All over the globe, the tech sector is suffering from a massive shortage of staff and skills. As companies push to digitise their operations, innovative new technologies emerge and we step boldly into the future, proficiencies in tech are fast becoming the most sought-after credentials a person can have.
And this is generating lucrative career opportunities throughout the corporate world. Beyond the big five tech companies, the largest non-American software outlet is SAP SE, a multinational software vendor based in Walldorf, Germany. For the past 50 years, the company has developed its flagship product, the SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. In the process, SAP has become an industry in and of itself — even if it’s one that you might not be so familiar with.
So, what exactly is SAP, what can it do for businesses, and what could it do for your career? You have the questions and we have the answers. Let’s dive in.
What is SAP?
SAP refers to System Applications and Products in Data Processing, and is the ERP software produced by SAP SE. SAP began in 1972 when several former IBM employees came together with the shared vision to create one unique programme to revolutionise business operations and streamline workplace productivity. They initially designed the application for accounting and would go on to incorporate other modules into the package — and so SAP was born, its first version coming to the market as “RF” in 1973.
Since then, SAP has developed into a multi-billion pound software venture. No longer a rudimentary accounting interface, the product has cycled through many different iterations, gone online, and assisted transnational corporations to build their businesses into the giants that they are today. Some well-known customers include the likes of Apple and The Coca-Cola Company.
How can SAP benefit businesses today?
So what can SAP do for the modern business? The software comprises modules that boost productivity across all facets of business management, from human resources to eCommerce. Below are some of the top ways that it can benefit an enterprise.
1. Collaboration
SAP’s data, functions and resources can now be accessed by employees across any permitted department no matter where in the world they are — internet connection permitting, of course. Cloud and mobile access have pushed the potential for remote collaboration to new heights, offering centralised data integration from multiple programmes and straightforward workflow management.
2. Automation
SAP’s bespoke suite of features can reduce administrative expenses and associated downtime, boosting business cost-efficiency. It can independently collect data in real-time from a range of different tools and reduce obstacles in the workflow, for example by alerting of low inventory levels and making the relevant orders.
3. Data security
As well as providing centralised data management for knowledge and sensitive customer information, SAP’s system can improve company data security. Using firewalls, backups and access control, SAP ensures that all important data is safely stored and compliant with industry standards.
What career options are available?
As we’ve discussed, there is a global shortage of tech skills, thanks to a rapidly developing digital landscape that is nearly impossible to keep up with. As a result, careers in software are typically high-pay and high-reward — and those in SAP implementation are no different.
Consultancy leads the way
Consultancy is the primary career path that people pursue in SAP after earning business or IT-related qualifications. In a consultancy role, SAP experts work to optimise the system’s implementation within some of the biggest organisations in the world. Recruitment experts from Eursap testify to the benefits of a consultancy career, explaining that SAP “offers challenging work, teaching cross-transferable skills and offering on-the-job learning. It is well-paid and in demand and offers great career progression opportunities.”
Part and parcel of those opportunities is the potential for global career development. For those that are looking to take their tech skills beyond the local office, Thomson Data estimates that over 100,000 companies around the world utilise SAP, many comprising multinational organisations with thousands of employees.
Therefore, there is a growing network of in-demand international SAP consultants that can travel for exciting career opportunities across many sectors and niches. From finance to engineering, your next job could be in SAP — whether that’s spent working remotely in a Parisian café or perched in a glass-fronted office atop the German headquarters.
