What do you look for when you look for an SAP consultancy? Just some basic reviews, some casual client recommendations, and a quick website glance?
SAP stands for System Applications and Products in data processing. In simpler terms, SAP is an ERP suite with software applications and technical integrations that helps business owners run an enterprise. It automates repetitive tasks, especially the ones that do not require any contextual understanding like planning, scheduling, tracking, etc.
A successful SAP implementation does not happen by accident. It is a result of good research and a good understanding of what you must be looking for in an SAP installation for your company, in light of your specific needs.
Without further ado, let us get right into what you must be looking for in an SAP consultancy service.
1. Alignment with your specific needs
As long as you are not sure and specific about your company’s requirements, it is practically impossible to make the right decision.
You must first have a thorough understanding of your company’s needs, the processes you’d like to be included under the ERP, your budget specifics, and much more.
SAP often works best when they are customized to suit the company’s needs. They are often designed, suited, and implemented for very specific activities.
Even though they can be evolved to accommodate more functions or the ERP infrastructure can be extended, they work the best when they are compatible with the company’s needs.
It is not rocket science, but it is also not paper planes. Firms often think of SAP as a one-stop solution, which is not an incorrect understanding but it can become a one-stop solution when companies know where that stop is.
Without a proper purpose and resource navigation, even the best of SAP consultations fall short of excellent resource management.
The first couple of interactions we have with any company is simply an attempt to sort through their specific needs, expectations, and budget. The process cannot move forward without this.
2. Compatibility with existing ERP systems
Understanding your current ERP systems in place is vital to know what is working and what is not working for your firm. What are the current tasks that are successfully, manually, and cost-efficiently being conducted in your workspace?
If you get yourself an SAP consultation, make sure to pay attention that you are not automating tasks that are better left manual. Always look for an SAP consultation service that is not hell-bent on adding more and more tasks to the list.
The idea is to come up with the best solution for your company and not to make it the most automated one within a single SAP installation.
The best way to simplify this process is to make sure that you start with the most financial and labor-taxing tasks, given that they are recurring every day, and then start adding more and more tasks based on the pragmatic convenience of the company.
It is also important because if you are getting an ERP solution specially modeled for your company, there is a chance that it will need multiple attempts and a proper trial period before you can rely on the SAP setup to take care of your process.
3. Industry-specific expertise
Make sure that your SAP consultation and demonstrations do not revolve simply around previous work and previous processes but specifically around the industry that you belong to.
As industries change, similar process get different priorities and it is important to be aware of that in advance.
Always look for an SAP consultant that has some, if not a lot of experience dealing with companies within your industry and has successfully facilitated SAP installations for them.
Remember that these automations and integrations are here to last and they will only keep getting more and more accessible with time. Do not rush into the first SAP consultation that you come across. Research till you find what your company truly deserves.