How do you get ERP certified?

Value of ERP, especially SAP certifications are misunderstood by a significant number candidates as I observe the current trend. Certifications are skill recognition at the end of the day. Which means you are announcing to the world that you already possess the practical skills on the topics you are certified on. You see, the skill comes first. The certification comes later. A certification helps you stand out in a large consultant pool, but first you should fulfill the bare minimum requirement to be part of that pool. That base requirement is some months/years of real time project experience. My recommendation has always been to go for certification with some (at least 8-12 months) project experience.

ERP follows one size fits all approach. They were designed for certain business conditions which either no longer exist or dramatically changed. Instead of a company fitted into a system, the system should fit in a company. Same as adjustable seat, brake pedal in a cockpit. If this is untrue, why so many Start-ups are thriving to fill up the white spaces? 70% of the World still moves on Excel, 20% use some form of Technology without knowing why and 10% are deploying Technology with precise objectives. With changing goalpost, we need to explore solutions that can keep pace with changing market dynamics. Jeff Bezos said "World wants you to be typical; never let it happen". This applies to ERP as well.

Think of ERP certification as a badge of honor. It's evidence that you're adept at managing particular ERP software, covering functions like finance, HR, and project management. It's not just a feather in your cap; it's a mark of expertise in the ERP realm.

ERP certification will enhance your credibility among the other aspirants who are pushing hard to get into the big three like Oracle, Microsoft or SAP. It is a complete product software solution in terms of CRM, HR, finance, resourcing and much more.

ERP certification is a validation from the Product company that the individual is aware of all the business capabilities a software provides, road maps and the limitations.

1. Stand Out: Elevate your job prospects. 2. Skill Boost: Hone your ERP talents. 3. Confidence: Tackle ERP challenges with ease. 4. Networking: Dive deep into the ERP community. 5. Higher Earnings: Potentially boost your salary.

ERP certification will boost your knowledge and specificity and open up a complete career path in the management of these applications.

Boost your skill levels and potentially explore new opportunities in adding value to the organization. This in turn would also helps to professionally elevate your job responsbilities.

This is a nuanced topic. My personal take is that impact of certifications on salary while changing jobs as an experienced ERP practitioner is minimal to none. Almost all of the bargaining power relies on candidate's hands-on project skills and how well you are able to sell your skills as suitable fit for the new role. One should do certifications for several other reasons: - to determine whether your current skills are compatible with the new capabilities and features the ERP system. Certification is also a great way to find out whether your present work is up to date with industry demands or if you are stuck in the past. - To execute your daily work confidently that comes from getting the certification done.

This validation adds to the credibility of a candidate when the recruiters or projects are looking to hire someone and sets them apart from like to like candidates with the same years of experience.

1. Software Focus: SAP, Oracle, or maybe Microsoft Dynamics? 2. Domain Pick: Finance, logistics, or manufacturing? 3. Role Clarity: Are you a user, consultant, or developer? 4. Provider's Credibility: Go for reputed, accredited institutions. 5. Cost & Requirements: Weigh prerequisites, fees, and renewal conditions.

NetSuite ERP offers certifications in SuiteFoundation, Administrator, Financial User, and ERP Consultant to validate your expertise in their business management software. To earn them, study the exam topics, register online, take the exam with multiple-choice questions and tasks, achieve a passing score, and receive the certification badge to showcase your achievements.

The choice of ERP certification in the perspective of a consultant should consider : -the market behaviour eg:SME adoption of ERP -the dominent ERP provider -Economy health in the country or region of operation Just to mention the above. There is no value in being SAP certified in your region if there is zero demand for it.

The easiest way is if you have had the exposure to a ERP as a end user, it’s usually easier to understand the business processes and concepts and the underlying business process to achieve it. Therefore if you have been exposed to a ERP in particular and see better prospects choose it and coming down to the domain, if you choose a domain(Sales and Distribution, Production Planning etc) that you are aware of makes a huge difference in learning quickly and being able to be productive.

Go for Certification in the area you have experience in, I have seen many people wanting to do a Certification in Finance, even though they have experience and degree in say, Sales. This will be a waste of time and effort as you have to be able to show a value in the field you are certified, just being certified will never get the job done. Any no one will respect you from the field you are certified in!

- Know Your Topics: Master exam objectives. - Hands-On Practice: Dive into the software's nuts and bolts. - Use Learning Tools: Books, courses, and forums can be your best friends. - Group Study: Harness collective wisdom. - Mock Exams: Gauge where you stand.

Assuming the basics in place, you have tried and learned to navigate your system and read some course literature. Find a mentor to discuss your topics with while looking through potential questions. You learn a lot more by discussing how processes works and potential choices to make than by sitting and reading on your own.

Use the official resources as much as possible. For SAP Certifications, beginners often underestimate the numerous free resources being made available by SAP and end up spending money with unskilled trainers. I am huge proponent of self preparation and websites like leveraging help.sap.com that has full scale SAP guides and documentations. Experienced folks can check with their employer for SAP Learning Hub access that provides a more structured way of preparing. Recently SAP has launched a free learning and certification portal, learning.sap.com, ideal for beginners and those who want to move from their current functions and want to begin their SAP journey.

For SAP, there are few avenues to understand the concepts. 1. Self training - SAP learning Hub- $ 2. Instructor led - Class room model- $$$

Most likely to certify for this type of application you will need to study a lot and go through a lot of screens. Nowadays the contents are very self-guided and instructor-paced, too. Start by signing up for the course, they will take you through the whole certification.

- Know the Rules: Familiarize with exam protocols. - Arrive Prepared: Get there early, with all essentials. - Mindful Reading: Understand each question thoroughly. - Time Management: Balance speed and accuracy. - Recheck: Verify your answers.

Assuming you have studied and understood the in system exercises from your classroom or online training. Breathe and read carefully. You have lots of time. Do all questions you are certain of immediately and save the dubious ones for last, ensuring you're not getting into time trouble. It is really no different than any other exam :)

For SAP certifications, - Use the free SAP learning journeys for your module of interest to identify the major areas you need to cover as part of your preparation. Prepare a learning plan that spans out through 6-8 weeks. - Use free portals like help.sap.com, openSAP.com, learning.sap.com and SAP Ariba connect etc. to find relevant guides/materials for preparation. If you are already in a project, check with your employer if can get the access to SAP Learning Hub. - Reach out to experienced practitioners in your network and seek guidance and advice.

Make sure you go through the whole contents, do the exercises, look at the videos and demos, take notes, and try to practice at work if you are exposed. These certifications are very structured and they will prepare you for success on the exam day.

It is important that you read the questions carefully and do not write your first thought. Think of an answer that is more related to other business areas and that answers the question accurately. Make sure you cover all parts of the question.

As with any professional journey, the path to ERP certification is peppered with personal anecdotes, diverse experiences, and unique insights. Remember, while certification gives you an edge, real-world experience, continuous learning, and adaptability remain priceless in the ERP world.

Remember that the skill requirements are changing. You need to know how to handle the ERP of your choice, but you also must understand business process, handover points in processes, industries, impact of company strategies on choices to make, have communication skills, being a proficient listener, being able to synthesize different experiences and knowledge, amalgamate opinions. Knowing how to configure or program an ERP is an infinitely smaller part of consulting than it was 20+ years ago when I started out.