The Art of Building Strong Relationships with SAP Consultants

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations often turn to SAP consultants to lead the way through the world of enterprise resource planning. Whether the goal is to implement a new SAP system, optimize existing processes, or tackle intricate system challenges, SAP consultants bring invaluable expertise to the table. However, the key to unlocking the full potential of consulting is in the strength of the relationships with SAP consultants that you build. 

Building strong relationships with SAP consultants takes time and effort, but it is well worth it in order to achieve successful outcomes with your consultants. Strategic partnerships can make the difference between SAP projects that simply meet objectives and those that drive transformative, long-term change for your company. Here are some necessary actions and processes organizations should take and establish to create and maintain sustainable relationships with SAP consultants. 

How to Build Relationships with SAP Consultants

Clear Communication

Effective communication is the foundation for any successful relationship in and out of the workplace. Engage your consultants in upfront, honest communication to ensure the parties have the same understanding of the project’s objectives, scope, and expectations. By clearly articulating your needs, consultants can allocate their time and skills more efficiently, optimizing resource utilization and maintaining a reasonable project timeline. 

It’s also necessary to stick to the intended timeline and draft a contract for the project. A formal arrangement ensures that consultants are paid on time and your organization receives the promised benefits of the project. It also leaves no room for assumptions or misinterpretations for either group. 

If communication is messy, it can be challenging for both groups to establish synergy and meet objectives, especially if your company’s goals are unclear to the consultant. SAP consultants will best be able to develop and/or integrate personalized SAP systems for your company if they understand your goals, values, and the current state of your IT infrastructure. Transparent and open communication sets up a partnership based on trust and collaboration, ensuring successful SAP projects and potentially a long-term relationship that could be beneficial in the future. 

Trust and Respect

Establishing trust and respect with SAP consultants is essential for establishing a productive and successful working relationship. Building these creates an environment where consultants are motivated to perform at their best, collaborate with your team, and heavily contribute to the success of your SAP projects. 

SAP consultants are hired for their specialized expertise and skills, so it’s critical to recognize their abilities and trust their judgment. Collaboration with SAP consultants should be a synergistic process, and micromanaging their work can take time out of their and also your busy schedule. Demonstrating your trust in their work will boost their confidence and commitment to the project. You should also take advantage of their invaluable input and involve them in SAP implementation decision-making when appropriate. Involving consultants shows respect for their insights and can also lead to the development of innovative ideas with access to their skills. 

Set Realistic Expectations

As an SAP client, being realistic in your goals and expectations from the start aligns both parties’ understanding of the project. Setting these upfront provides clarity of the project’s goals, scope, and timeline which can be critical for avoiding misunderstandings and setbacks. It’s important to leave no room for assumptions and ambiguities, as this can even lead to potential conflicts down the road. 

Realistic expectations also set your project up for measurable objectives and performance indicators that can help to identify completed project goals. Unrealistic expectations can often be impossible to meet, leading to inefficiencies and frustration at the incompletion of SAP projects and straining of relationships when tasks aren’t completed in the desired timeframe. Realistic expectations ensure that project goals are feasible and won’t strain your consultant relationship. 

Celebrate Success

When project milestones are achieved, take time to celebrate these successes together. Recognizing and appreciating the contributions of the SAP consultants reinforces the positive aspects of your relationship, such as the trust in and respect for their specialized skills and expertise. It can also boost morale for the entire team, creating more engaged participants and maintaining project momentum. 

Publicly recognize the achievements of the consultants regarding their design and implementation of the SAP systems for your company and go out of your way to express gratitude for their specific contributions. Celebrating together and demonstrating appreciation for their work creates a close project relationship, establishing a foundation for a more long-term working relationship. Consultants who feel valued and appreciated will be more likely to stay engaged and continue working with your organization. 

Getting Started

From the initial meeting to discuss company expectations and consultant needs, to the satisfaction of project objectives, organizations should take steps to ensure that their relationship with their SAP consultants is growing and thriving. You’ll see an increase in efficiency and benefits through greater collaboration, increased motivation, and improved innovation and SAP progress. Establishing a long-term partnership can provide opportunities for working together again on SAP management, repairs, and enhancements, creating a continuous loop that puts long-term value in your SAP systems. 

To kickstart these relationship-building practices effectively, contact BCTG’s team of SAP Staffing and Recruiting experts today. 

Contributions from Sam Weitzel