Key Responsibilities of a Consultant

SAP Consultant Responsibilities: Pre-Implementation Phase 1. Requirement Gathering and Analysis • Conduct workshops and meetings with stakeholders to understand their requirements. • Document business processes and requirements clearly and comprehensively. 2. Feasibility Study • Analyze the feasibility of implementing SAP solutions to meet the business requirements. • Evaluate potential risks and benefits of the project. 3. Project Planning • Develop a detailed project plan, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation. • Establish project governance structures and define roles and responsibilities. Implementation Phase 4. System Design and Configuration • Design the SAP solution to meet the documented requirements. • Configure SAP modules according to the project specifications. 5. Custom Development • Collaborate with ABAP developers to design and develop custom programs, reports, and interfaces. • Ensure custom developments are well-documented and tested. 6. Data Migration • Plan and execute data migration from legacy systems to SAP. • Ensure data accuracy and completeness through thorough testing. 7. Integration • Integrate SAP with other systems and applications within the organization. • Ensure seamless data flow and process integration across systems. 8. Testing • Develop and execute test plans, including unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance tests (UAT). • Identify and resolve defects and issues promptly. Post-Implementation Phase 9. Training and Support • Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for end-users. • Provide post-go-live support to address any issues and ensure smooth transition. 10. Documentation • Maintain comprehensive documentation of the system configuration, custom developments, and processes. • Ensure all project deliverables are well-documented and accessible. 11. Change Management • Manage change requests and ensure they are properly evaluated and implemented. • Communicate changes effectively to all stakeholders.

1 common BI & analytics misconception: "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦." No, you don't. Too often, people assume that becoming a top-tier BI consultant means getting lost in the weeds of advanced coding or complex data architecture. Don't get me wrong; Technical skills matter. ... But it's not everything. There are several high-impact ways to improve as a consultant that go beyond tech mastery. For example: 𝟭/ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮) Clients don't care how many algorithms you know. They care about how the data translates into real business value. Focus on understanding their business model, key drivers, and industry trends. This context allows you to provide insights that actually solve real problems. 𝟮/ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 If you can’t explain complex insights in a simple, actionable way, you won’t make an impact You need: - Good storytelling skills - Clear visualizations - The ability to break down data into digestible insights This is what will set you apart from the pack. 𝟯/ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁?" When presenting data insights, always ask yourself: "What action should the client take based on this?" Don't just hand over reports. Translate the data into specific actions that align with their business goals. I promise your clients will dream about you if you do this. 𝟰/ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 Being a consultant is as much about relationships as it is about insights. Take the time to build trust with your clients. Understand their pain points, ask the right questions, and be a proactive partner who helps them navigate their challenges. (data-related or not) 𝟱/ 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 Clients don’t hire consultants for pretty reports; they hire them to drive results. Make sure your work leads to measurable outcomes. The more you can tie your insights to tangible business results, the more valuable you become. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: Your technical knowledge is only one part of the equation. The real magic happens when you combine that with a deep understanding of business, clear communication, and a focus on results. What non-technical skills have made a difference in your consulting career? Let me know in the comments!

People as for my advice on becoming a successful consultant, and the number 1 thing I tell them is that you're actually signing up for two jobs. The first, is the work. That's obvious. The second, is being business development, finance, account management, and everything in between for your one person business. You need to know how to bill, how to do statements of work, relationship management with past and future clients, broad scale promotion of your work and services, field incoming inquiries, and so many other things. Without being really good at both, you'll struggle. Take the time to learn and build a process for how you manage the operational side of your consulting, and you'll thrive