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Wave by McKinsey

McKinsey's software for running transformation programs

  • Researched profile
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Starting price
Not confirmed; ask the vendor or check the AWS Marketplace listing
Free option
None listed
Pricing
Price on request
Deployment
Web

The lean-stack take

For a lean team it gives a transformation office one place to follow many improvement initiatives and the value they deliver. McKinsey publishes a case study of Wave supporting an operational-excellence program at an automobile manufacturer.

Best for

Large organizations running an enterprise transformation or operational-excellence program through a central transformation office.

Watch out for

Prices, deployment details and AI scope were not confirmed in this check, so ask McKinsey for these before you plan a purchase.

About

About Wave by McKinsey

Wave by McKinsey is program management software from McKinsey & Company. The vendor describes it as AI program management software for planning and tracking transformations.

Written by lean-stack from Wave by McKinsey's public pages. Vendors can replace it with their own description by claiming this profile.

Features

What Wave by McKinsey offers

01

Transformation program management

Wave is built to manage large transformation programs across an organization. This supports a lean promotion office that runs many kaizen and improvement projects at once.

02

Value creation tracking

The transformation and restructuring offering page is headed "Visibility into value creation." Teams can link improvement work to the value it is meant to deliver.

03

Operational excellence programs

The offerings page has a section on boosting operational excellence. A vendor case study covers an operational-excellence program at an automobile manufacturer.

04

Cost and procurement programs

Vendor case studies cover a procurement transformation and a cost-optimization program. These show Wave used for savings programs as well as process work.

05

M&A integration

A separate offering covers merger management and M&A integrations. This is outside daily lean work but uses the same program tracking.

06

AI features

McKinsey describes Wave as AI program management software. The scope of its AI features was not confirmed in this check, so ask the vendor what they do.

07

AWS Marketplace listing

McKinsey announced that Wave is available on AWS Marketplace. Software reseller SoftwareOne also lists the product.

Lean techniques supported

The lean practices Wave by McKinsey is built to support.

Pricing

Wave by McKinsey pricing

Checked October 24, 2026

Starting price

Not confirmed; ask the vendor or check the AWS Marketplace listing

Pricing
Price on request
Free option
None listed

How pricing works

Prices were not confirmed from search results; contact McKinsey or check the AWS Marketplace listing.

No prices were found in this check. Wave is listed on AWS Marketplace and by SoftwareOne, but amounts were not confirmed from search results.

See current prices on mckinsey.com

Wave by McKinsey doesn't publish a full plan list, so we show what it does publish. Confirm prices with the vendor.

Strengths and limitations

What stands out, and what to watch

Strengths

  • Built for programs with many initiatives under one transformation office
  • Offerings cover operational excellence, cost, procurement and M&A programs
  • Vendor case study covers an operational-excellence program in automotive manufacturing
  • Available through AWS Marketplace
  • Product page lists the McKinsey team behind Wave

Limitations

  • No prices found in this check
  • Shop-floor lean tools such as A3, kanban or daily huddle boards not confirmed in this check
  • Integrations, mobile apps and security details not confirmed in this check
  • Free trial not confirmed in this check
  • G2 and Capterra ratings for Wave not found in search results

Based on the vendor's published plans and documentation, not a hands-on test.

Fit

Is Wave by McKinsey right for your team?

A good fit if…

  • You run a company-wide transformation with many initiatives and owners
  • Your transformation office reports value delivered to senior leaders
  • You already work with McKinsey on an operational-excellence program
  • You buy software through AWS Marketplace

Look elsewhere if…

  • You need a shop-floor tool for daily huddles, A3s or kaizen boards
  • You are a small team that needs a published price
  • You want a self-serve tool you can set up without a vendor

Reviews

What Wave by McKinsey users say

We haven't found published reviews of Wave by McKinsey on G2 or Capterra yet. Smaller lean tools often have none, so judge it on the facts above and a trial.

Similar tools

Wave by McKinsey alternatives

KPI Fire

Price on request

Cloud platform for tracking Lean Six Sigma projects, ideas, A3s and financial benefits against strategic goals.

Hoshin KanriX-matrixBowling chart

Minitab Engage

Price on request

Minitab's platform (successor to Companion) for managing improvement ideas, DMAIC projects, roadmaps and benefits.

Idea managementKaizenDMAIC

Shibumi

Price on request

Strategy execution and strategic portfolio management platform with a configuration for operational excellence programs, Six Sigma initiatives and cost-optimization tracking.

Portfolio managementBenefits trackingDMAIC

SixGrid

Free plan + paid

Project management software from Open Source Six Sigma that organises Lean Six Sigma projects by DMAIC phase with charters, tollgates and savings tracking.

DMAICProject charterTollgate reviews
Wave by McKinsey compared with KPI Fire, Minitab Engage, Shibumi, SixGrid
ToolPricingStarting priceFree plan or trialDeployment
Wave by McKinseyPrice on requestNot confirmed; ask the vendor or check the AWS Marketplace listingNone listedWeb
KPI FirePrice on requestQuote-basedFree trialWeb
Minitab EngagePrice on requestQuote-basedNone listedWeb
ShibumiPrice on requestNot publishedNone listedCloud
SixGridFree plan + paidFree in beta; Professional $19 per user/month after betaFree planWeb

From each vendor's published pricing. Check current prices on their sites.

FAQ

Wave by McKinsey: common questions

Who makes Wave?
McKinsey & Company. The product is marketed as Wave by McKinsey.
What is Wave used for?
It manages transformation programs, with offerings for operational excellence, transformation and restructuring, and M&A integration.
Does it support operational-excellence programs?
Yes. The offerings page has an operational excellence section, and a vendor case study covers an automobile manufacturer.
Where can I buy it?
McKinsey announced a listing on AWS Marketplace. SoftwareOne also lists the product.
Does it include AI?
McKinsey describes it as AI program management software. The scope of the AI features was not confirmed in this check.
How much does Wave cost?
No prices were found in this check. Ask McKinsey for a quote.

For the Wave by McKinsey team

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Sources, checked October 24, 2026

Listed October 24, 2026.