Are you too dependent on one SAP consultant?
Finding a top notch SAP consultant is priceless. But once you do find one, you do what anyone else would. You rely on them more and more. You’re happy, they’re happy. But can this seemly perfect situation be dangerous? It can, if fate doesn’t share your plans.
Now imagine, this beloved consultant you rely on, gets clobbered by a bus on his way to work one day. Thankfully, he lives, but he’s going to be laid up in the hospital, out of commission, for at least 3 months. And so could your SAP Support.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Yeah, but that will never happen to me. Besides, I don’t over rely on anyone.” Just to be safe, how about we do a little over-reliance test?
How to tell if you’re over-relying on your consultant
He’s indispensable; so you never thought to document his knowledge in a way others can benefit. This makes him the only guy with the password to your most prized knowledge. Sure, you could document his processes and knowledge, but who has time for all that extra work? It’s much easier to lull yourself into thinking nothing bad will ever happen.
Until blam -- bus crash, and you’re left scrambling.
It’s smart to gradually start relying on others a bit more
Part of what over-reliance signifies is that your team’s bullpen, and maybe even starting rotation, needs a serious upgrade. It doesn’t mean you have to boot your beloved consultant. But you can start hedging your bets in case a catastrophe kicks them out of commission.
3 steps to start doing this are:
- Train the business key users in the SAP functional areas so that they are self-reliant on the business critical tasks.
- Obtain documentation from your SAP consultants for the SAP configurations and troubleshooting of common user issues.
- Partner with a SAP solution provider who can learn your business processes and willing to invest in a team to support your business users.
Never stop looking for world class support you can afford
Your consultant will be happy to know their exact role, and if something bad does happen, your department won’t feel like it’s been run over too. Your consultant can recuperate and your team can effortlessly step up without being stressed. Think of it like having a fire--instead of waiting for your superhero consultant to douse it, the entire team can pitch in to save users from needless suffering.
Next Step
If you’d like some help putting these steps into practice, give us a call (or fill the form below and send to us). We’re happy to meet and discuss your situation.
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