It’s shocking how quickly our economic confidence can change. Along with that, professional uncertainties are exposed. So how should SAP consultants respond to the current market conditions? I have put together the following pointers based on my research to date. Just keep in mind the obvious disclaimer that no one knows exactly what lies ahead.

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Every time I get back from Sapphire or TechEd, one story remains a constant: What are we going to do about the so-called SAP skills shortage? Or, if we want to push SAP on this a little bit, we could say, "What is SAP doing about the skills shortage?"; I have a problem with this line of thinking. Not because the skills demand isn’t real - it obviously is. But a simplistic view of the "skills shortage" doesn’t serve anyone in the SAP ecosystem very well. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the years, I have published some big interviews on SAP consulting that have disappeared from the Internet. One of the benefits of being a JonERP.com reader is being able to get access to these exclusive interviews again. One of my favorites, my 2002-2004 interview and correspondence with NetWeaver Portals expert Pat McCarthy, has now been reposted. In addition to a great view of the emerging Enterprise Portals market, there is some timeless advice on keeping on top of your skill set in this interview. In this blog entry, we’ll review some of the most important consulting advice from this piece. Read the rest of this entry »

In recent years, approaches to SAP training have been pretty similar: take classes from SAP (highest prestige value) or look at some of the online training options. Online SAP training has picked up quite a bit of momentum. On this web site, we put together a directory of online SAP training options. What we found just scratches the surface of what is out there. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a good question - how do you break into SAP when you’re low on cash? The SAP Academy is many things, but it’s sure as heck not cheap. I hear from a lot of folks who are strapped financially but have good skills. They are disappointed to feel they can’t get into the SAP Academy and therefore into SAP. But there’s good news: you don’t need SAP training to break into SAP. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s my feeling about getting your first SAP training: I think most people waste their money by investing in SAP training before they understand the market. So many times, I hear about people who invested in a course for a skill area that is obsolete. Or, they invested in a training course in an area they think is "hot" without thinking about this hot area fits into their existing skill set. Read the rest of this entry »