What Were the Key Trends of TechEd 2008?
So, I’m back from TechEd 2008 and pulling together many different themes that I believe are of importance to JonERP.com readers. I’m going to use this blog entry to update with key links and useful information from the conference.
I will also post links to the writing and podcasts I publish as I review TechEd from a number of angles. As you know, I’m not the most immediate blogger in the blogosphere. My goal, rather than add to the noise, is to try to get the heart of how technical trends affect SAP project teams and, in particular, individual SAP professionals. This means wading througth the hype and coming up with the key skills you need to prosper in a changing market.
I also posted a blog piece on the unspoken issue at TechEd ‘08: the SAP Maintenance Fee Controversy.
Useful Skills Resource Links
Here’s some links relating to SAP TechEd 2008 (and TechEd trends) I thought were particularly relevant to SAP skills trends:
BPX (Business Process Expert) Links:
BPX Certification Announcement and Info
"Process First" BPX Community Book by Marco ten Vaanholt, Global Head, SAP BPX Community
NetWeaver BPM (Business Process Management) and NetWeaver BRM (Business Rules Management) are now available on a trial download basis via the SAP Composition Environment (CE) trial download.
I’ll add more resource links and links to important TechEd stories soon.
Also, if you have a question about something that you liked (or didn’t like) about TechEd, or if you missed it and want to know about a particular issue, just comment in the blog below and I’ll answer your question ASAP.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:33 pm...
Im working as a Middleware system administrator - Linux/Apache/Websphere/Oracle Infrastructure. I am pretty much interested to move on SAP - what would be the best for me the concentrate on the SAP Infrastructure and also Guide me on the Training programme i should attend?
October 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm...
Your thinking is in the right direction. Obviously you want to learn as much as you can about NetWeaver XI/PI and how SAP’s own middleware and integration framework functions. You may also find some opportunities with some SAP customers who do use Websphere, that could be a great way to leverage some of your current skills on an SAP project. Finding a way to pull your current skills into the SAP world is always a winning tactic.
I’m not in the business of recommending SAP training programs, there are so many of them and it depends on where you live, whether you want SAP certification or not, and so on. But I do have an online training section in this site and there is also plenty in my blog on SAP training and certification to get you started.
- Jon Reed -
October 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm...
Hi,
I m pursuing Master of ERP from Victoria University and on the verge of completion where University have covered SAP BW, ABAP, HCM, FICO modules to be taught in general to students. I would like to know your valuable feedback on how to get initial job in SAP domain. I has started inquiring but not getting response being fresher in SAP domain.
Thanks & Regards,
October 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm...
Well, I had a bit of new advice for “freshers” in my recent blog post on a consulting in a down economy, so check that out.
I have written extensively on breaking into SAP in this blog, so you’ll want to scroll through all the “breaking into SAP” entries to get a feeling for what I recommend.
The key, I believe, is to let go of the desire to be an SAP consultant right away. Focus more on getting hired by SAP customers who see other skills in your background you can use. Don’t even worry about getting immediate SAP exposure on that first job, just get hired and get on the inside of a company running SAP. Then, work your way closer to the project from the inside.
At the same time, continue educating yourself about SAP, especially using SAP’s online communities, and apply to any positions where you do seem to have the relevant experience.
That’s the strategy in a nutshell. Nothing glamorous, just lots of hard work self-marketing and self-educating. Certification can be helpful, but as I’ve written many times, I believe certification is more of an asset to seasoned SAP consultants than it is to “freshers.”
- Jon Reed -