SAP BW Consulting As A Differentiating Skillset
During the recent SAPPHire 2013 event, held in Orlando, Florida, had several senior level people from SAP consulting firms like PwC and IBM, among others, make the disturbing ‘assertion’ that SAP BW consulting is commoditized. Being long time and deeply experienced SAP BW practitioners, we were, of course, curious as to whether this is so, and what the effects might be on our market.
We think there are at least 10 reasons why SAP BW is not a commoditized skillset, and frankly, why most SAP skillsets are not actually commoditized and won't be anytime soon.
Discussing Why SAP BW Consulting is not a Commoditized Skillset
- Not a plug and play solution.
Yes, you have to install it, which can take a while, and cost quite a bit, but to truly design, build and deliver a solution, it takes deep engineering skills. - SAP BW is part of many other SAP Solutions.
Take SAP APO, part of the Supply Chain Management suite. APO has a mini BW built into it, or it can use an external one.
In either case, to truly do APO-BW integration, you need to know BW, APO and the business processes affected. - SAP BW and CRM play together.
We see a constant demand for improved capability to segment customers and prospects. This requires a BW consultant to understand not just BW but what a CRM integrated E-Mail campaign might need in the future and to provide advice on what data will need to be captured or enhanced, when and where. - SAP BW Business Content is the Key Differentiator.
This is how the tool has always been positioned. But experience indicates that to use Business Content effectively, the BW consultant has to do much more than just install it. He has to understand what is useable as is and what is merely a ‘useful guideline’. - SAP BW requires Artistic Skill.
This one is non-intuitive, especially when you hear it stated that it is ‘just a reporting tool’. SAP BW forms a core part of the entire thrust of building beautiful interactive, real-time embedded dashboards. Look and feel and functionality are critical. Design chops needed! - Data Modeling is an up close and personal affair.
Though you can have a conversation via skype chat anytime, there is nothing like a real life face-to-face meeting to truly communicate. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of all communication is non-verbal and you can count on that when you try to have SAP BW being done remotely, especially in the early stages of a project. - All SAP BW Tools Evolve Constantly.
The acquisition and integration of BusinessObjects into the product roadmap has meant a continual series of new products for a SAP BW consultant and customer to master. As they are evolving constantly, for example, being accelerated by SAP HANA, highly specialized knowledge is actually what is required, versus commoditized, low value skills. - Good SAP BW Consultants understand the Core ERP Stack. Deeply.
We are constantly seeing a need to make adjustments to the core ERP stack and that is because our teams have a seen it before and can bring that knowledge to bear on your project. That may not be in your SOW with an offshore, commodity delivery entity, but we know it is necessary to make BW useful. - SAP BW and SAP Predictive Analytics require deep Statistical Skills.
When you combine the need to integrate GIS information with customer information, for example in a SAP REFX use case scenario, the level of BW skills required is well beyond commodity level. Performing advanced SAP predictive analysis requires multi-disciplined consultants who are familiar with and can select among various predictive analytics models. Top predictive analytics vendors, such as SAP, rely heavily upon the skillsets of statistically trained SAP BW Consultants who focus on working in a SAP analytics organization. - SAP BW Industry Knowledge.
SAP does not offer SAP BW Industry specific training. So if you want a SAP BW consultant with intimate knowledge of, say the medical device industry and the required testing to be FDA compliant, it turns out to be next to impossible for that knowledge to be commoditized as it comes from actually doing a project in one or more specific industries.
Top Gun SAP BW Consulting
There you have it, why we don't believe SAP BW is a commoditized skillset and why we provide Top Gun SAP BW consultants with deep industry expertise. Though it may look cheaper to offshore to a commodity service provider, you will probably find the final result doesn't meet your need and end up onshoring the work anyway. Want to know how to ensure you're not becoming a commoditized consultant and become a Top Gun?
What are your views on the commoditization of SAP Skillsets?
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