Top 10 In-Demand SAP Modules for Career Growth

Share This List

SAP (Systems, Applications and products in data processing) has been quietly becoming one of the largest factors shaping enterprise IT careers around the world. With more than 400,000 companies running SAP throughout 180 nations, those who are proficient in its applications open opportunities to secure, lucrative and global careers.

However, SAP isn’t a single application. It is a set of modules that each manages the specific business function. From finance and supply chain and human resources to analytics, the correct SAP certification can determine your future direction for the next decade.

What’s the significance now? As companies speed up their move into SAP S/4HANA, demand of SAP certified SAP consultants has risen — and the salaries have increased in tandem. If you’re a recent student or mid-career professional seeking to make a change to a new direction, this list can assist you in determining where you should focus your efforts.

01. SAP S/4HANA Finance

Finance & Core ERP | FI / CO

If there’s a single module that forms the basis of almost all SAP implementation, it’s Finance. The SAP S/4HANA finance module — which evolved from the CO (Controlling) and FI (Financial Accounting) and CO (Controlling) modules provides a single live view of an organization’s financial health by using the memory-based HANA database.

Every major business is scrambling to transition from its the old ECC systems to SAP S/4HANA, expert finance module consultants are among the top-paid professionals within SAP. SAP ecosystem. The roles range in scope from Financial Analyst and SAP FICO Consultant, to CFO-level advisory positions.

High Demand | S/4HANA Migration | Global Roles | Avg. $90K–$140K/year

02. SAP MM

Supply Chain & Procurement | Materials Management

SAP MM governs the entire supply chain’s life cycle -starting with procurement and purchase orders through the management of inventory as well as invoice validation. As supply chains in the world become more complex, companies require specialists to configure and optimize SAP MM to cut costs and improve relations with suppliers.

MM is closely linked to the FI, SD, and the PP module, which means that a skilled MM consultant is often an expert in cross-functional areas. It is a fact that the SAP ERP ecosystem consistently lists MM as among the most sought-after skills on job sites such as LinkedIn as well as Indeed.

Evergreen Skill | Cross-Module | Procurement Focus

03. SAP SD

Sales & Customer Lifecycle | Sales & Distribution

SAP SD handles everything from requests for quotations and customer inquiries to deliveries, sales orders, billing and even revenue recognition. It’s the core of an organization’s revenue-generating processes and is one of the most sought-after applications for consultants who want to enter the SAP market.

With the rise of e-commerce and omnichannel retail requiring tighter integration between front-end platform and ERP back-end systems, SAP SD specialists who know how to integrate to SAP Commerce Cloud and CRM have the ability to charge premium prices.

High Demand | E-Commerce Integration | Revenue Operations

Relevant Post: 10 Best Salesforce AppExchange Apps

04. SAP HCM & SuccessFactors

Human Resources | Cloud HCM

Human Capital Management covers payroll administration, human resources time management, as well as training and development for employees. SAP’s cloud-based development, SuccessFactors, has become the HR platform of choice for large corporations across the globe which has led to a huge demand for HR consultants who are aware of both the traditional HCM on-premise model and the modern cloud-based model.

Since companies are focusing on customer experience and digital HR improvement, SuccessFactors expertise — especially in modules such as Employee Central and Performance & Goals and Recruiting is now a highly valuable professional asset.

Cloud Growth | High Salary Band | Global Demand

05. SAP PP

Manufacturing & Operations | Production Planning

SAP PP is the engine that drives manufacturing operations -that includes manufacturing orders, invoices of materials routing, capacity management along with Material Requirements Planning (MRP). For businesses in the automotive industry chemical, pharmaceutical, and consumer products, PP is non-negotiable.

With the rising popularity of smart manufacturing as well as industry 4.0, SAP PP consultants who are also knowledgeable of SAP Digital Manufacturing or integration with IoT platforms are highly sought-after throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.

Industry 4.0 | Manufacturing Sector | MRP Expertise

06. SAP BI / BW on HANA

Analytics & Reporting | Business Intelligence

In an age dominated by data-driven decision-making, SAP Business Intelligence and Business Warehouse (BW) on HANA are the backbone of analytics of the majority of SAP landscapes. These tools enable organizations to combine data from various sources, develop enterprise models of data, and create impressive executive-level dashboards.

SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) The latest evolution of BI is growing quickly and opening up new career possibilities in financial planning and predictive analytics which makes it an extremely secure modules you can learn today.

Future-Proof | SAP Analytics Cloud | Data Strategy

07. SAP ABAP

Development & Technical | Programming Language

ABAP is the proprietary programming language used by SAP which is used to build customized reports, forms interfaces, enhancements along with workflow and process logic. Each SAP implementation requires custom-designed development — which makes ABAP developers an integral part on every SAP team.

With the move to S/4HANA and the ABAP RESTful App Programming (RAP) approach, ABAP developers who also are aware of OData applications, Fiori apps, and Cloud Application Programming (CAP) are highly sought-after, having backend depth and modern web-based integration abilities.

Technical Role | Fiori + RAP | High Pay | Custom Development

08. SAP BTP

Cloud & Integration | Business Technology Platform

SAP BTP is arguably the most exciting and innovative new technology within the SAP ecosystem. It is the unifying platform to integrate, extend analysis, analytics, as well as AI/ML services that span SAP as well as third-party systems. BTP abilities — which include Integration Suite, Extension Suite and SAP Build — are on the forefront of what enterprises are investing in today.

For professionals looking to secure your SAP profession, BTP is the result of the best practices in cloud-based architecture, low-code development along with AI — a set of skills that is highly valued and offers worldwide opportunities.

Fastest Growing | AI & Integration | Low-Code Tools | Cloud Architecture

09. SAP EWM

Logistics & Warehouse | Extended Warehouse Management

As the global logistics industry and e-fulfilment processes expand, managing warehouses has become a major concern. SAP EWM provides sophisticated tools to manage warehouse operations that are complex that include the management of storage bins, wave-picking labour management, integration of robotics systems with automation.

The rapid expansion of 3PL retailers, 3PL providers and pharmaceutical distributors operating SAP EWM, EWM specialists are constantly in highly sought-after. The module is integrated into S/4HANA, which makes it an ideal long-term choice for specialisation.

Logistics Boom | S/4HANA Embedded | Robotics Integration

10. SAP Ariba

Procurement & Network | Supply Chain Commerce

SAP Ariba is the world’s largest business commerce network connecting suppliers and buyers across procurement and sourcing, contract management and risk management for suppliers. As companies shift their procurement processes to cloud-based systems and demand greater transparency of their supply chains, Ariba expertise has become a top-quality area of expertise.

Ariba experts who are aware of both the configuration for functional purposes and their integration into SAP S/4HANA backend systems are now among the top-paid professionals within the larger SAP talent market, especially in FMCG as well as healthcare and public sector areas.

Cloud Procurement | Network Commerce | ESG & Compliance

Final Thoughts

The SAP market is changing rapidly and with it, the job opportunities in it. If you’re interested in finance or supply chain, technology or HR, there’s an SAP module that matches your strengths and where the market is taking.

The most durable SAP careers will come from those who cannot only have a solid understanding of one particular module, but also know how it fits into the wider BTP and S/4HANA BTP ecosystem. Combine this with a strong ability to communicate and experience in project management and you’ve got the recipe for a long successful, rewarding career. Start with a single module to earn a certification and continue to build. The market is waiting to be met.

Share This List