While the initial wave of SAP S/4 HANA migrations began almost a decade ago, there are still companies and CTOs about to begin, or are in the middle of, their migrations to SAP’s ERP system.
The journey of migrating to S/4 HANA is challenging, therefore it’s crucial to understand the skills your company needs in order to build a successful team. After all, competition is fierce and digital transformation projects are taking place globally.
This means that while there are specific technical and people skills required for a successful migration, they’re becoming increasingly scarce on the market. This is why knowing what skills your team need to possess before you start the hiring process is vital if you want to stand out.
What tech skills are needed for my SAP S/4 HANA migration?
Migrating to SAP S/4 HANA is a complex undertaking that requires a specific set of technical skills. It’s important that when beginning the hiring process, your hiring team are equipped with the knowledge they need to hire a successful team. Below is a comprehensive list of the top 10 technical and people skills that are essential for a successful SAP migration process.
1. Comprehensive knowledge of S/4 HANA
Naturally, hiring someone who has a command of the intricacies of S/4 HANA is the foundation of success as an SAP consultant. In a market where experts are in high demand, it’s essential that you’re asking the right questions to keep them engaged. Their understanding of every detail – from Fiori user interfaces to embedded analytics – is knowledge your SAP consultant should have a strong grasp of.
2. Ability to leverage SAP HANA’s capabilities
One of the most sought-after skills we see within our own client database is a deep understanding of the real-time analytics capabilities of SAP HANA. Candidates who can effectively maximise HANA’s capabilities are valuable – in a market where demand outstrips supply, discovering how savvy your candidate is with analytics is important!
3. Mapping business processes
An incredibly valuable skill to look out for in an SAP consultant is the ability to map business processes to S/4 HANA functions. To truly add value to your migration team, experts who can analyse and adapt business processes to fit S/4 HANA capabilities are essential.
4. Mastering project management
Project management methodologies are crucial for any SAP migration. Knowledge of SAP Activate – an agile methodology – is a skill in high demand. SAP consultants with a good foundational knowledge of Activate can give teams a real edge.
5. Data migration and integration expertise
Data migration and integration expertise is a skill that is in high demand and often in short supply. Being able to ask the correct questions around data migration is crucial. Data migration is a crucial part of SAP implementations, so a deep understanding of SAP data services and the Migration Cockpit is essential to stand out in the market.
What people skills are needed for my SAP S/4HANA migration?
While SAP S/4 HANA migrations are complex projects that require extensive technical expertise, they’re also abut people. The human element cannot be ignored, as it’s often this that determines success or failure. Below are the essential people skills you should be looking for in a candidate to ensure your S/4 HANA migration goes smoothly.
1. Excellent problem-solving skills
Problem-solving is a skill that is always in high demand, but often in short supply. As challenges inevitably arise during implementations. Having professionals that are able to think critically and have the ability to solve issues efficiently and creatively is valuable skill to look out for when interviewing SAP consultants.
2. Change management skills
Change management is a skill that is often underestimated. Transitions to S/4 HANA can be disruptive. Having a member of the team who can manage these changes effectively is a rare skill. When hiring SAP consultants, looking for those who excel in these areas is a valuable area.
3. Effective communication skills
Stakeholders expect clear and effective communication skills. This skill is surprisingly challenging to find in tech roles. When hiring SAP consultants, it’s crucial to discover what their abilities are when it comes to conveying benefits, challenges and changes clearly and comprehensively.
4. Driving and leading innovation
With integrations such as AI, RPA and IoT, having a team with the ability to not just adapt, but also drive innovation is highly valuable. Working with people who are able to propose their ideas makes your team stand out.
5. Learning and growth attitude
Having team members with an enthusiastic willingness to learn new technologies and keep up to date with the SAP community and latest advancements is crucial. Machine learning and RPA in S/4 HANA, for example, ensures you build a team for forward-thinking consultants.
What do you need to consider for your transition to SAP S4/HANA?
The job market is crowded, and these skills are becoming increasingly scarce. To attract and retain successful SAP consultants experienced in S/4 HANA your hiring team needs to be aware of the blend of hard and soft skills required to succeed. By assembling a team with these qualities, CTOs can guide businesses through their digital transformation journeys with a team that adds immense value.
Venquis, your SAP experts
When hiring SAP consultants, experience and expertise are invaluable. The Venquis team consists of former SAP consultants and professionals with decades of combined experience in the SAP domain.
Venquis’ deep-rooted knowledge and insights ensure our clients receive nothing short of exceptional service. What sets us apart is our extensive network of SAP experts and connections in the industry that are more than just contacts; they’re our gateway to a treasure trove of global SAP talent.
Whether your needs are for permanent staff or freelancers and contract workers, Venquis can seamlessly connect your business with the right talent. When considering your next SAP consultant hire, collaborate with Venquis and let us provide your business with the SAP experts you need.
