Milos Jankovic’s Post

Hi Milos, Hope you are doing well. Good topic. From my experience a SAP functional consultant with technical know-how adds huge value: they provide clear analysis, validate the feasibility of solutions, and fix issues quickly. On the flip side, developers who understand the functional side write more efficient and business-aligned software. I've seen functional specs that were technically impractical and technical solutions that didn't meet business needs. These gaps waste time and create inefficiencies. By combining skills, we streamline processes and deliver better results. That said, there are excellent functional consultants with limited technical skills and outstanding developers with minimal functional knowledge. However, those who master both often play crucial roles in any project. In my experience as lead or tutor, I always try to spark interest in technical aspects among functional consultants and vice versa. I aim for functional consultants to have at least 20-30% basic technical skills and developers to have at least 30-40% functional knowledge (in one or two modules), obviously respecting everyone’s attitudes. I'd advise beginners not to limit themselves or male a big big distinction between the two roles.

At the start of my career as a support consultant debug, tracing and code analysis was almost the first thing I started to learn. It is impossible to support SAP system without technical knowledge. Later, when I started to implement some changes, it helps me a lot. Before moving to project consultant role I was sure that every consultant must have such knowledge, at least code reading. Now, during enhancements implementations, I can not only to prepare a task for developer, but also to explain or advice best objects to use or best BAdI, or best way to get the task done. Especially with the junior devs. There is no any problems in SAP anymore that I cannot understand and find the root cause. That’s why I’m sure that every consultant should try to gain technical knowledge. You cannot provide best service as a specialist without it, you cannot call yourself an expert.

Hey Milos, you've shared some really valuable tips and pointers here. I totally agree with you. Some of our biggest learnings and breakthroughs have come whilst sitting with a developer in debug mode to find the root cause of an issue. Also, if you know one programming language, it doesn't take long to learn another one.

You've made a very valuable point here. I agree with you that having technical skills will make it easier to identify and resolve issues. While a quick patch might temporarily solve a problem, having technical skills is essential for determining the root cause and providing a permanent fix. When I started working as an SAP Basis, I was initially hesitant to give answers or provide input without fully understanding the system. However, I dedicated time to learning the system and gradually developed my skills to effectively resolve problems. Anyone who loves the system, I still do ;) would be able to build the necessary technical skills. Milos Jankovic, many thanks for sharing your main reasons. I love it. Wishing you a great day too :)

Great video. Let me add that functionals should code little developments or slight code changes. For deep developments like module pools, complex user exits etc abap developers are needed. Functionals must have, at least, basic debugging skills to identify configuration issues, functional gaps behind a development or simply to understand "how it works", regardless standard or custom functions.

Great videos and useful content. As a recruiter it is super valuable for me/us to understand what's going on behind the curtains and how one could improve. what are the daily challanges that consultants struggle with. Your extensive vocabulary, clear communication and articulation as well as the additional light humour makes it very easy to digest even for someone as me who most of the time has no idea what's going on in the technical realm :) thank you!

Totally agree

Milos Jankovic I may be wrong but I don't know if here on LinkedIn there is somebody doing what you are doing. You are here giving us all these super hints that really helps a lot by exposing your opinion about a lot of really good subjects about SAP consulting in a non-complex way. Thanks a lot buddy! Hugs from Brazil.