SAP ERP training could be a good way to develop internal expertise on your new system. Find out what kind of training is out there for businesses.

1. Post Link: SAP ERP Training: What You Need to Know
SAP ERP Training: What You Need to Know
For wholesale distributors contemplating upgrading their ERP systems to a robust application
like SAP, one of the most important questions that they’ll need to answer is how to get the
training they need to make the most of the software. SAP systems are so complex that it can
literally take years to develop an expertise in specific functional areas like human capital
management, financials, or warehouse management and logistics. So how do you acquire this
expertise in-house?
Why Might SAP ERP Training Make Sense?
There are a number of reasons why SAP training is important. The reasons vary according to
whether you are an individual who wants to gain job skills, a functional area manager who
wants his area’s business processes to meet or exceed industry best practices, or a company
owner or IT manager that needs to drive more profitability from the business. For individuals,
some of the reasons to invest time in SAP ERP Training include:
Improving your job prospects: True experts on SAP functions are in high demand, and there
is a shortage of experienced SAP experts across industries. Those individuals who do have
experience and formalized training are well compensated. Certifications exist in many functional
areas that can really enhance your resume.

2. Better job performance: If you’re looking to stay put at your current employer, you could be
able to really prove your worth with the improvements in job performance that SAP Certification
and training can provide. For companies, the need to invest in SAP ERP training is clear. SAP
is very robust software, but it can only deliver on its promise if the right people know how to use
it.
It can support industry best practices, but these may not be the practices already in place at
your company, which means that your employees will need training to support new ways of
doing business. Employers sometimes worry that investing in high-value training and
certification programs like this, but in the long run, it could ultimately determine the success of
your SAP investment and the well-being of your company.
What kind of training is available?
There are a variety of ways that companies and individuals can obtain the training they need.
SAP and many of its implementation and training partners make available a combination of
instructor-led classroom training, virtual or online classroom training, e-learning, E-Academy
and online knowledge products on the full range of applications available through SAP. Some
sources for SAP training include:
SAP Training and Education: SAP Training and Education offers “learning in the cloud,” withq
training materials and handbooks available online. Classroom education is available through
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) or in-person.
SAP Press: SAP runs its own publishing house and offers training materials, books andq
content across the full spectrum of SAP functional and technical topics.
Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG): In addition to member benefits like meetings andq
conventions, ASUG also offers webinars on many topics that are available to both members
and non-members for an additional fee.
SAP Community Network: SAP’s online community network offers a plethora of freeq
materials such as online tutorials, webinars, videos, and demos. SCN also has forums, wikis,
and blog posts where its more than 2.3 million members can quickly and easily post questions
and answers to a wide variety of SAP-related topics.
TechTarget SearchSAP: At SearchSAP, you’ll find more free tutorials, white papers, adviceq
and other information that can help answer your questions about SAP.
Third Party Training Providers: There are a number of third party consulting and training firms
that offer SAP ERP training. Some offer training along with SAP implementation and consulting,
and these may range from Big Five consultancies such as Accenture and KPMG, to midmarket
consulting firms, or those that may specialize in one or two functional areas. Other firms may
offer SAP ERP training as a stand-alone service.
Should I get training from SAP or a third-party
consultancy?
One big question many people have is whether it is best to get training online, or go directly to
the source and get training from SAP or a third party consulting partner. SAP offers many
effective online training options, but sometimes you just can’t beat getting the information from a

3. real-live expert. SAP and its many SAP ERP training partners provide high-quality and effective
training, so the answer to this question depends on several factors.
What kind of training do you need? A firm that offers a specialty in that kind of training may
best handle highly specialized training for very specific business needs. What’s your budget?
Some training providers are more expensive than others. If budgets are tight, online coursework
may be the best option.
Do you need ongoing support? Training and support can be one of the biggest obstacles to
getting the most from your SAP ERP applications. Unfortunately, choosing online coursework
options can sometimes mean that you may not have a resource to ask when further questions
arise about what you have learned. If you think you will have a need for ongoing support, then
working with an SAP consultancy may benefit you over the long term.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to SAP ERP training, but thinking through these
options and questions will go a long way toward getting you started down the right path.
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