4 Tips to Remember When Hiring a SAP Consultant

Oftentimes, the more complex a piece of technology is, the greater the level of expertise that someone will need in order to get it working. That principle definitely applies to enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions like SAP Business One. Although SAP’s signature ERP product is quite navigable and user-friendly when it’s fully onboarded, a client company will still need the skills of a dedicated SAP provider to be able to install it.

With the knowledge that you can’t install a SAP product on your own, what should you remember when looking for a SAP consultant? To answer that question, here are four handy tips for finding a SAP partner that you can trust with the implementation of your new ERP.

Assess Your Business Needs Before Finding a SAP Consultant

First, even before you start looking for a SAP consultant, you have to be able to visualize your business’s needs. Ask yourself what problems you intend to solve by investing in an ERP like SAP Business One. Is your goal to incorporate more automation into your business processes? Do you intend to purchase an ERP to organize your finances and to be more conscientious about your accounting and regulatory compliance? Or do you want to use your new ERP to drive up your sales?

Whatever your answers may be, try to be as concrete about your intentions as possible. Your SAP consultant will need this information in order to draft the most responsive SAP implementation strategy for your company.

Find a SAP Consultant with an Excellent Track Record

Next, look for credentials that will make it easy for you to vet a SAP consultant. You can search for SAP experts on a search engine, look for SAP providers on social media platforms like LinkedIn, or ask for recommendations from industry peers who already use SAP products.

Once you’ve found software vendors who handle SAP products, check out their portfolios. In addition, look through their awards, certifications, professional affiliations, and other qualifications that demonstrate their mastery over the SAP ecosystem. If they can direct you to white paper materials like case studies of their implementation process, consider reading these as well. These documentations show that the consultant possesses thought leadership in the field of ERP technology and that they know how to achieve the most favorable outcomes with products like SAP Business One.

Lastly, get a good idea of which industries they’ve served and which clients they’ve worked with. Consider it a good sign if the industry your company falls under is represented in their list of past clients. Look for client testimonials that detail good experiences with the consultant, and pay special attention to the aspects of onboarding that the consultant got right.

Ask Your SAP Consultant About Their Implementation Strategy for Your Company

Another thing you should take note of when hiring a SAP consultant is their proposed implementation strategy for your business. Although SAP has a core software system, the implementation of a SAP ERP requires a custom-tailored approach that varies according to the client’s business size, home industry, and other factors.

Only hire a SAP consultant who has a clear idea of how to implement the software in a way that will benefit your business. They should be able to tell you about the exact tasks that you can be automated by the software, the number of hours that you’ll be able to save, and the amount of money that you can earn back thanks to increased business efficiency in aspects like regulatory reporting. You shouldn’t get the sense that they have the same pitch for each and every company they transact with. Their implementation strategy should feel like it’s made for you and like it truly addresses your business’s needs.

Work Out Your Terms of Engagement with Your SAP Consultant

When you’ve narrowed it down to your top choice of SAP provider, make sure to agree on the exact terms of your engagement with them. Among the items that you should discuss before you ink the contract with your SAP consultant are the following:

• The number of SAP modules involved in your initial installation process
• The full breakdown of expenses, including service fees and maintenance
• How often you can expect to run maintenance
• How soon you’ll need to upgrade your SAP suite
• The extent of IT support that you’ll receive from your consultant

The ideal SAP consultant is upfront about what the process will entail and candid about any limits or issues to their service. Be sure to discuss these with them in advance so that your expectations are fully aligned come implementation time.

Hire ANSI Information Systems as Your Bona Fide SAP Consultant

If you’re looking for a Filipino SAP consultant with respectable credentials, decades’ worth of experience in handling SAP products, and a long list of satisfied clients, ANSI Information Systems fits the bill. We are proudest of our ability to customize our clients’ SAP journeys according to the business goals that they want to achieve. Hire ANSI as your SAP consultant and learn how to use products like SAP Business One to your advantage!