Got a passion for software and technology but don’t want to be writing code all the time? Want to help out clients by advising them and implementing software tools to boost their efficiency & productivity?
Look no further than a job as ERP Implementation Consultant at BDO Digital! Let’s find out what it’s all about!
BDO is mostly known as a company with expertise in audit, accountancy and Tax & Legal. What’s BDO digital?
Karlijn: “BDO Digital is part of our Advisory services. In short, it’s divided into three tribes, each with their own expertise. These tribes are Technologies, Digital Advisory and Enterprise Solutions. These teams essentially provide professional advice and solutions at the interface between business and ICT. An ERP Implementation Consultant works in Enterprise solutions.
What’s an ‘ERP’ again?
Karlijn: “Within Enterprise solutions, there are three Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software tools we implement: Netsuite, Globis and Clarity. Netsuite is a financial tool that’s suitable and useful for nearly every company in every sector as it consolidates all the (financial) data of a company. Globis is a tool mostly used in the logistic sector while Clarity is built for Project and Portfolio management.”
Do you need a lot of technical knowledge to become an ERP Implementation Consultant?
Mathias: No, not at all! I have a background in economics and finance, with an additional education in IT management. At the time I started working as an ERP consultant, I didn’t have a lot of technical knowledge, mostly just an interest and passion for computers and technology. What is important for the job however is to be open and responsive when communicating with clients & colleagues. Another thing is independence and curiosity. You can always ask questions about anything, but first you need to think about a solution yourself.”
Sébastien: “Having an IT background as a must is a common misconception about the job indeed. It’s not necessary but more a nice-to-have for this function. There are a lot of different profiles within Enterprise Solutions and BDO Digital in general. People with a background in Business Management, Engineering, Economics…”
Jana: “The most important thing is: you have to be eager to learn on the job. You can arrive here with a blank slate and a lot of potential and through the various trainings we offer you’ll develop yourself and build expertise in certain areas.”
So what does this job entail then?
Mathias: It’s definitely not just implementing software like the job title says. I see my job as trifold: you start off by doing a lot of analyses with your client. What do they want? And what do they need? Oftentimes, those are two very different things. Next up, there’s the implementation of the tool, making sure every process works, building certain custom solutions for the client, and integrating existing tools and data. The last step is offering support. We give live demos and trainings about the tool and as a problem can always occur, you’ll be doing some problem-solving and helping the client answer any questions they might have about the tool.
It's a nice variation in that you’re always working on different projects at a time, and within each of these projects, you’re in a different phase of the process.”
Can you give some concrete examples of how you make a difference and add value for clients?
Karlijn: “The biggest added value is that all data and resources from a company can be integrated into one tool. It often starts off with integrating financial data but you can also add project management or HR processes.
For example, a CFO can immediately access certain dashboards and people from finance and project management can see the same information so they don’t have to double enter these data. Making it able for every department to focus more on their core business which greatly improves efficiency and productivity.”
Mathias: “I’m always thinking about: how can I make the life and job of my client as easy as possible. It’s crucial to think with them in a critical way. On top of this, we are very flexible and approachable towards our clients. Normally if you’re having a problem with Netsuite, you need to log a ticket with their helpdesk. With us, there’s a direct line of communication and our clients can just call us, and vice versa.”
There you have it, that’s what it’s like to be an ERP Implementation Consultant at BDO! Looking for a job where you can combine your passion for IT and technology with a lot of client contact?
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