Do you need help with SAP software implementation in your enterprise? If so, you’re not alone. With hundreds of modules, SAP can be overwhelming. That’s why hiring an SAP consultant is crucial for success.
But not just any consultant will do. Your consultant must be capable, easy to work with and understand your project’s goals. Choosing the wrong consultant could result in delays and cost a small fortune.
Don’t let SAP implementation challenges slow you down! Let’s explore how to hire an SAP consultant to optimize your business processes.
Why Hire an SAP Consultant?
Augment Your Team
Your in-house team may be able to handle some aspects of your SAP project. However, they may not have the specialized experience to complete complex tasks and problem-solving.
SAP consultants can enhance the efficiency, speed, and success of your implementation, configuration, development, system management, and software training.
Consultants bring:
- A fresh perspective to a project
- Identify areas for improvement
- Provide innovative SAP solutions to complex problems
SAP consultants can become valuable team members along with your existing staff. Augmenting your staff prevents tying up employees on a major implementation project, allowing them to focus on their regular workload.
Save Time
An SAP expert can save your business time by streamlining processes and increasing productivity. They minimize delays and maximize the success of your project, helping with common challenges, such as:
- Customizations
- User errors
- Integration issues with other software
Optimize SAP
SAP systems are complex and they play a key role in your day-to-day operations. An SAP consultant can ensure stable ERP function by monitoring, testing, and optimizing systems. Some ways in which they can optimize your SAP environment is by:
- Setting up dashboards that provide an at-a-glance overview and allow you to dive into specifics
- Prevent potential issues in the future by utilizing analytics
- Identify bottlenecks of time-consuming manual tasks and optimize systems to fix issues
Choosing an SAP expert with the necessary skills and experience ensures your project’s success and maximizes your software’s potential.
Save Money
Hiring an SAP consultant may seem an added expense due to their upfront costs, but they can save you money in the long run.You will also avoid paying a full-time employee’s salary, benefits, and workspace costs when working with a consultant.
Consultants can also spot project risks that may cause delays and additional expenses, helping businesses avoid unexpected costs. Consider the potential costs of not hiring an SAP consultant:
- Project delays
- Errors
- Added expenses from fixing issues
SAP Projects Done Right
No two SAP solutions are the same.
Speak with experts about your unique business needs.
How to Hire an SAP Consultant
1. Identify Project Objectives
To ensure a successful SAP implementation, you must identify:
- Areas that require improved processes
- Project goals
- Success metrics
- Project requirements, budget, timeline
- Whether you need to hire an SAP consultant
2. Identify What Type of SAP Consultant You Need
Consultants typically fall into two categories: technical or functional.
SAP technical consultants are experts in:
- Sizing
- Software installations
- System upgrades
- Integrations
- Troubleshooting technical issues
SAP functional consultants offer operational or financial knowledge. They work with business users to understand needs and transfer them into system configurations.
Consider the following requirements:
- Where will they work?
- Is travel required?
- How many hours do you need them?
- Can you work with remote specialists?
- Do they need expertise in specific niches, technology, or industries?
| SAP Technical Consultant | SAP Functional Consultant |
| Analyzes client requirements and creating technical specifications | Collects and analyzes business requirements from clients and end-users |
| Configures SAP software to meet client needs | Prepares and maintains documentation of the SAP system |
| Develops custom programs and reports using SAP programming languages such as ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) | Coordinates with client’s IT team to ensure that the SAP system is integrated with other systems |
| Performs system testing and troubleshooting to ensure that the SAP solution works correctly | Provides ongoing support to end-users |
| Collaborates with functional consultants to integrate business processes with the SAP solution | Identifies opportunities to improve the SAP system and implements changes to enhance its functionality |
3. Review SAP Consultant Portfolios
To find qualified SAP consultants for your business, look for reliable sources such as:
- Professional network references
- SAP article authors and thought-leaders
- SAP consulting firms
After identifying candidates, search for them online, examining their portfolios for client testimonials, case studies, and inconsistencies in their online presence. Can mutual connections vouch for their work?
4. Interview Consultants
SAP consultant interviews give you a holistic view of each candidate’s:
- Communication skills
- Past project experience
- Technical skills
- Culture fit with your team
You may require both traditional and technical interviews. Involving IT or business stakeholders in the hiring process guarantees the candidate’s capability to complete your project.
5. Check References
Ask for references from clients with similar business requirements or in the same industry. Check the references and ask about the candidate’s:
- Working style
- Communication skills
- Involvement in past projects
- Outcomes achieved on past projects
Check several references as they provide a complete picture of the consultant. Doing so not only assures the candidate’s ability to complete a project but also enables building relationships with other firms.
How to Hire SAP Consultants for Your Enterprise Easily
Hiring an SAP consultant takes time and it should be a careful process. The bottom line is that hiring the wrong consultant will cause much more work and trouble for your organization in the long run. So, you should take extra time make sure you find the right one.
iT Services 2 (iT2) is an SAP consulting firm. We provide Platinum and Senior-level SAP functional and technical consultants to enterprises at various stages of the SAP project lifecycle.
Ensure you hire the right person for the job by partnering with iT2!
Book a call to find a qualified SAP team member today.