Being a successful ERP consultant isn’t just about knowing the technical ins and outs of an Enterprise Resource Planning system. Sure, it’s important to understand the technical aspects, but if you want to truly excel in this role, you need more than that. Financial controllers, directors of operations, and small to medium business owners are all key players in the decision-making process when it comes to selecting and implementing an ERP system, so having a good understanding of their needs is just as important as knowing the technical side.

Being able to listen, empathize and accurately interpret the motivations of such stakeholders is essential for successful ERP consultants. It’s not just enough to be technically knowledgeable – you must also be able to read the room and understand how best to approach conversations.

Being an ERP consultant is a complex role that requires excellent communication, problem-solving, and people skills as well as technical knowledge. Those with the right combination of these abilities can make a real difference in the success of an ERP project and in helping businesses get the most from their systems.


What do Excellent Communication Skills Mean?

Excellent communication skills mean being able to listen carefully and be thoughtful in your responses. It also means understanding the motivations behind requests, gathering the right information in the right way, and having empathy for the people involved. Problem-solving skills mean you can consider a situation from all angles and come up with an effective solution that meets everyone’s needs. People skills involve being able to relate to people and build relationships, as well as motivate and collaborate. And finally, having a deep understanding of the technical aspects of ERP systems is essential for any consultant looking to provide the best possible advice and guidance.

With excellent communication, problem-solving, and people skills as well as technical knowledge, you’ll be able to help businesses get the most from their ERP systems and make a real difference in the success of an ERP project.


Simplification is the Secret Sauce

Being able to simplify complex technical concepts is essential in order to help your client make informed decisions.

If you’re like me, I used to be insecure about not being able to understand and wrap my mind around complex technical concepts. Over the years, I realized that this is actually a huge strength. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve made clarifying being able to simplify and clarify complex systems and technical concepts to people. This is truly the core principle of being a successful consultant. Too many people … in fact, most people are engrossed in how great they look, and how smart they look because they know, have gone to school, or have dealt with immensely complicated whatever … in IT and even accounting for that matter.

Most people pride themselves in that they can understand what most people cannot. But that’s where it stops. The truth is that while you think you may appear smart, you actually appear unapproachable and relatable… downright scary to your clients and to anybody else who’s working with you. They’re not gonna tell you that, of course. But they certainly won’t be as open to you when they need help. Or even worse, they’ll have put up unnecessary defenses again against you, because, like you, they do want to look smart.



Challenge: The Extra Mile

This relates to not only explaining complex concepts or problems to those with whom you are working. It also extends to the solutions that you create for them. People need simplicity. People thrive on simplicity. Ironically, simplicity is difficult to achieve. Simplicity. Making something from bringing something from complex to simple actually requires a lot of brain power and mental effort. And care. Because it means that in order to do so you have to be empathetic to whom you are simplifying. It means being in their shoes and looking at the world from their perspective. In this busy world, we are mostly used to looking at the world from our own perspective. We rarely. Care about anybody else says perspective, except for our own.

Those who can prosper.

I challenge you today to take your next immediate task be it writing an email or composing a white paper or creating a presentation to make it take that extra leg in the journey and simplify it even more than you think it is currently. Then watch the magic unfold.