With advancements in artificial intelligence—used by 78% of organizations in 2024—it’s easy to assume this technology can solve nearly any problem faster and more accurately than humans. After all, algorithms can process millions of data points in seconds, pulling insights from labor statistics, tax incentives, and logistics networks that once took weeks to compile.
But when it comes to site selection, data only tells part of the story. Deciding where to locate your next facility or expansion requires more than just numbers. It also involves people, culture, and context.
That is where experience matters. At WDG Consulting, we combine advanced analytics with half a century of collective experience in corporate location strategy. Our consultants know that successful site selection requires both precision and perspective—technology informs, but human insight decides.
Why Data Alone Is Not Enough
Artificial intelligence has transformed how companies gather and analyze information. It can instantly rank regions by cost, labor availability, and transportation access. Yet the best site on paper is not always the best site in practice.
A data model might flag a location for its affordability, but what if local workforce turnover is high? What if the labor market is already competitively saturated with similar employers, or community infrastructure can’t scale with your projected growth?
These are the nuances a spreadsheet cannot interpret. Experienced consultants read between the data points, recognizing the human and operational factors that make or break a location decision.
At WDGC, we have seen clients nearly commit to “data-perfect” sites that failed real-world tests during our field validation process. Through on-the-ground research and direct engagement with local stakeholders, we uncover insights no algorithm can predict.
The WDGC Advantage: Data With Context
WDG Consulting believes in the power of data, but also in the importance of context. Our proprietary databases aggregate standardized information on labor, cost, infrastructure, and other factors across metros, counties, and commute zones. Yet our consultants go beyond numbers by ascertaining how well each area will maximize operational performance within acceptable cost parameters over the long haul. This interpretative analysis is essential before committing valuable resources for establishing new or expanded operations: what does the data mean relative to sustaining the key operational needs of the business.
This approach allows us to answer the questions that automation cannot, such as:
- How stable and competitive is the local workforce?
- What are the community’s long-term economic priorities?
- How might changes in regulations or incentives impact your investment in five years?
Our site selection consultants balance quantitative analysis with qualitative intelligence. This ensures our clients not only find a site that fits their operational requirements but also one that supports long-term growth and stability.
Where Consultants Outperform Automation
Understanding People, Not Just Data
AI can identify available talent, but consultants understand people. We evaluate work culture, commute patterns, and community values that influence recruitment and retention. The best workforce is not just about availability; it is about alignment with your company’s mission and culture.
Balancing Risk and Opportunity
Algorithms may rank sites by numerical score, but they cannot account for local political climates, infrastructure plans, or emerging industry clusters. Human consultants can anticipate these shifts, helping clients weigh short-term cost savings against long-term risk.
Negotiating Incentives and Building Relationships
Data cannot negotiate on your behalf. WDGC’s consultants leverage long-standing relationships with economic development organizations, utility providers, and government agencies to secure the best incentive packages for our clients. These partnerships often lead to opportunities that would not exist without human connection.
Ensuring Objectivity and Confidentiality
WDGC operates independently of real estate transactions, which means our clients receive unbiased recommendations focused solely on their success. AI-driven platforms or incentive databases cannot offer the same level of discretion, context, or personal accountability.
Experience You Cannot Automate
WDG Consulting’s principals each bring 50 years of combined experience in site selection, relocation feasibility, and incentive negotiation. Over the decades, we have advised corporations across industries—from manufacturing and logistics to technology and professional services—on some of their most significant location decisions.
Our team has seen markets evolve, policies shift, and industries reinvent themselves. That history gives us perspective: we understand how trends that look promising today might play out tomorrow.
AI can identify where companies have succeeded in the past, but experienced consultants understand why.
That distinction is what turns a data point into a strategy.
Technology Informs. People Decide.
AI and automation have made site selection faster, but not necessarily smarter. The human side—experience, context, and relationships—remains irreplaceable.
At WDG Consulting, we blend data precision with human intelligence to deliver site selection strategies that are both analytically sound and strategically wise. Our job is to ensure every site we recommend aligns with your broader mission and delivers real-world results.
Are you ready to make your next site decision with confidence? Contact WDG Consulting at 201-310-2598 or fill out our online form to schedule your confidential introductory discussion.