You’re looking to make a career change. How can you ensure that you’re making the right decision?

ERP is used in all types of organization to run business processes in an effective and efficient manner. An order-to-cash process involves a sequence of sales, inventory management and finance activities like recording a sales order, confirming the availability of and shipping the ordered products, issuing and sending an invoice to the customer and receiving payment to be applied to the invoice. ERP hyperautomation means that every process is automated as much as possible. An invoice is generated by a validation click based on the order details. On issuing a product, the remaining available quantity may fall below the minimum inventory level and automatically trigger the procure-to-pay process for inventory replenishment. ERP is applied IT.

ERP involves diverse tasks which can be classified as technical, functional or change management. Data may need to be extracted from an old system, cleaned and transformed for migration to the ERP database. Business process diagrams are drawn for easier interaction with the client's employees during the design of improved processes. A knowledge of process activities like sales and procurement is an asset. The ERP has many configuration parameters to be correctly set for the processes to run according to the client's needs. The ERP may need to be interfaced with a third-party software which provides features required by the client but missing in the ERP. Future ERP users are trained and involved in testing to manage any resistance to change.

Being motivated, interested or passionate can drive people to occupy the top positions in a profession for which they had none of the skills at the beginning. IT and business studies are helpful for an ERP career. Technical skills are IT-related. Functional skills cover business process management and the functional knowledge and experience about ERP modules that the consultant implements and supports. There are modules or integrated applications for finance, marketing and sales, purchasing, inventory management, logistics, manufacturing, service or workshop management, customer relationship management, supply chain management, business analytics and vertical solutions for industries like retail. Change management needs several soft skills.

To ensure a successful career change, start by conducting thorough research into your desired field or industry. Assess your skills, strengths, and interests to determine if they align with the new career path. Consider seeking informational interviews or shadowing professionals in the field to gain insights into day-to-day responsibilities and workplace culture. Evaluate the market demand and growth prospects for your target career, and weigh the potential salary and benefits against your current situation. Additionally, seek advice from mentors, career counselors, or trusted professionals to gain perspective and validate your decision. Finally, trust your intuition and be prepared to adapt as you navigate your career transition journey.