In this life, there are plenty of people with qualifications that most people don’t have. For example:
- Doctors:
- They have years of schooling and experience in the medical field.
- Lawyers:
- Have to pass the bar exam and have a Juris Doctor degree.
- Teachers:
- Must have a teaching license.
- Chefs:
- Trained in the culinary arts.
- Semi-Truck Drivers:
- Must have a commercial driver’s license.
The list goes on and on. Sometimes it’s pretty clear as to why someone is qualified for their job. You wouldn’t want someone who didn’t go to school to practice medicine on you, would you? But other times, it’s not so clear. For example, what qualifies an SAP Ariba Consultant?
This is a question that we get a lot. There seems to be a lot of uncertainty when it comes to this particular qualification. So, in this article, we’re going to set the record straight. We’ll give you a detailed look at what an SAP Ariba Consultant is and what qualifies someone for the job.
We might also take a look at the software itself so you can have a better understanding of what an SAP Ariba Consultant does on a day-to-day basis, as well as what the actual program they help you with does.
How Does One Become an SAP Ariba Consultant?
The vast majority of jobs in this world require at least a minimal amount of training and/or certification. For example:
- Food industry workers:
- Health and food safety certification.
- Construction workers:
- OSHA 10-hour certification.
- Childcare providers:
- First Aid and CPR certification.
- Hair stylists:
- State cosmetology license.
- Tattoo artists:
- Bloodborne Pathogens certification. The list goes on and on, but you get the idea.
There are certain certifications and licenses that are required for most jobs. So, how does one become an SAP Ariba Consultant?
Becoming an SAP Ariba Consultant is no different. There is a process that must be followed in order to achieve this qualification. Here is a detailed look at the steps involved in becoming an SAP Ariba Consultant:
- Step 1:
- Get a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field. This is the minimum educational requirement for the job.
- Step 2:
- Gain at least 3 years of experience working with procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management software. Preferably, this experience will be with SAP Ariba software; however, other similar software programs can be substituted.
- Step 3: Obtain certification from SAP America as an Associate-level Certified Application Professional (C_APO_ASSOC).
- Step 4:
- Complete training courses offered by SAP America specifically for consultants who work with their software products (including Ariba).
- Step 5:
- Begin looking for clients who need help implementing or using SAP Ariba software.
- Step 6:
- Once you’ve found a client, provide them with expert consulting services to help them get the most out of the software.
As you can see, becoming an SAP Ariba Consultant is not a quick or easy process. It takes years of experience and training to become qualified for the job. However, if you’re up for the challenge, it can be a very rewarding career.
Not only will you be helping businesses to improve their procurement processes, but you’ll also be earning a very competitive salary.
According to Payscale.com, the average salary for an SAP Ariba Consultant is $85,000 per year. Of course, this number will vary depending on your experience level and location. But regardless of where you are in your career or where you live, $85k is nothing to sneeze at!
What Exactly is SAP Ariba?
We will be looking at what SAP Ariba consultants actually do to help companies, but first, we wanted to make sure that everyone reading this article understands what this piece of software does.
Depending on your industry this could be a pretty common piece of software, but that doesn’t mean that everyone reading this article is familiar with it. So, let’s take a minute to go over what SAP Ariba actually is and what it does.
SAP Ariba is a cloud-based software application that helps businesses with their procurement processes and source-to-pay strategies. It’s used by companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. SAP Ariba includes a number of features and tools that can help streamline and improve the way your business buys goods and services. Some of these features include:
- A marketplace where you can buy and sell products and services
- A supplier management system
- A sourcing tool
- A contract management system
The software is designed to help you save time and money on your procurement processes. It can be used for everything from finding new suppliers to negotiating contracts, managing orders, and tracking shipments. In short, it’s a one-stop shop for all your procurement needs.
Because it’s cloud-based, it’s always up-to-date with the latest features and tools. You don’t have to worry about installing updates or new versions; the software will do it automatically.
SAP Ariba is just one piece of software in a larger suite of products offered by SAP America. This suite is designed specifically for businesses and includes a number of different applications, each with its own specific purpose.
The other applications in the SAP Business Suite include:
- SAP Business One:
- An ERP system for small businesses
- SAP S/4HANA:
- A cloud-based ERP system for large enterprises
- SAP SuccessFactors:
- A cloud-based HR management system
All of these applications are interconnected and can be used together to get the most out of them. However, you don’t have to use all of them; you can just use the ones that are most relevant to your business.
For example, if you’re a small business, you might only need SAP Business One. Or if you’re a large enterprise with an existing ERP system, you might only need SAP Ariba and SAP SuccessFactors.
It all depends on your specific needs and requirements. But regardless of which application or applications you use, SAP can help you streamline and improve your business processes.
SAP Ariba is just one part of what SAP has to offer businesses. But it’s an important part, and that’s why there’s such a high demand for this piece of software as well s the rest of the suite.
What Does an SAP Ariba Consultant Actually Do?
We’ve covered a good deal of information in this article thus far. So far we’ve looked at:
- How one becomes an SAP Ariba consultant
- What SAP Ariba is
- What other software applications are included in the SAP Business Suite
Now it’s time to take a closer look at what an SAP Ariba consultant actually does. What exactly is their job description? What tasks and responsibilities are included in their day-to-day work? Let’s take a look.
An SAP Ariba consultant is responsible for helping businesses to implement and use the software. This includes providing expert advice on how to best utilize the features and tools included in the application.
In some cases, the consultant may also be responsible for customizing the software to meet the specific needs of their client. For example, they might create custom reports or workflows that are tailored to the client’s business processes.
An SAP Ariba consultant typically works closely with a team of other consultants, as well as with project managers, developers, and testers. Together, they all work to ensure that the software is implemented successfully and that it meets all of the client’s needs.
In some cases, an SAP Ariba consultant might also be responsible for training users on how to use the software. They would need to create training materials and conduct training sessions to ensure that users are able to use the software effectively.
An SAP Ariba consultant typically works with clients who are in the process of implementing or upgrading their SAP Ariba software. In some cases, they might also work with clients who are just beginning to use the software for the first time.
The consultant’s job is to help make sure that the implementation or upgrade process goes smoothly and that the client is able to get the most out of their investment in SAP Ariba.
To do this, they need to have a deep understanding of both the software and the client’s business processes.
An SAP Ariba consultant typically works on a project basis. They are brought in when a client needs help with their implementation or upgrade, and they work on-site until the project is completed. In some cases, they might also be responsible for providing ongoing support and maintenance after the project is completed.
Getting the Right Kind of Help
Running a business is a lot like running a ship. There are a lot of moving parts, and if even one of those parts isn’t working properly, it can throw everything else off balance. That’s why it’s so important to have qualified experts on hand to help you with all the different aspects of your business.
When it comes to your procurement processes, you need someone who knows what they’re doing. You need an SAP Ariba Consultant. These are the people who are qualified and experienced in working with this software.
They know how to customize it, how to troubleshoot problems, and how to train users. In short, they know everything there is to know about SAP Ariba. So if you’re looking for help with your procurement processes, make sure you get the right kind of help from a qualified SAP Ariba Consultant.