You’re looking to get promoted in ERP. What are the top skills you need to succeed?

First of all, I should point out that companies desiring to initiate an ERP project do not have a good preparation period before the project starting. The main reason is that the company's top management focus only on the project success and do not question whether the company's current procedures in which the ERP will be designed are working correctly and producing the desired and expected results. In most cases, because the pre-ERP preparation period is skipped or not designed well, it is inevitable for the company management who expect miracles from ERP to have disappointment and failure. Before starting the ERP project, all procedures and human resources should be reviewed and planned improvements be made for success.

Assume a firm's business goal is to become the market leader with the objective of doubling its market share in the next two years. A click and mortar business model can be operationalized by replacing the legacy business system by an ERP which includes an e-commerce module. The expected benefits of higher revenue and an additional sales channel via a Web store to eventually lead the market must be communicated to the firm's stakeholders to increase their engagement and motivation.

ERP and Business Intelligence were mostly available as two separate software products from different vendors in the past. BI has become so essential for ERP users that ERP vendors provide their own BI as an ERP module or an integrated application. An ERP professional can consider data analysis skills as an advantage for getting promoted. An ERP enhanced with BI supports the enterprise for making better strategic and operational decisions with descriptive and predictive analytical insights.

As a general rule, it is possible to say that you cannot measure the data you cannot collect, and you cannot fulfill the management function with the data you cannot measure. Collecting, protecting, classifying, processing data and drawing meaningful conclusions from these data and using these results in company decision-making mechanisms should be done with scientific business methods. All data, financial or operational, should be measured and evaluated comparatively over a certain period of time. Data sources, data processing methods and results obtained from data should be periodically audited by independent audit firms and findings should be reported. Report results should not be ignored and improvements should be made when necessary.

The ideal ERP project manager has advanced ERP or IT and management skills and is usually perceived as a role model by various stakeholders.

Project management teams have a key role in the success of ERP projects. Project teams must be composed of experienced personnel who know the company procedures well, and team members must be trained to better understand the ERP logic before project begins. In addition,these team members should take part in the preparatory work (process analysis/improvements) that must be done in company before project is started. Trying to install ERP on internal processes that are not functioning well will most likely fail. Therefore, it is very important for team members to have detailed information about internal processes, even if they are not functioning well. The project team should be divided into functional parts and hold regular progress meetings.

As an Odoo functional consultant, having in-depth system knowledge is vital for my career advancement. Understanding the Odoo ERP system inside out, including its various modules, features, and configurations, allows me to provide tailored solutions to address business needs effectively. With this expertise, I can analyse requirements, design customisations, and implement solutions that align perfectly with the organisation's objectives. Additionally, knowing the system enables me to identify problems quickly and resolve them. The knowledge is pivotal for advancing my career as a functional consultant and opening up opportunities for promotion.