What are the best ways to maintain focus in an ERP career?

The ERP ecosystem is moving faster than ever. To maintain focus, my recommendation is this: 1. Learn about your business and their goals. Keep a list of business goals on a post-it note next to your desk to remind you. This is what you are working in ERP towards. 2. Read and digest blogs, forums, release notes and videos about your chosen ERP system. I suggest one hour per week at least to keep on top of the game. 3. Share your knowledge. If you share, others will too. 4. Find a mentor(s). 5. Ensure your work somewhere where you can grow and progress.

The ERP field is dynamic, and staying focused involves ongoing learning, adaptability and effective collaboration and a commitment to the following strategies to help successful in your ERP career: 1. Set Clear Goals 2. Prioritize Tasks 3. Time Management 4. Continuous Learning 5. Build Expertise 6. Effective Communication 7. Collaboration and Networking 8. Problem-Solving Skills 9. Client Relationship Management 10. Quality Assurance 11. Documentation

Any ERP system is there to support business operations and generate business value through improved reporting and efficiency. The goal of anyone in the ERP market should, therefore be to focus on growing experience and skills in business processes and best practices. ERP skills on their own are not sufficient. Be the person who gets involved in cross-functional and end-to-end business processes and learn more about the "how" and "why" as much as you can.

The ERP skills do not limit only in the IT skills like configurations or coding. Following are the important aspects 1. Domain knowledge is the most important key in improving ERP skills 2. Understanding the business process is important 3. ERP solutions are integrated solutions. So, understanding the integrations within processes (or modules) is very important 4. Most of the ERP players are moving to cloud. Understanding the cloud aspects is very important 5. Understanding of how LOB third party solutions work with ERP solutions is also important 6. There are many ERP players. But 90% of the worldwide ERP business is covered by 8-9 ERP providers. For the best sustainable choose one of these ERP for sustainable & growing ERP career.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is supposed to be catch-all, as the name suggests it is enterprise wide solution. How various ERPs are designed and how they have evolved over decades (details of which is not part of this discussion) clearly suggests that you cannot confine yourself to one small area when it comes to ERP. Ofcourse, you cannot be expert in all areas, but you need to be aware of what's going on in the enterprise and the enterprise landscape. Considering above, it is imperative for anyone in ERP career to keep learning and updating themselves not just in their core area but overall. If not, without even you realising it you will be soon thrown out of the ERP career.

Effective and continuous learning paths are very essential in today's rapidly changing technology World Apart from your core expertise ( Vertical learning),one should also increase the horizontal learning. So be the Jack of all trades. How do you do this ? 1. Keep eyes on new development in the area 2. Active on LinkedIn and follow other experts in a similar area 3. Try to learn 4-5 new things every month 4. Share your learnings with network or community

In my opinion, the best way to focus on a ERP career is to focus on 1 specific area of interest e.g. Human Capital, Financials, Supply Chain Management, or Customer Relationships Management. Understand deep the area and plan for experience on that area to gain an understanding of industry best practices. All ERP related careers focus on adapting to the current environment and constraints either due to business process change or compliance, but the basic principles for e.g. accounting, on hand balance etc. remain the same. Once an expert level is reached either you could move build deeper insight inside modules within the area e.g. Planning, Supply Chain Execution etc. or go across modules and area for consulting.

Continuous learning is the lifeblood of an ERP career. It's not just about acquiring knowledge but embracing a mindset of adaptability. Staying abreast of emerging technologies, industry trends, and innovative practices is vital. Seek diverse learning channels like webinars and mentors to gain insights and practical wisdom. This proactive approach not only enhances expertise but also keeps the work engaging, preventing monotony and ensuring sustained focus in the ever-evolving ERP landscape.

In my opinion, the best way to keep focussed is to find your niche and keep at it . Follow your heart ( which will help find your special place ). Surround yourself with advisors who have your interests in mind. Serve those around you with honesty. Be hungry for knowledge and eager to help. What you give is what you get ! Life is interesting. Be discerning! And be disciplined, be yourself.

Always be curious, look for the new skills to move you forward, the best way is to talk to lots of customers and test ideas on peers. Try to work out what is hype and what is real ( The hype fades) never stay on the same topics in the end the demand will fail

Adopting a mindset of continuous improvement is crucial for success in the field of ERP. This involves actively seeking feedback, reflecting on your experiences, and identifying areas for growth and development. Having a mentor or coach who is more experienced in the field can provide invaluable guidance and support as you navigate your ERP career. Whether it's a formal mentoring relationship or informal discussions with a trusted colleague, seeking mentorship can accelerate your learning and professional development.

Ao solicitar feedback de diferentes fontes, os profissionais têm a oportunidade de obter insights valiosos sobre seu desempenho, suas habilidades e áreas de melhoria. Essa troca de informa??es n?o só ajuda a identificar pontos fortes e fracos, mas também possibilita o aprimoramento contínuo e a adapta??o às necessidades do ambiente de trabalho. Além disso, receber feedback construtivo pode ser um estímulo poderoso para o crescimento pessoal e profissional, incentivando os profissionais de ERP a buscar constantemente a excelência e a inova??o em suas práticas. Ao adotar uma abordagem aberta e receptiva ao feedback, os indivíduos demonstram um compromisso com o autodesenvolvimento e a excelência em seu campo de atua??o.

In order to remain enthused during your ERP career, solicit feedback from managers, co-workers, clients and users. Feedback is a practical instrument in identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It promotes better performance, quality, and productivity. In addition, feedback serves as a driver of taking standards up a notch, a reason to accept challenges, and an incentive to develop professionally. Participate in feedback-seeking through asking targeted questions, practicing active listening, accepting critical comments, and taking worthwhile advice into account to grow further.

And don’t be afraid to say you could have done a better job in your last ERP configuration or code written. I remember often in my early ERP days I set some stuff up in a suboptimal way. Having someone show you a better solution (feedback) is something you’ll likely never forget

Maintain focus in an ERP career by actively seeking feedback. Regularly solicit input from colleagues, supervisors, and end-users to refine skills and address improvement areas. Constructive feedback provides valuable insights, fostering professional growth and enhancing performance in the ever-evolving ERP environment.

Work/life balance in the world of ERP is challenging as there can be intensely busy periods followed by opportunities to rest and recharge. If your employer isn't giving you any time to recharge, then look for other employment but be aware of this roller coaster cycle that is an integral part of working in ERP. Rory Vaden talks about these periods of imbalance in his book “Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time” (thank you Bing for the reference). The main point that he emphasized during a Lewis Howes podcast is that real growth and achievement happens during periods of imbalance.

The brain is most creative, when it is idle. This is why good ideas appear in the shower, where the brain can follow up new ideas. Improve that by finding time where you do nothing. Really nothing. No smartphone, no music, no book, just nothig. You will be surprised how relaxing this is and how much more creative you will become.

Achieving a healthy balance between work and life is a universal struggle, and especially relevant in demanding fields like ERP. While your core list mentioned finding your purpose and setting SMART goals, here are some specific strategies to focus on when it comes to work-life balance: Establish Boundaries: Set clear working hours: Define your work hours and stick to them as much as possible. Avoid checking emails or working late unless absolutely necessary. Utilize "do not disturb" modes: Mute work notifications on your phone and computer during non-working hours. Communicate your boundaries: Inform colleagues and managers about your designated work hours and expectations for communication outside those times.

Work Life Balance is a myth for employees ??. Due to cost cutting, less people will be onboarded in your team to run the show. Though there are holiday in your bucket, you can't take it as it will impact BCP. And when layoff trend is going on, no one can't take risk of offending his or her supervisor. So, more the fear will remain in the market it's just day dreaming having quality work life balance.

1. **Continuous Learning:** Stay updated on ERP technologies and industry trends through regular training and certifications. 2. **Goal Setting:** Set clear career goals and break them down into manageable tasks to stay motivated and focused. 3. **Time Management:** Prioritize tasks, use time-blocking techniques, and minimize distractions to enhance productivity. 4. **Networking:** Build a professional network within the ERP community to stay connected, share insights, and gain support. 5. **Problem-solving Skills:** Develop strong problem-solving abilities to address challenges efficiently and maintain a proactive approach.

I think that if you understand why you are working in the industry as an ERP consultant then maintaining focus will not be an issue for you. If you are struggling to stay focused, then perhaps this is not the career for you. If you are doing something you love every day, then it will enrich and reward your life and add value to your clients.

100% agree finding a purpose is important, and not simply thinking about your career and what ERP can do for you, think what you can do for your employer and clients and get on and do it. ie build the biggest ERP team, deliver on time. In my experience you will move forward faster

It’s important that you like what you are doing. Especially ERP is a space where you are helping organizations to improve on their processes and to make better business decisions by exposing them to data that helps drive decisions. Even though it might be very taxing while you are implementing, but you get enormous satisfaction and happiness when your customers go-live and get full benefits and realize value. Focus, dedication and perseverance is important for one to succeed in ERP space.

The purpose should reflect on the outcomes you can drive as an Independent Consultant or part of a team. I think a set of outcomes, and driving the team to align to these are just like a destination you are trying to reach. You need to stick to a time shortest, the efficient route and the mode to reach the destination. So, the purpose should be the success of the outcome.

In finding purpose : 1. Choosing an ERP module based on passion might not be always feasible. For example a person with passion on sales and distribution can land on finance module. However ERP does gives flexibility to learn the best of both and integrations. 2. It is always best to align your purpose driven passion into work. There is always an option to make a shift. For me I love people & processes but I started as a developer in ERP module. I followed my passion and make a shift to HR. Follow your dream and it works like a charm.

Most important thing is to know what you want. I always compare ERP to a Traffic Signal. There are many career paths you can take. You can be a CIO, An Advisor, A delivery manager, A Program Manager etc. Early in my career, I realized that I was good at implementing ERP and delighting the customer. I never wanted to follow the rat race and become Director and VP etc (which is the career path in India). I wanted to be with the customer and deliver solutions that make them look good in their organizations. I have been doing that for over 25 years now. The result is high level of job satisfaction

In my opinion, it’s best to remain honest and stay true to our higher purpose. We are drawn to a career in ERP for a reason and it’s best to keep to our strengths. We colloborate with anyone needed and truly work towards creating a better world by providing solutions to our clients Honesty is a value that cannot be under estimated. It obtains respect from peers, colleagues , stakeholders and many others.

Keeping focus on one career path is a matter of cultivating, building and continuously nurturing one’s core competency. ERP will continue to be the core of any organization and it is important to keep investing in solidifying this core. As one progresses in the career, he or she could be easily digressed with the peripheral applications which could be lucrative in the short run. However these are cyclical opportunities and would derail one’s career if not vigilant with the contemporary business needs. In a nutshell, keep solidifying your core competency while being vigilant on the peripheral areas impacting ERP. Look at the larger picture of entities and you will realise the CORE continues to stay!

In my experience - tribal knowledge of that industry is key and adapting the ERP to those processes while maintaining a clean core would go a long way in this space

Create your own ERP ‘coat rack’ Why do houses have a coat rack? To make sure you will not end up in a messy pile of jackets but have a structure where you can hung the coats neatly. The ERP landscape is very diverse: not only the application are quite often having many functionalities, also the software is related to business processes and the people using it. Creating a ‘coat rack’ in your way of working is therefore important for Your career. Hang your knowledge and experience on your coat rack so that it will be structured and your experience will not end up in a messy pile where even you can’t find the relevant things any more. The coat rack helps you to choose where you have to focus on for improving your career.