+ makes that possible . By connect ing your organization directly to LexisNexis’ industry - leading, g enAI - approved data through APIs , Nexis Data+ lets you feed reliable intelligence straight into your own tools, dashboards, or l arge l anguage models (LLMs). This gives consultants and data teams the flexibility to design custom AI solutions tailored to their business needs without compromising on compliance or quality . With Nexis Data+, firms can: Build AI applications that combine internal knowledge with trusted LexisNexis licensed intelligence Train and fine - tuning LLMs using select sets of publisher - approved content E nable e nterprise - scale monitoring and analysis across clients, sectors, and geographies What’s included in Nexis Data+ LexisNexis provides two major categories of g enAI - ready data designed for consulting use cases . All content is cleared for g enAI use and delivered with r ich metadata , making it easier for your systems to interpret and act on information responsibly. 1. Licensed Global News Data Access thousands of publisher - approved news sources, including major outlets and trade publi cations across numerous regions and industries. This content is completely rights - managed for AI use and enriched for easy integration into reasoning models or dashboards. Examples include: Major news outlets: CBS, CNN, Fox, The Boston Globe , EuroNews Industry journals: Aviation Week , Advertising Age , Insurance Journal Global wires: Associated Press, PR Newswire, GlobeNewswire 2. Comprehensive Company and Financial Data Access detailed company profiles, executive biographies, and financial data from authoritative providers , ideal for due diligence, market mapping, and strategic analysis. Notable sources include: Morningstar and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) for corporate structures and financials Business Insider, AlphaStreet, and American Banker for market performance and sector insights TheStreet.com and Private Equity Wire for investment and financial trend analysis By integrating these datasets via Nexis Data+, consulting firms can enrich client deliverables, and scale innovation. GenAI is only as powerful as the data behind it, therefore, LexisNexis ensures every dataset delivered through Nexis Data+ is credible, co mpliant, and citation - ready, giving consultants confidence that their AI - powered insights are auditable, and defensible. 3. Reduce reputational and compliance risk through credible due diligence data Clients rely on consultants to help them navigate risk — and increasingly, that includes AI - driven due diligence. Nexis Data+ enables firms to quickly screen and assess potential clients, partners, and markets using authoritative people and risk datasets built for compliance. Available datasets include: Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and sanctions lists Watchlists, blacklists, and disqualified - director databases Biographical sources such as Marquis Who’s Who® and The Official Board Biographies Integrating these datasets into your AI or analytics environment allows teams to : Detect emerging red flags before onboarding clients Monitor reputation and ESG - related risk across portfolios Strengthen advisory credibility with verified, auditable data With LexisNexis as your data partner, you can deliver insights that meet both regulatory expectations and client trust standards — reducing exposure while enhancing confidence. Why data quality is the foundation of credible AI Whether you’re deploying an out - of - the - box solution like Nexis+ AI or building your own systems with Nexis Data+ , the quality of your data determines the quality of your results. Relying on unverified content introduces bias, inaccuracies, and compliance risk. By contrast, LexisNexis provides: C redibility through a uthoritative, citation - backed sources C ompliance with f ully licensed, rights - managed content S ecurity ensured by r obust safeguards for data use and privacy S ustainability via f air publisher partnerships ensuring long - term access That’s how consultants can confidently harness AI to strengthen governance, drive growth, and maintain the professional integrity their clients expect. Build your firm’s future on credible AI As AI transforms consulting, the firms that lead will be those that trust their data as much as their people. LexisNexis helps you ground every insight, decision, and strategy in credible, compliant, and context - rich information. Download the Credible AI Strategy Toolkit Learn how to strengthen your data governance, accelerate AI adoption, and turn information into intelligent business development.https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/holiday-giving-season-surge-Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:19:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:2000ca9e-3a70-4354-999f-b1bc804919a5MelanieRAs the calendar winds down and the year comes to an end, nonprofits and philanthropic causes see a significant surge in donations—with December 30th and 31st consistently ranking among the biggest giving days of the year. This phenomenon is known as Giving Season. In this article, we'll explore how much giving increases at the of the year and discuss factors that contribute to this increase. For nonprofits, this information can help you prepare to fundraise during the happiest—and most generous—time of year. How much do year-end donations surge? According to Neon One , nonprofits raise between 24% and 47% of their annual online revenue during November and December, with as much as 40% of all one-time online donations occurring in December alone. On a broader scale, Giving USA’s 2025 report found that U.S. charitable giving reached $592.5 billion in 2024, a 6.3% increase over the previous year — showing that generosity continues to grow even amid shifting economic conditions. The Charities Aid Foundation’s UK Giving Report 2025 found that while total donations are rising, the number of people giving has fallen—from 58% in 2019 to 50% in 2025— highlighting the need for stronger donor engagement and retention strategies. Several key events and motivations come together at the end of the year to drive the increase in total donations, such as the below: 1. The influence of Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday , celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, has become a global movement encouraging generosity. Initiated in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, this day harnesses the collective power of social media and collaboration. Here’s why it’s impactful: Coordinated outreach: Nonprofits across the globe participate in unified campaigns, using email, social media, and digital storytelling to reach new donors. Matching gifts and challenges: Many organizations and corporations offer to match donations, doubling or tripling individual impact. Community engagement: The spirit of collective giving motivates people to share their own stories and encourage others to join in. Recurring giving also continues to rise, providing nonprofits with more predictable revenue. In fact, monthly and recurring gifts now make up about 31% of total online giving , according to Business Initiative’s 2025 Fundraising Trends report . 2. The holiday spirit The holiday season in the US, stretches from Thanksgiving through to New Year’s, naturally encourages reflection, gratitude, and generosity. A few key factors make this time of year especially meaningful for donors: Emotional connection : The holidays inspire compassion and a desire to help others. Emotional connection is especially effective when donors feel aligned with a nonprofit's values. Cultural and religious traditions : Many faiths and cultures emphasize giving during this period, whether through charity, volunteering, or supporting local communities. Gift-giving mindset : As people shop for friends and family, they’re often more open to spending—including on charitable causes that align with their values. The emotional appeal of this period also plays out online: Neon One reports that donor conversion rates during Giving Season are 50–70% higher than in other months, proving that timing and sentiment matter. 3. End-of-year tax considerations The end of the calendar year also marks the end of the fiscal tax year in the United States, which has significant implications for donors, especially those making substantial contributions. Tax deductions : Charitable donations can be deducted from taxable income, reducing the amount of taxes owed. This is a crucial incentive for many donors, especially high-net-worth individuals and corporations . Financial planning : Many donors review finances at year-end to maximize deductions and align philanthropy with broader goals. Year-end bonuses and windfalls : Extra income from bonuses or profits provides opportunities to give back while balancing tax obligations. Even with evolving tax laws, the desire to make meaningful contributions before December 31 remains strong, with many donors making last-minute online gifts in the final 72 hours of the year. MORE: How donor prospecting technology can help you raise more funds this Giving Season Leverage the year-end surge in your donation strategy The final months of the year are a unique moment for nonprofits. Between Giving Tuesday, the holiday spirit, and year-end tax benefits, donors are more inclined than ever to give back. Many supporters are looking for meaningful ways to make an impact before the calendar resets—whether that’s through charitable donations, volunteer hours, or community engagement. For nonprofits, understanding these motivations is key to crafting fundraising campaigns that resonate. When you connect your mission to the emotional and financial incentives of this season, you meet donors where they are most inspired to act. By harnessing these factors—and combining them with data-driven insights—organizations can do more than simply meet year-end goals. They can identify high-value prospects, re-engage lapsed donors, and personalize outreach to deepen long-term relationships. With the right tools to analyze donor behavior and communication preferences, nonprofits can turn the season of giving into a sustained culture of generosity that lasts well beyond December. Explore Batch Services Maximize your Giving Season campaign with better data Kick off Giving Season with accurate, complete donor information. Tools like LexisNexis Batch Services can help verify contact details, append missing information, and uncover valuable insights that strengthen your fundraising strategy— often within 24 hours . Reliable data ensures every communication feels personal, relevant, and primed to inspire generosity. Demo Batch ServicesNexis for Development ProfessionalsNexis for Nonprofitshttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/history-giving-tuesdayMon, 27 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:d77b4a5f-bc2d-4ff3-957d-03866fbc6a62MelanieRIn the weeks before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, the buzz around Black Friday and Cyber Monday often takes center stage. But one global movement is working overtime to shift the focus from consumerism to generosity. Reaffirming what the holiday season should mean, Giving Tuesday reminds us that giving is something that should be celebrated. Each year, nonprofits, donors, and communities come together on this day to inspire giving, volunteering, and collective impact. Beyond the single-day event, Giving Tuesday offers valuable lessons in collaboration, storytelling, and community building that can be used year-round. In this article, we'll explore the history of Giving Tuesday, plus provide campaign tips for nonprofits during the giving season. In this guide: What is Giving Tuesday? The history behind Giving Tuesday Tips for your next fundraising campaign How to keep the momentum going all year How to prepare your donor data for giving season What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday (often known in viral spaces as #GivingTuesday) is a global generosity movement that encourages people everywhere to give, collaborate, and celebrate kindness. It takes place annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. The idea is simple but powerful: After several days of shopping and sales, people are invited to shift their focus (and wallets) away from consumption and toward contribution and community. That may look like donating to a nonprofit, with personal time or financially, or performing various acts of kindness. According to GivingTuesday.org , participants across more than 90 countries take part each year, raising billions of dollars and inspiring millions of acts of generosity. It’s now recognized as one of the most important days of the year for nonprofits to engage supporters and kick off year-end fundraising efforts. MORE : How to optimize peer-to-peer fundraising during Giving Season The history behind Giving Tuesday Black Friday, established in the 1960s, is widely recognized as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Cyber Monday followed in 2005, and Small Business Saturday soon after. But by 2012, two organizations— the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation —saw an opportunity to balance the growing culture of consumption with a day devoted to giving. That year, they launched the first #GivingTuesday as a social media campaign encouraging people to give back in any way they could. The campaign quickly gained traction, spreading across social media and other platforms as individuals, nonprofits, and organizations shared the hashtag #GivingTuesday to promote causes close to their hearts. In its first year, the campaign raised over $10 million in donations. Over the years, the movement has transformed into a global celebration of generosity, uniting people in more than 90 countries. By 2023, Giving Tuesday inspired more than $3.1 billion in donations across the U.S. alone, according to the GivingTuesday Data Commons. Though impressive, its real power goes far beyond numbers. It has become a reminder that kindness, collaboration, and community spirit can transcend borders and that giving doesn’t require wealth, only willingness. 5 tips for your next Giving Tuesday campaign 1) Tap into year-end generosity and spirit November and December are the busiest giving months of the year , and Giving Tuesday kicks off this season of generosity. The day offers the perfect opportunity to remind supporters of your impact and inspire people simply looking to give to take action while giving (and potential tax benefits) is top of mind. Research from Neon One shows that nonprofits raise between 24% and 47% of their annual online revenue during November and December alone. That makes Giving Tuesday the perfect moment to capture early momentum, build community excitement, and set the tone for a strong year-end giving season. 2) Build a message around community One of the reasons Giving Tuesday has been so successful is because it united nonprofits under a shared brand rather than competing messages. It invited and encouraged everyone to participate under one core message. The Giving Tuesday logo and hashtag are free to use and adapt, encouraging collaboration, inclusion, accessibility and creativity. Your organization can embrace this same spirit by: Customizing the Giving Tuesday heart logo to match your brand colors Collaborating with community partners to build local awareness Co-hosting an in-person or virtual event Download the Giving Tuesday logo for your campaign When everyone works toward a collective goal, many people benefit and the message resonates a lot louder and further. 3) Leverage partnerships for greater impact Partnerships are key to Giving Tuesday. Organizations, small businesses, and even local influencers can amplify your message through matching donations, employee giving drives, or sponsored challenges. Invite small businesses to contribute a percentage of sales or individuals might offer professional services pro bono. These collaborations create momentum, increase visibility, and multiply the power of generosity. 4) Engage supporters across multiple channels Even though Giving Tuesday lasts just one day, multichannel campaigns help sustain momentum and reach new audiences. Post videos on social media showing the real-world impact of donations Send countdown emails leading up to the big day Host a livestream or volunteer Q&A Encourage peer-to-peer fundraisers to share personal stories Combining digital outreach with authentic storytelling can dramatically boost engagement and create emotional connections that last beyond Giving Tuesday. 5) Ensure your donor data is up-to-date An effective Giving Tuesday campaign starts with accurate, complete donor information. Outdated or duplicate records can lead to missed connections and wasted outreach efforts. Before launching your campaign, take time to clean and enrich your donor database so your messages reach the right people with the right appeal. Tools like LexisNexis Batch Services can help verify contact details, append missing information, and uncover valuable insights that strengthen your fundraising strategy. Reliable data ensures every communication feels personal, relevant, and primed to inspire generosity. Explore Batch Services Keep the momentum going after Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday may mark a single day of generosity, but the relationships and inspiration it creates should last all year. Turning that one-day success into sustained engagement is how nonprofits build lasting impact. Some ways to engage donors year-round include: 1) Thank your donors and show their impact Start by expressing genuine gratitude. Send thank-you messages promptly, share results publicly, and highlight the difference your supporters made. Whether it’s a social post, an email, or a short video, showing the real-world impact of each donation reinforces trust and deepens connection. Transparency and consistency are key to building long-term relationships. A strong reputation helps your organization stand out and encourages continued support—especially during high-visibility moments like Giving Tuesday. 2) Promote peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities The average peer-to-peer campaign raises $22,026 , making it an extremely effective way to fundraise. Consider asking your community members to create DIY fundraising campaigns that replace holiday gifts. They could highlight personal stories from the individuals your organization serves or just personalize the landing page, explaining why they’re passionate about the cause. 3) Engage supporters year-round Host small events, volunteer spotlights, or impact updates throughout the year. Whether it’s a spring 5K, a summer panel, or a digital gratitude campaign, these touchpoints remind your community that generosity goes beyond a season. Expanding your reach is easier when you know where your audience is engaging online. Tools like media monitoring can help your nonprofit identify partnership opportunities, track campaign performance, and measure visibility over time. Post videos where donors tell meaningful stories about the organization, host a volunteer Q&A on X, or use graphics and testimonials to quantify the impact donations have. What does music programming mean for underserved students? How many meals can a $50 donation fund for unhoused youth? 4) Monitor your social media mentions to track your reach While creating content and maintaining a social media feed can already feel like a daunting task, it’s important to use social media analytics and tracking to understand your impact and maximize your efforts. Consider a social media analytics program like Nexis Social Analytics that provides data visualizations for virality mapping and hashtag tracking. It compiles data from ten social media networks and over one hundred and fifty million web sites, so you can focus on “social listening,” to hear what people are saying about your brand. This will help you understand just how far your campaign is reaching. MORE : How donor prospecting technology can streamline your Giving Season workflow 5) Use data to refine your future campaigns Every Giving Tuesday provides valuable insights. Take time to analyze your results, look at which channels drove engagement, which stories resonated most, and what inspired first-time donors to give. Understanding these patterns will help you strengthen your next campaign and build a more intentional year-round strategy. Consider holding a post-campaign debrief to discuss successes and opportunities for improvement. Tools that analyze donor behavior and online activity can uncover new prospects and trends. Prepare your donor data for Giving Tuesday An effective Giving Tuesday campaign starts with accurate, complete donor information. Outdated or duplicate records can lead to missed connections and wasted outreach efforts. Before launching your campaign, take time to clean and enrich your donor database so your messages reach the right people with the right appeal. Tools like LexisNexis Batch Services can help verify contact details, append missing information, and uncover valuable insights that strengthen your fundraising strategy— often within 24 hours . Reliable data ensures every communication feels personal, relevant, and primed to inspire generosity. Demo Batch ServicesNexis for Development Professionalshttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/resources/b/brochures/posts/batch-services-for-unions-brochureTue, 21 Oct 2025 18:11:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:20e3b139-2c7f-475e-858a-d676964fe955Kristan BarczakYour membership database is one of your most valuable assets—but its impact depends on the accuracy and completeness of the information it contains. Download the brochure to see how LexisNexis Batch Services can help unions keep member records reliable, current, and enriched with meaningful insights.https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/resources/b/brochures/posts/batch-services-for-nonprofits-brochureTue, 21 Oct 2025 13:58:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:d53ce390-4730-42bd-acdb-f5e621ca9bf0Kristan BarczakYour donor database is one of your most valuable assets—but its impact depends on the accuracy and completeness of the information it contains. Download the brochure to see how LexisNexis Batch Services helps nonprofits strengthen connections and expand their reach by ensuring every record is reliable, current, and enriched with meaningful insights.Nexis for Development Professionalshttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/market-size-and-competitor-dataTue, 07 Oct 2025 12:41:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:4cd5c3d6-3444-4993-9187-5bca321d8ab2MelanieRBusiness consultants know that good strategy starts with good data. Whether you’re advising on market entry, growth opportunities, or competitive positioning, clients expect your recommendations to be grounded in reliable market size and competitor data . But finding trustworthy sources isn’t always straightforward. Poor-quality or incomplete data can misguide strategy, erode trust, and ultimately cost your clients money. This becomes even more critical as consultants adopt more AI-powered tools . Reliable, credible data isn’t just fuel for analysis—it’s also what ensures AI-generated insights are accurate, relevant, and actionable. In this guide, we’ll cover: Why unreliable data can derail strategic decision-making and AI-driven insights How to evaluate the credibility of third-party data providers The most trusted types of market size and competitor data sources How to learn more about credible data and AI Frequently asked questions Risks of unreliable market data When consultants use flawed or incomplete data to advise clients, the impact goes beyond a single bad chart. It can ripple across strategic initiatives—and if the flawed data is fueling your GenAI models , it can scale bad decisions at lightning speed. Bottom line: Garbage in, garbage out. If you're feeding your analysis with poor data, your consulting research will suffer. Consequences of using bad data in your AI models: Perpetuated biases: Poor quality data can reflect hidden biases, leading to distorted market views and flawed AI-generated outputs . Damaged reputation: If you recommend a strategy based on biased or incorrect data, you can undermine your reputation as a trusted advisor. Misinformation: Without validation, market "facts" may spread unchecked, weakening confidence in your recommendations and any AI tools you deploy. Strategic misalignment: Misleading market size estimates or outdated competitor data can cause clients to invest in the wrong markets. Wasted Resources: Inaccurate data leads to misguided allocation of time, budget, and talent. Every client engagement is an opportunity to demonstrate expertise. To succeed, you need trusted, verifiable data sources that can power both human analysis and AI systems. Download the Credible AI Toolkit What to look for in reliable market size and competitor data Market size and competitor data can come from multiple sources—free and paid. Regardless of where you get data (and how much you pay for it), it should be accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy. If you're planning to incorporate third party data in your in-house AI models, it also needs to be structured appropriately and licensed for generative AI usage. Below are a checklist of criteria to use when evaluating third party data partners: Breadth of sources: Look for providers that pull from a variety of global, reputable outlets—financial reports, regulatory filings, industry publications, and verified company data. Data volume and timeliness: Reliable market size estimates require both historical depth and up-to-date signals to identify emerging trends. Data enrichment and structure: Metadata such as industry tags, geographic segmentation, and sentiment analysis improves usability and insight extraction for both consultants and AI models. Transparency in methodology: Ethical third-party providers should explain how data is aggregated, cleaned, and validated. If they can’t show their process, that’s a red flag. Consistency and accuracy: Trusted data providers offer mechanisms to reduce duplication, filter out errors, and cross-reference multiple sources. Trusted sources for market size and competitor data Where do consultants find reliable market size and competitor data? The most effective strategies combine multiple categories of sources: Market research firms: Providers such as Gartner, Forrester, or IDC deliver in-depth reports on industry growth and competitive landscapes. Financial and company data: Tools that aggregate earnings reports, investment data, and private company information provide competitive intelligence. Regulatory and legal filings: Government databases and regulatory disclosures add credibility and transparency to market analyses. News and media monitoring: Curated feeds of company announcements, M&A activity, and product launches can reveal competitive shifts. Third-Party data aggregators: Comprehensive providers integrate multiple data types—financial, legal, biographical, regulatory, and industry-specific—into enriched, structured datasets ready for analysis or AI consumption. Explore LexisNexis Data Sets By combining these sources, consultants can offer clients a 360° market view grounded in accurate, validated intelligence and confidently power AI tools with trustworthy inputs. Learn more about using a trusted data provider As a consultant, your value lies in delivering insights clients can trust. That starts with knowing where to find reliable market size and competitor data (and which sources to avoid) Aligning with proven third-party data providers ensures that your recommendations rest on a foundation of accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. It also safeguards your use of AI by ensuring the systems you deploy are trained and fueled with credible inputs. The result? Stronger strategies, smarter AI outputs, more confident clients, and a reputation for rigor in a world where data-driven decision-making is non-negotiable. Want to learn more about fueling credible AI models? Download the free toolkit offered by LexisNexis. Download the Credible AI Toolkit Frequently asked questions Where do consultants usually find reliable market size data? Consultants often combine market research reports, company filings, financial data providers, and third-party aggregators to build an accurate picture of market size and dynamics. These sources also provide the kind of structured data that can support reliable AI models. What is the most reliable competitor data source? There isn’t a single “best” source. The most reliable competitor insights come from cross-referencing multiple streams: financial data, industry news, regulatory filings, and private company databases. When integrated, these datasets create strong inputs for AI tools that consultants may use. How can I evaluate whether a data provider is trustworthy? Check for transparency in methodology, breadth of sources, frequency of updates, and whether the provider offers enriched and structured datasets. If the process is unclear, the data may not be reliable—and it may not be safe to use for AI. Why is using poor-quality data risky for consultants? Bad data can distort market sizing, mislead client strategies, and damage your reputation as an advisor. It also risks corrupting AI outputs, since AI systems can only be as strong as the data that fuels them.Artificial IntelligenceBusiness Researchhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/solutions/posts/how-to-conduct-better-consulting-researchFri, 03 Oct 2025 15:43:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:52a7382d-60b5-4911-9a71-b1a3c320acabFormer MemberConsulting covers a wide spectrum of work—from social media strategy to financial analytics—but one constant remains: No consultant can succeed without high-quality research. Strong consulting research goes beyond a quick Google search, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes embedded in the day-to-day life of a consultant . So how can you become the best in the consulting industry ? AI is transforming the way consultants gather, analyze, and present information. Tools powered by AI can scan massive datasets in seconds, surface patterns humans might overlook, and generate polished drafts of reports. However, AI’s effectiveness depends entirely on the credibility of the data feeding it. If AI is trained on biased, outdated, or incomplete sources, the insights it produces can be misleading. Consultants must therefore act as informed gatekeepers—leveraging AI for efficiency while ensuring that only trustworthy, verifiable information shapes client strategies. In this guide, we’ll walk through 7 ways you can conduct consulting research, especially if you're using AI as a partner. You’ll learn how to define objectives, source credible data, analyze competitors, and turn AI-driven research into reports that strengthen your client strategies. Table of Contents: Define clear research objectives Use credible data Look beyond headlines (+ how to handle paywalls) Conduct competitive analyses Make market research applicable Create thorough, but digestible reports Continuously improve Download: The Credible AI Toolkit Tip 1: Define clear research objectives Every effective consulting research process starts with clarity. Before gathering data, consultants must understand exactly what clients need and how the findings will be used. For example, if a healthcare client requests market research, it's critical to clarify specifics: Do they want consumer preferences? Competitor product landscapes? Regulatory shifts? All three or something else not listed? Each goal would demand a very different approach. By defining research objectives up front, consultants set a clear path and avoid wasting time on irrelevant information. Bottom Line: Clear objectives ensure research is focused, efficient, and directly tied to client goals. MORE : Tactical intelligence versus strategic competitive intelligence Tip 2: Use the right data Not all information online is reliable—and in consulting, credibility matters. Relying only on open web searches can expose consultants to biased, outdated, or incomplete data. Instead, prioritize credible, verified data sources . Specialized databases aggregate thousands of news archives, journals, and reports, offering broader coverage than a simple search engine. Generative AI tools can quickly parse through licensed data to reveal the most relevant and trustworthy insights. MORE: Why AI projects fail What is credible data? Credible data is information that comes from authoritative, verifiable, and unbiased sources. It’s current, accurate, and complete enough to stand up to scrutiny. In the context of AI tools, credibility becomes even more crucial. AI can amplify errors if it draws from unreliable datasets, producing polished but misleading outputs. For consultants, this is risky—clients base strategies on these insights. That’s why pairing AI tools with carefully vetted databases ensures both speed and accuracy. In practice, consultants should check for: Source authority (Is it a reputable publication, academic study, or verified database?) Timeliness (How current is the information?) Contextual accuracy (Does the data align with multiple sources, or is it an outlier?) Bias detection (Is there an agenda influencing how the data is presented?) The bottom line: The quality of your consulting research depends directly on the quality of your data. Make credibility your first filter. Download the Credible AI Toolkit Tip 3: Look beyond the headlines Clickbait headlines and surface-level summaries rarely tell the full story. To deliver reliable business insights , consultants must go deeper—reading entire articles, cross-referencing multiple sources, and verifying quotes or statistics in context. What about paywalls? Research can be cut short by paywalls blocking access to valuable material. If this happens to you often, it's potentially worth the investment into a comprehensive research platform that provides up-front access to full-text archives. Bottom Line: Don’t stop at summaries—deep reading and validation protect against misinformation and incomplete analysis. Tip 4: Conduct in-depth industry and competitive analysis Once credible data is gathered, the next step is analysis—particularly understanding the competitive landscape. A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is a proven framework for distilling insights about both clients and competitors. Since no consultant has access to every piece of private company data, the goal is to combine public sources with curated databases to form the most complete picture possible. Setting up alerts for key competitors ensures that consultants can track new developments in real time. Bottom Line: Competitive analysis reveals hidden opportunities and equips clients with sharper, evidence-backed strategies. Tip 5: Apply research to consulting client needs Collecting data is only half the battle. Tailoring insights to client objectives is where consultants add true value. This is where market research in consulting becomes highly practical. For instance, a consultant may have found that a financial advisor’s competitors have larger followings than they do on social media. The consultant might dive into what gains are coming from that competitor's social media strategy, such as an increase in new customers or a greater trust for the brand across the board. If the results are meaningful, they may suggest improvements to their client's social media approach. This kind of strategy would help the client to focus on the more lucrative, successful paths forward so that they can best allocate funds and staffing. Bottom Line: Customizing research insights to client needs ensures findings lead to actionable strategies and measurable results. MORE : Managing collaboration and communication in research Tip 6: Create and share valuable consulting reports Data without communication is wasted. Consultants must be able to package findings into clear, digestible reports that guide client decision-making. Tools like Nexis+ AI™ Collect and Draft streamline this process by compiling research and automatically generating reports. Whether using software or manual methods, the goal is to turn raw data into an actionable narrative. Learn more about Collect and Draft: When sharing results, avoid jargon. Instead, explain key concepts in plain language so all stakeholders can understand. A strong consulting research report does more than present data—it inspires action. Bottom Line: Great reports turn complex data into clear insights that clients can act on with confidence. Tip 7: Continuously improve your consulting research process Research in consulting isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing practice. Staying current with new data sources, tools, and methodologies helps consultants maintain an edge. Equally important is refining internal processes: organizing data efficiently, collaborating across teams, and updating frameworks like SWOT or industry benchmarking. The more repeatable and scalable your research process becomes, the more value you can deliver to every client. Bottom Line: Treat consulting research as a living process—one that evolves with tools, trends, and client needs. Key Takeaways Start with clear research objectives tied to client goals. Prioritize credible data over quick web searches. Go beyond headlines to verify and contextualize findings. Use competitive analysis frameworks like SWOT to uncover opportunities. Apply market research directly to client needs for actionable results. Package insights into clear, client-friendly research reports. Continuously improve your consulting research process to stay ahead. Learn how the right data can support your consulting research The best consultants deliver the best research, backed by data that's comprehensive, up-to-date, and accurate. AI can speed up your research process, but it can hurt your consulting firm in the long-run if your AI isn't retrieving credible data. Need help evaluating your research tools and data sources? Download the free Credible AI toolkit , created by LexisNexis specifically for the professional services industry. Download the Credible AI Toolkit Explore Nexis+ AINexis for ConsultingBusiness ResearchNexishttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/b/industry-insights/posts/change-management-workflowFri, 26 Sep 2025 07:20:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:f559b55e-491e-4611-9547-853aa3a2741eMelanieRChange management is a crucial, yet daunting, part of a company’s life cycle. Whether it’s in response to exciting growth or disappointing pitfalls, adaptation is often necessary when it comes to moving forward, and the need to adapt is only increasing as the marketplace becomes more unpredictable. Change management is especially important when it comes to research. Research teams are often shifting their day-to-day workflow habits based on new modalities that promise to make their lives a little easier, but a lot can get lost in the gaps if there isn’t something to assist in that shift. Here, we outline why a change management strategy is essential for researchers, steps to begin your change management process, and how technology can make the transition as efficient as possible. Why change management is necessary for researchers With the ever-expanding breadth of information, companies must frequently implement change in how they do research. Finding, collecting, and organizing data is a lofty task that is slowly becoming easier through new technology. Companies who rely on research as a part of their business model benefit from learning about new research tools because they ultimately save time and resources by leaning on new technology. But these new methods are not adopted overnight. As such, these newer innovations drive a need for change management within research-focused teams. When an easier tool is identified, companies will need to identify the ways in which to shift workers from their old habits to this newer method. The time it takes to onboard employees is certainly worthwhile, though, as new tools will bring forth a great deal of benefits, like eliminating mundane tasks and allowing companies to focus more on strategy. MORE : How to choose the right workflow technology for your company Documenting research workflows Of course, the first step to change management is identifying what the current processes look like. Documenting workflows by having the research team report their typical methods helps leaders understand where things are getting deleted, which leads to discovering ways to speed up and simplifying the research workflow in the long run. Developing a good baseline understanding of the ins and outs of each researcher’s current methodology can also help leaders take one positive practice from one team and apply it to the rest of the organization. This kind of documentation can be done using third-party project management tool like Asana or can be recorded manually, through speaking with each teammate about their own approach. It’s typically easier and more robust to use a software program as it will track research workflow in real time. These tools can compile will deliver reports on the time taken to accomplish tasks and insight on where the task was caught up, so companies can get greater insight. Organize and maintain research workflow documentation One big hurdle in the research process is understanding how to best store, synthesize, and share key findings across a team. This is where a research hub is critical: tools like Collect and Draft from Nexis+ AI™ allow users to highlight and store data, including metadata, directly from a web page instead of needing to manually save findings. And, data collection is platform agnostic, so you can keep your findings and research with you regardless of source. This is particularly useful if you are moving from relying on the open web for research to a specialized database or if you are using a variety of data providers to collect information. Here are some best practices for documentation: Always store data in a safe, accessible place where it remains private but is not easily deleted. Ensure that data points are stored side-by-side with the information on the source they came from, so fact checkers can easily see if those points are accurate. Don’t over-rely on one source for your data. Share data across your team so that you don’t “double up” on the work, having two employees dive into the same article. The clearer your documentation is, the more time you save searching for quotes or reviewing data. This will ultimately save you valuable resources throughout your business projects. MORE : Creating a prioritization system to avoid unnecessary task switching during research Ensuring smooth implementation of research workflow changes Once the new research workflow has been crafted, it’s important to have a smooth rollout that makes every employee feel ready to adapt. Here are some key steps to consider when rolling out change: Test and pilot research tools beforehand. Have a few volunteers take early trainings of the new tools so that they can provide accurate, company-specific feedback to see if this will really be useful across the board. Dedicate time and staff to helping employees onboard onto their new tool. Host frequent training sessions and offer plenty of spaces for employees to ask questions about the software until they feel comfortable. Brace for unforeseen implementation challenges by having technologically savvy employees at the ready to help their coworkers with onboarding and specific questions. Many companies dedicate a few IT workers to this task so that employees have an internal number to call when issues arise. Evaluate and refine the changes after they are implemented. Do not assume that a new workflow will automatically be successful, instead brace for there to be areas for growth and update accordingly. Strategies for effective communication throughout the change process The most important part of workflow is communication and collaboration , which is a major benefit of using third-party hub tools. Teams can use hub tools to better communicate and share their own research and insights, while maintaining one central, easy-to-access location for all of their work. This decreases the need for meetings, improves overall visibility, and creates a faster-paced, more effective workflow. Without a central place to visualize this progress, a company’s efficient workflow process loses much of its power: teammates left in the dark will still be less productive than they would if they had access to a streamlined data hub. MORE : The hidden cost of tab switching Monitoring progress and identifying challenges in research workflow change management After the new workflow has been implemented across an organization, it’s crucial to monitor and document the adaptation of those strategies. For instance, employees could have regular check-ins with stakeholders where they report on their own personal experiences with the new tools. These regular evaluations can help a company continually refine workflow and understand if their new change is even effective. There might be unforeseen challenges raised—like technology hurdles or change resistance—that need to be addressed before assuming the change is successful. Proactive problem-solving and addressing research challenges Companies can make use of regular team meetings and ongoing training sessions to make sure that their employees are actively using the new workflow tools. This can be done hand-in-hand with a third-party: consider checking user data through the software or bringing a representative in for refresher courses. The first new workflow implemented will likely still have some hiccups—beyond simple user error or training lags—so monitoring bottle necks in the workflow and receiving regular feedback from employees is critical to getting ahead of any major challenges. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your researchers feel like any new tool is helping them do their research. After all, implementing a more efficient technology is not useful if researchers are still losing time to searching for information or compiling lists of data. Check in with your team to ensure that any change is increasing their productivity so your researchers can spend more time analyzing content to make a big impact. Streamline your research and make your change management more efficient One of the biggest hurdles to efficient workflow is proactively communicating change management processes. Even if individual researchers have effective routines, that progress is stilled if it there is a lack of communication or if procedures aren’t cohesive. Moreover, if employees are resistant to change for fear of losing copious amounts of data, it can be hard to convince employees to buy into the change in the first place. As you’re trying to keep up with the pace of industry changes, technology is just one way to improve your change management systems to expedite your research workflow. Using a tool to collect and organize data from multiple sources means you never risk lost research due to a change of platform. By organizing all your research in a single location, you’ll have a holistic view that makes it easier to notice trends, identify key insights, and prioritize what to highlight in your reports. Not to mention, saving you time and effort is exactly why you wanted to make a change in the first place. Explore Nexis+ AIWorkflowNexis+ AIBusiness Researchhttps://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/professional/resources/b/checklists/posts/tiered-donor-due-diligence-checklistTue, 23 Sep 2025 17:40:00 GMT39668f7f-eeae-45ef-a75f-231f85198c72:19e8a0f2-c71b-438f-9d47-6bd3fabedeedKristan BarczakThis checklist provides a practical framework for applying tiered due diligence to donor relationships. Adopt a unique framework for three levels of risk: Checkpoint (low-risk, local donations) Survey (moderate-risk, recurring donors) Expedition (high-risk or major gifts) See the key reviews and verifications appropriate for each level of donor risk. Within each tier, you’ll find clear steps for assessing: Identity Funding sources Reputation Mission alignment Compliance Visibility Geographic risk Monitoring requirements Whether you’re screening a small one-time gift or evaluating a major global donor, this tool helps ensure your organization stays aligned with its mission while building a defensible, audit-ready due diligence process.Nexis for Development Professionals