UPDATE: The implications of SAP buying SYBASE: SAP SYBASE

What will be the hot but sometimes overlooked SAP skills in 2010? A former colleague who is now working at a system integrator asked me this question when we both meet at the airport in Düsseldorf on our way home for the holiday season. As my mind was more concentrated on the presents I had to buy I promised to share my thoughts in a blog with him and other members of the SCN community in the New Year. So here we go:

HR for public sector: There has been a huge demand for SAP HR experts for the public sector in 2009 and it is sure that this trend will continue in 2010 and beyond. This offers a great opportunity for HR experts from other industries. As always they will need to go through some learning phase with even lower rates as they are used to. But the public sector will offer numerous huge HR projects in the next years. The need to recruit new employees in a much tighter workforce in the future in many countries around the world will accelerate the trend we can see at the moment even more.

HR for healthcare: Healthcare will have an even greater need for HR practices and new systems. Even in the crisis hospitals could not find enough qualified doctors, nurses and other qualified staff. Although the projects will in most cases be smaller than in the public sector (as the hospitals apart from hospital chains are not so big) the huge number of projects will offer you a very good perspective for the years to come.

DFPS: I already blogged about SAP's solution for defense forces and public security organizations some time ago. What I said then will remain true in 2010. The demand is high and even increasing due to many new projects. And the good news is: Most SAP experts have already a strong foundation they can build upon. As DFPS integrates all ERP areas your former project experiences offer a good starting point. Especially logistic experts or consultants who have worked in the high tech industry before could find a very promising new area here. Together with two colleagues I will support new starters in DFPS with a book about DFPS which will be published in the first half of 2010.

SAP Interactive forms by Adobe: I wonder again and again why Interactive forms are not already a hot topic for many SAP experts out there. The demand from the customer side is there. Even if you are not a technical oriented person this is a unique opportunity. The right design of the process flow with the forms and even the design of them are as important as the technical part. I have tried to summarize some important points in another blog some time ago.

SAP Compliant Identity Management (=Identity management + GRC): Security was named as top priority for decision maker in all prediction lists for 2010. Therefore it is for sure that the increase of projects and the demand for skilled experts in this area will remain. 

Industry specific SAP CRM: CRM is becoming more and more important for industries like healthcare and public sector. Although it seems perhaps a bit unlikely for outsiders the growing competition between hospitals makes patient referral management one of the top growth areas in 2010 and beyond. In the public sector not only citizen management projects are based on CRM. With the new solution Investigative Case Management CRM experts can find a lot of projects in the area of public security. As public authorities will even increase their investment in these areas it is a top growth area. Therefore CRM experts who are willing to expand their knowledge will find numerous projects in 2010 in these industries.

Solution architecture skills: The trend is very stable. SAP solution architects who combine a deep process expertise with a strong technical background will face a strong demand of their skills as we have seen in the last years.

I think you have noticed that I have focused on the industries I work on. I am quite sure that other industries offer overlooked opportunities as well. And as always: These predictions are my personal ones and do not represent any SAP statement.

Bernhard Escherich is a strategic solution architect from SAP.

Source:SAP Community Network

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