Author: Krishna Hari

Hiring an expert SAP consultant can be a great way to ensure your business gets the most out of its SAP investment.

Definition of SAP Consultant

SAP consultants are experienced professionals who specialize in implementing, customizing, and maintaining SAP software. They provide a range of services to help businesses maximize their use of the software, including system design, configuration, testing, training, and support.

SAP consultants have extensive knowledge and experience with the various components of SAP systems. They can offer valuable advice on utilizing the software for a company’s specific needs.

Reasons for Hiring an Expert SAP Consultant

There are many reasons why businesses may choose to hire an expert SAP consultant, including:

• To ensure that the system is implemented correctly and efficiently
• To guide best practices for using the software
• To help troubleshoot any issues with the system
• To provide training and support to users
• Ensure that the system is up-to-date with the latest features and security updates
• To provide expertise in developing custom solutions to meet specific business needs
• To help optimize the system for maximum performance and scalability
• To ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards
• To guide the integration of the SAP system with other systems and applications
• To help develop a roadmap for future upgrades and enhancements
• To identify cost-saving measures
• To help develop strategies for improving system performance and user experience
• To provide advice on how to utilize the software best to meet business objectives
• To provide insights into emerging trends in SAP technology

Cost Factors

When considering hiring an expert SAP consultant, several cost factors exist.

A. Hourly Rate

The hourly rate for an expert SAP consultant can vary depending on their experience and expertise. Generally, rates range from $100 to $200 per hour, with more experienced consultants commanding higher rates.

It is important to consider the cost of the consultant’s time when budgeting for a project. Additionally, some consultants may offer discounted rates for long-term engagements.

SAP consultants with functional domain knowledge are in high demand and can command the highest rates.

This is because they deeply understand the business processes and requirements associated with SAP systems.

They can provide valuable insights into utilizing the software for specific needs and optimizing system performance and user experience. Additionally, they can help develop custom solutions that meet specific business objectives, ensuring that the system is implemented correctly and efficiently. Furthermore, they can guide industry regulations and standards, helping businesses remain compliant.

For these reasons, SAP consultants with functional domain knowledge are highly sought after and can command higher rates than other consultants.

Finding SAP consultants with domain knowledge and implementation experience can be difficult. These consultants:

• are in high demand and can command the highest rates.
• have extensive knowledge of the various components of SAP systems and best practices for using the software.
• have experience troubleshooting any issues with the system, providing training and support to users, and ensuring that the system is up-to-date with the latest features and security updates
• have experience developing custom solutions to meet specific business needs, optimizing system performance and scalability, guiding industry regulations and standards,
• possess practice knowledge in integrating the SAP system with other systems and applications, developing a roadmap for future upgrades and enhancements,
• been identifying cost-saving measures, developing strategies for improving system performance and user experience, utilizing the software best to meet business objectives,
• can provide insights into emerging trends in SAP technology.

These skills require a great deal of expertise which can be hard to find in one individual. Therefore it is essential to take time when searching for an expert SAP consultant who has both domain knowledge and implementation experience.

B. Travel Expenses

When hiring an expert SAP consultant, travel expenses should also be considered. Travel costs can add up quickly depending on the project scope and the consultant’s location.

For example, if the consultant is located in a different city or country, you may need to cover transportation costs such as flights, hotels, and meals. Additionally, you may need to pay for any necessary visas or other travel documents.

It is essential to factor in these costs when budgeting for a project.

It is also necessary to factor in the cost of travel to various implementation sites. 

C. Licensing Costs

When hiring an expert SAP consultant, licensing costs should also be considered. Depending on the project scope and the consultant’s experience level, they may require additional software licenses or access to specific SAP modules and external software you use in the organization.

These costs can add up quickly and should be factored into the overall budget for the project. Some consultants may require a subscription to a specific service or platform to provide the necessary support and training.

D. Training and Certification Costs

Training and certification costs should also be considered when hiring an expert SAP consultant. Depending on the project scope and the consultant’s experience level, they may require additional training or certifications to provide the necessary support and expertise.

When hiring an expert SAP consultant, clients can expect most training and certification costs to be recovered from the consultant. This is typically done through a fee-for-service agreement, where the consultant charges for their services on an hourly or project basis. Before signing any contracts, the client should ensure that the consultant has the necessary certifications and training.

Additionally, discussing any additional fees associated with obtaining certifications or training before beginning work on a project is essential. By doing so, clients can ensure that they are not paying for unnecessary costs and are getting the best value for their money.

How does a staffing agency help control costs?

Using a staffing agency to hire an expert SAP consultant can help to control costs.

A staffing agency can provide access to a wide range of consultants with different levels of experience and expertise, allowing clients to find the right fit for their projects.

Additionally, a staffing agency help in the following ways:

• Negotiated rates on behalf of the client, ensuring they get the best value for their money.
• Reduced travel costs due to access to local consultants.
• Reduced licensing costs due to access to shared licenses or discounts from vendors.
• Reduced training and certification costs due to access to discounted courses and certifications from vendors.
• Streamlined recruitment process, allowing clients to quickly find the right consultant for their project needs.
• Reduced overhead costs due to the staffing agency is handling administrative tasks such as payroll, taxes, and insurance.
• Reduced risk of hiring an unqualified consultant due to the staffing agency’s vetting process.
• Increased flexibility in terms of contract length and payment terms.
• Reduced costs associated with onboarding and offboarding consultants due to the staffing agency handling these processes.
• Increased scalability due to the ability to quickly hire additional consultants as needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hiring an expert SAP consultant can be a costly endeavor. It is essential to factor in all costs associated with the project, including travel expenses, licensing costs, and training and certification costs. By taking the time to research potential consultants and discuss any additional fees before signing any contracts, clients can ensure that they are getting the best value for their money.

If you are looking for an expert SAP consultant to help with your project, contact Biztech Solutions today. Our experienced team of recruiters can provide access to a wide range of consultants with different levels of experience and expertise, allowing you to find the right fit for your projects. We offer competitive rates and can help reduce travel, licensing, training, and certification costs. With our streamlined recruitment process and flexible payment terms, we can help you quickly find the right consultant for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your SAP staffing needs.

Warm Regards,

Krishna Hari.

As an independent consultant, you work with clients who may not even realize your value. They just see you as another resource trying to solve their business problems.

Whether working with small businesses or Fortune 500 companies, every client needs help from time to time. But most consultants fail to wow their clients because they don’t understand how to handle them effectively.

With every interaction, you gradually build your relationship with your client. You must offer excellent customer service and communicate well to create positive experiences for success in your field.

In this article, I’ll share ten steps for interacting with your clients so that you can become indispensable to them. Following these simple rules will quickly build trust and earn respect.

1. Know Your Customer

Knowing them is the most critical step in creating a successful relationship between you and your client. What does this mean? It means understanding who they are, what they’re looking for, and how they expect to be treated.

This knowledge allows you to create a custom solution that meets their needs and expectations.

To begin, ask yourself these questions: Who am I talking to? What do they care about? What do they value? What do they believe? What makes them tick? Once you’ve answered those questions, you’ll be able to design a customized solution that will meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Once you know your customer, you’ll be able to build a strong relationship with them. They’ll trust you because you listened to them and understood their needs. And when they realize you genuinely care about them, they’ll feel valued and appreciated.

Once you know your customer and their culture well, you are ready for step 2.

2. Actively listen before you speak

When you meet a client for the first time, you want to make a good impression. This means listening closely to what they say and learning as much as possible about them.

Try to listen to them and let them do most of the speaking.

While listening, you should ask questions to gather additional information. For example, you might ask:

• What was your biggest challenge?
• How did you overcome it?
• Where else have you worked?
• What were your favorite projects?

These questions give you insight into why they chose you over other consultants. They also show that you care enough to understand their challenges and successes.

Asking questions shows interest in the client and makes them feel valued. In turn, this builds trust and rapport.

Remember always to maintain eye contact while you’re listening. Maintaining eye contact shows respect and confidence. This gives the impression that you’re paying attention and engaged in the conversation.

Next time you meet someone for the first time, remember to listen before speaking!

3. Speak the Client’s Language

Speaking the client’s language means adapting to their preferences, methods, needs and expectations.

Some clients prefer to communicate through emails, while others prefer phone calls and face-to-face meetings. Some clients appreciate being told exactly what to do; others appreciate having their questions answered. So, when speaking with clients, try to understand their communication styles and accommodate them accordingly.

Also, some clients may not know very much about their businesses. They may need facts, figures, and data to help them decide what to do next. Others may need only a conversation where you share ideas and opinions. Whatever information you give them, ensure it’s relevant to their situation. And remember that every client is different, so tailor your communications to suit each client.

It’s easy to fall into bad habits when communicating with clients. But if you want to wow your clients, it’s crucial to understand the terms they use. And, if you’re unfamiliar with specific business lingo, you might end up saying something that sounds awkward or off-putting.

To avoid this, start by identifying the business jargon used by your clients. For example, terms like:

A/B testing, ASAP, BAdl, BAPI, BOR, CDS, CRM, Dynpro, ERP, FiFo, Fiori, JAM, RFC, SCM, and TADIR.

After identifying what your clients need, it’s time to learn about the jargon that exists within the industry. Many terms could apply to your clients, including project management, branding, design, development, and more. Learn about each term and how it relates to your clients. Then, use these terms whenever possible to impress your clients.

4. Negotiate to create win-win solutions

When working with a customer, it’s often helpful to negotiate. In fact, negotiating is part of being a professional consultant.

I want you to use a technique called ‘Getting to Yes.’ Read the book of the same title. The goal of getting to yes is to find common ground where both sides can agree on something.

This allows the client and consultant to work towards a solution that satisfies both parties. The technique works best when the consultant and client share common goals.

5. Understand Your Client’s Context & Objectives

It’s easy to assume that every client wants precisely the same thing. But while clients indeed share common goals, each person has his or her own unique needs and preferences.

To understand your client’s context, you need to learn about who he or she is and what motivates him or her. Once you know the context, you can tailor your services accordingly. Here are four questions that will help you figure out what your client needs:

1. What problem does your business face today?
2. Why is your business struggling?
3. How much time & money would you ideally like to spend?
4. What type of return do you expect?

Once you understand your client’s context and goals, you can create a strategy that aligns with their objectives.

A significant portion of your success as a consultant depends upon your understanding of your client’s objectives. It means knowing exactly what they need and where they need help.

If you don’t understand your client’s needs, you won’t be able to provide them with the right solution. So ask yourself questions like:

• What does the client need/want?
• Where does he/she experience problems?
• Do they use specific tools or methods to solve these issues?
• Are there any cultural factors that affect problem-solving?
• Is there anything specific that makes this client different from others?

Once you’ve answered those questions, you’re ready to move on to the next step.

6. Remember to stay humble

As an independent consultant, you’re often the expert in your field. So defer to your client as the authority on their business.

Your job is to listen, observe, analyze, and offer solutions based on your expertise. That means you shouldn’t try to solve problems for them. Instead, you should ask questions to understand their situation better. Then you can suggest solutions that will benefit both parties.

Don’t forget that you’re working for them, not against them. They’re paying you to give them advice, not to compete with them.

So always remember to remain humble and respectful of your client’s business experience. This will go a long way towards helping you build trust with your clients.

7. Stay Open-Minded

When working with a client, it’s important to remember that we’ve been through the same thing before. We’ve had our failures and successes.

We’ve made mistakes and learned from them. So why wouldn’t we expect the same from our clients?

Don’t think, ‘I have been there, done that.’ Shift your mindset to think about applying lessons learned to future projects.

This means thinking about scenarios where something went wrong and finding solutions to prevent those problems from happening again.

Think about situations where you were successful and develop strategies to repeat that success.

There’s always room for improvement. And even though you’ve already tried something once, there’s always another way to do it.

So don’t close your mind. Be open to new ideas and approaches.

8. Set Realistic Expectations

Clients expect you to deliver results. They expect you to be professional, timely, and thorough. They wish you to give them value for their investment.

Sometimes, though, clients aren’t aware of what they want. Or they think they want something else.

When you set realistic expectations with your clients, you can avoid disappointments later.

For example, let’s say you’re working with a client who wants to implement a business rule in the enterprise engine. He tells you he wants everything done within two weeks. That’s unrealistic.

What happens if you try to rush through the job and end up missing deadlines? Your client will likely be upset and disappointed.

So, set realistic expectations instead of rushing into a project without first meeting with the client. Ask questions to understand exactly what the client wants. Then, come back to him with a proposal that meets his expectations.

And remember, even if you’ve already started a project, you can always add additional features or change the project’s scope.

9. Be easy to work with

As an independent consultant, you may not always be able to wow your client with “wow” moments and big wins. However, you can control your attitude and use those soft skills to your advantage.

When working with clients, you need to remain cheerful and polite. Clients hire consultants because they trust them. They expect you to treat them respectfully and act politely.

Clients appreciate your willingness to listen to their concerns and problems. They understand your ability to empathize with them. They respect your professionalism and courtesy.

Your clients will notice your attitude and demeanor. They’ll remember how you treated them during the interview. They’ll remember how respectful you were. Your clients will choose you over other candidates because they value your professional manner.

So, even though you may not always be successful, you can control your attitude and use your soft skills to your advantage!

10. Feedback is the breakfast of the champion

Asking for feedback is one of the easiest ways to improve yourself. It gives you insight into what works and what doesn’t.

When you ask for feedback, you allow your clients to share their thoughts and opinions directly with you. This will enable them to express themselves without fear of repercussions.

This interaction can lead to better relationships with your clients, which means happier clients and higher conversion rates.

Clients appreciate hearing what you think about their products and services. They also appreciate knowing that you care enough to ask for feedback.

So ask for feedback whenever possible. Your clients will thank you for it!

Conclusion

In conclusion, independent consultants often struggle to stand out from the crowd. They’re usually working alone, which means they don’t have the benefit of a team behind them. This can lead to a lack of confidence and isolation. However, to succeed as an independent consultant, you must change these negative feelings into positive ones. 

To impress your clientele, you need to show them that you care. This means taking the extra step to ensure you’re doing everything possible to help them succeed. By following the steps I have outlined in this article, you’ll be able to create a winning relationship with your clients and leave them wanting more from you.

Let me know if you have any secret tips to wow your clients.

Please contact us if you would like to explore great opportunities with Biztech. We specialize in staffing solutions, including SAP Staffing.

Good luck,
Warm Regards,
Krishna Hari.

Connecting talented IT professionals with great companies

Houston’s job market is booming. In 2021, the city broke a record by creating over 1,50,000 jobs. And things are looking up this year too. 

In a competitive market like Houston’s, it’s hard to find the right candidate for your company. You need the perfect mix of skills, experience, and chemistry to ensure the new hire fits your team perfectly.  And if you don’t get it right, it can be months before you realize it.

Let BizTech do the hard work for you. We are an experienced staffing agency in Houston specializing in SAP and Non-SAP hiring and can help you find the perfect candidate.

We have a pool of talented candidates and know how to find the best fit for your business.

Let us help you take care of hiring so you can focus on what you do best!

IT-focused staffing agency

We offer a comprehensive range of hiring solutions in two main verticals: 

SAP Staffing

Our SAP Staffing services include a pool of: 

• SUPPLY CHAIN
  EWM / WM | MM | TM | EM
• ALES & MARKETING
  SD | SRM | CRM
• FINANCE
  FI | CO
• ANALYTICS
  BW | BO / BODS
• TECHNICAL
  BASIS | ABAP | HANA | FIORI

Non-SAP Staffing

Our non-SAP staffing services include:

• CONSULTANTS
  Business | Functional | Technical | Techno-functional
• MANAGERS
  Project | Program
• DEVELOPMENT
  SR. Developers | Architects

Our Staffing Options Include

Whether you’re looking to fill a sudden surge in demand or just want to add some extra expertise to your team, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what we offer:

Temporary staffing

If you are looking for temporary staff to meet your business’s dynamic needs, we can help. The hiring process for skilled temporary workers to meet the seasonal demands of your business is daunting. But with our Temporary staffing services, you’ll never worry about finding the right worker for the right time. 

Contract Staffing

Contract staffers are ideal for short-term projects or when you need someone who can step in quickly. They are flexible, easy to manage, and cost-effective.

Direct Hire solutions

Hiring a full-time employee for your team can be expensive and time-consuming. Save time and money with our Direct hiring solutions that get you the best talent for your team.

Our services are designed to meet the needs of SAP and non-SAP-based businesses of all sizes. We’ve covered you whether you’re a startup or a Fortune 500 company.

Why Us?

With over 20 years of experience providing IT solutions, we are a trusted partner for thousands of companies in Houston and beyond. As a reliable local staffing firm, we’ve helped clients with many staffing challenges.

Our staffing experts understand the unique requirements of each client and their specific industry. This allows us to match the right candidate to your job opening. Our goal is to provide you with the most qualified candidates possible while saving you valuable time and resources. That being said, here are a few more reasons why we are your one-stop solution for hiring skilled talent: 

A comprehensive database of talent

With access to thousands of candidates, we can provide you with the most relevant candidates for your position.

Dedicated Recruiters 

Our team consists of experienced recruiters dedicated to finding qualified candidates for SAP and non-SAP staffing.

Proven track record

Over the past 20 years, our staffing solutions have helped clients from startups to large enterprises find their next great hires.

Free initial consultation

Call today to learn more about our services and how we can help you find the right person for your job opening.

No upfront fees

You pay only after you hire a candidate.