I enable SAP adopters to do things they couldn’t do before. Host of the “Transformation Every Day” podcast.
𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 Most SAP consultants double down on what they already know best—application knowledge. But here’s the thing: true customer value often lies beyond customizing transactions and tables. If you want to stand out and become an exceptional SAP consultant, focus on these three areas: 1️⃣ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 & 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿—𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁!! Understand your client’s industry, processes, and challenges. Build a vision for them by blending domain best practices with SAP capabilities. That’s how you move 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 “𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿” 𝘁𝗼 “𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿.” 2️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 Stop waiting for customers to tell you what they want. Instead, advise them on what they need—based on your expertise and insights. Listen deeply, challenge assumptions, and guide them toward solutions they may not have imagined. 3️⃣ 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Best practices shouldn’t stay static. Your experiences, combined with SAP innovations, should evolve into “even better practices.” Share these insights within your team and with clients to continuously raise the bar. 👉 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲. What do you think—which of these three steps has made the biggest difference in your own SAP journey?
Thanks for sharing, Alexander. Let me add one point which is crutial for an epic SAP consultant: Find other epic SAP consultant, be active part of a network to share and support others - because you are not able to cover everything
Such an inspiring post, Alexander – and truly valuable for the next generation of SAP consultants. I also really like the journey metaphor for a career. It feels much more meaningful than the idea of a career ladder or the chimney.
Anyone can configure tables. Becoming a trusted partner means understanding and proactively shaping the client’s business processes. That’s the real difference. Thanks, Alexander.
Great post ! Alexander Greb
An excellent post Alexander and I fully agree with you. It is not just companies that should transform, it is consultants as well. It is not just about configuring, but about business process understanding and advising.
Well put. More consultants would benefit from this focus. Here's some other steps from a hiring view: turning each project into a quantified outcome story with a named reference (permission required), positioning with a niche but also bridging to complementary SAP skills, and being findable and referable by displaying current skills, sharing concise insights, and maintaining active client referees to reduce the client or employer’s perceived risk. Thanks for sharing.
𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 is key. No wonder I read that on a lot of SAP slides theses days. But it doesn't just get solved by putting it on a slide 😅 you need the mixture of trust and knowledge to drive these topics with your client. BTW I don´t usually like posts clickbait with "here are the top 5 tips on" or "3 things to do..." But your post is spot on nevertheless 🤗
Thanks for sharing…..my priority on this SAP S/4Hana Journey, but I am the only one.
Very well said. These principles very much apply also for SAP HCM/HXM Consulting and make one an outstanding consultant. In my opinion all three take an equally important role and consulting companies should focus more on them when developing their people - at all levels, not junior only. It should be part of the vision and company DNA.
Advisor on Value-Driven SAP Decisions | S/4HANA Strategy & Quality Assurance
2moAn epic consultant also learned to say "no" and is a real advisor, not Santa Claus making every wish real. 😄