February 16, 2021
Career as an ERP Consultant
Career prospects in ERP :
A career as an ERP consultant is a very interesting journey, the experiences are varied with every new business opportunity. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) refers to business software solutions for controlling business processes within a company. Understanding not only how businesses operate, but how technology is used inside a business environment can also be valuable knowledge for an ERP consultant.
The goals of an ERP software are as below :
- Optimization of business processes
- Reduced costs and increased revenue
- More efficient processes
An ERP system consists of various modules. Each ERP module focuses on a specific area of business. The modules are interconnected in the ERP system and are based on a central database. With the ERP software, cross-departmental processes can be controlled efficiently.
The following are the modules that belong to an ERP system:
- Accounting and financial management
- Warehouse and inventory management and logistics
- Personnel and payroll accounting
- Sales and marketing
- Supply chain management
- Production
- Sales management
- Procurement
- e-commerce
Skills required for Consulting:
A good few years of Domain Experience in various functions within an organisation with an add-on knowledge of computer science, management information systems, or in general any engineering/Management degree, are the skill sets that can help consultants in providing businesses with the best guidance when adopting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and products. These systems help integrate information management across entire companies and their divisions, opening new doors to businesses in many different industries and a good career opportunity
Some of the key skills needed for an ERP consultant are strong communication skills both written and spoken with an ability to solve problems. It is recommended that before trying to join the ranks as a consultant that you work for a client that already uses ERP business solutions. Take the time to gain as much hands-on experience as possible so that you will understand the best methods for implementing ERP products. Build your confidence in business consulting so clients trust your level of knowledge and service.
Completing an ERP product certification is an extra step that can prove your knowledge and expertise about products/modules to potential employers. Show that you are experienced and ready to be a consultant and help customers improve their business systems. Although passing a certification test doesn’t prove that you are an expert at applying your software knowledge in the real world, it does indicate your program proficiency. The real test would be in evaluating a client’s requirements and help satisfy their business’ needs. It is important to know how to assist clients to the highest degree possible and always aim to exceed their expectations. You need to be capable of solving difficult business problems by creatively applying the right approach towards the solution.
The various types of ERP in the market are SAP S/4HANA, Sage Intacct, SAP ERP, Oracle Cloud ERP, Oracle JDEdwards, SAP Business One, PeopleSoft Financials, Oracle eBusiness Suite, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 (formerly Microsoft Dynamics CRM).
