The pandemic has changed the way we work, as businesses worldwide switched to remote working and invested in cloud-based platforms and solutions for survival. This surge of companies moving to the cloud is set to continue post-pandemic, with end-user spending in cloud computing predicted to grow 18% in 2021 and accelerate going forward.
Along with opportunities for software suppliers, from Oracle to Microsoft Dynamics, there is a rise in demand for support as businesses transition to the cloud. One of the most widely used data tools in the business world, SAP, has updated its technology to S4 HANA and consultancy PwC has a key role in helping businesses upgrade their systems.
SAP, a German multinational, creates a digital backbone that stores data centrally so different parts of an organisation can access information as and when needed. Used by nine out of 10 of the Forbes Global 2000 companies, the systems cover areas such as finance, customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning (ERP), which helps in production and manufacturing.
SAP has announced that it will withdraw support from the legacy “on-premise” Business Suite 7 system by 2027, creating an opportunity for companies to upgrade to the cloud version, a transition that can take several years.
PwC aims to hire enough people who are able to support business transformation through SAP over the next year to meet the spike in demand for specialists who can help businesses make the shift.
“SAP is going to push all of its clients to move on to this new product, so over the next six years there will be a wave of organisations going down this path,” says Charlotte Houston, a director in finance consulting at PwC. “Covid and the lockdowns have proved that it is incredibly important for companies to move their systems on to the cloud so that they can access a single current version of information at any time and from any place.”
PwC believes it can attract a substantial number of experienced SAP recruits with the opportunity to work on large-scale, iconic transformation projects with multinational and FTSE 100 companies. The firm also offers a diverse, inclusive workplace culture which values members of staff equally and helps them progress in their careers.
“I think our people practices really differentiate us from other employers,” says Houston. “It’s a flat structure with an empowered culture where you can drive your own success. We have stripped away the hierarchies to create an open, level playing field for all staff.”
As part of PwC’s post-pandemic flexible work offering, known as “the Deal”, the firm has announced that following the lockdowns, staff will be allowed to work from home for up to 60% of their time. Houston says her experience is an example of flexible practices at PwC: “I am a working mother with three kids. I’ve worked four days a week for the past 10 years and I have been fully supported while progressing up through the firm.”
While PwC is seeking candidates who have experience in implementing SAP software, demonstrating the right mindset and business skills are also important. It describes the need for SAP/financial specialist expertise as a myth, adding that recruits who can support SAP adoption with people and change and programme and project management expertise are equally important.
“We are looking for people who are innovative, who have new ideas and who want to challenge how we do things. They are proactive and want to get hold of opportunities and deliver on them,” says Houston.
PwC has a strong pipeline of business to help companies with their transition to SAP’s cloud software. The consultancy is now recruiting for a wide range of roles, from programme and project managers, people and change consultants, and finance consultants to SAP experts. They will work across the range of areas covered by SAP’s technology such as finance, ERP and marketing.
Misba Malik is one of PwC’s SAP project managers and is working on a transformation project to implement SAP S4 HANA at an international drinks distributor. This involves approximately 300 consultants and company staff working together, with teams in Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, India and the UK.
“There is incredible growth in SAP,” says Malik, who describes it as a worthwhile career with strong prospects. “There are fascinating projects, interesting clients. You get to learn so much. You work with leading minds and the opportunities are endless,” she says. She has also travelled extensively with her work.
Malik became a specialist in SAP after leaving college in India with a master’s in business administration. She got involved with a project implementing SAP in one of her roles and decided to take training and become a SAP specialist, going on to join PwC in 2019.
The firm makes a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, she says, and within the SAP team there is a women’s network whereby members are encouraged to share experiences and support one another. Further to this, people from different backgrounds are encouraged to share stories about aspects of their culture to educate colleagues and create a sense of community in what has recently been a primarily virtual world of work. Malik recently made a short video about Ramadan to explain to other staff about the celebration and its traditions. “I was a star for a day because my video was online,” she says.
Implementing SAP software is much more than a technical task. Showing staff how to change their working practices and become more efficient is vital for organisations to fully benefit from the software. PwC’s people are what powers the success of business transformation with SAP – and they’re hiring.
Learn more about consulting careers at PwC here, or view our current SAP business transformation roles here
