The SAP world is becoming increasingly sophisticated from a technical perspective, which is fundamentally changing project work. In terms of time and resources, the traditional separation between consultants and developers is no longer worthwhile in every project. That is why we at IN3 focus on techno-functional SAP consulting: our consultants combine process knowledge and backend development in one person. This saves time, reduces coordination efforts, and delivers better results.
The classic SAP world: Consultant vs. Developer
In the traditional SAP world, there is a clear distinction between process consultants and developers. While consultants focus on business processes and customization, developers create tailor-made programs and adaptations. The larger the project, the stricter this distinction becomes. SAP consultants analyze business requirements and work closely with users. They understand their needs and adapt the system accordingly. They also provide support in selecting suitable SAP modules and functionalities. SAP developers, on the other hand, are technical experts. They develop user-defined applications, integrate SAP into non-SAP systems, and implement interfaces. In doing so, they work closely with consultants to implement technical requirements. Interestingly, consultants are often paid more than developers—even though modules and processes change only minimally, while developers must constantly learn new technologies.
New challenges in SAP projects
The SAP world is more complex and technology-heavy than ever. Customers expect rapid implementation with as little personnel expenditure as possible. At the same time, the development side continues to split: some developers focus on classic backend technologies, while others handle frontend and cloud. Both are necessary for successful projects. But does that mean companies should bring in another developer for every project? The answer: it depends on the type of project. In large transformation projects, it can make sense to separate front-end developers, back-end developers, and consultants – if only because of the sheer volume of tasks involved. The situation is different in optimization projects.
What does techno-functional SAP consulting mean?
The techno-functional approach describes a comprehensive method that combines functional and technical expertise. Our consultants not only understand business processes, but also master backend technology. This enables them to implement adjustments independently – without first having to consult a developer. This pays off especially in smaller optimization projects, where the classic division of roles would be too time-consuming and resource-intensive. Instead, we deliver quickly and easily – with a single point of contact who is equally proficient in processes and code. You could say that in the techno-functional approach, backend development grows together with functionality.
Advantages of the techno-functional approach
Faster communication: When consultants and developers work together, coordination phases often take up a lot of time. In addition, quality suffers when “Chinese whispers” come into play. If both roles are combined in one person, this coordination step is completely eliminated.
Higher development quality: Consultants with development knowledge are familiar with the data situation and know what adjustments the system needs. They can perform testing from a different perspective—because they can understand functionalities instead of just running data through the system.
End-to-end consulting: The techno-functional approach enables holistic consulting and communication from a single source. Only when consultants understand the technology behind the processes can they find and implement optimal solutions.
When is techno-functional consulting worthwhile?
Techno-functional SAP consulting is particularly suitable for:
– Optimization projects with a limited scope – Projects with tight deadlines
– Situations where quick decisions are required
– Teams that prefer short communication channels For large transformation projects with many parallel work packages, the classic separation of roles may still be appropriate. We will give you honest advice on which approach is best suited to your project.
