The process of hiring a consultant can be a little tricky. It’s a lot like dating- you want to make sure that you’re compatible with each other before you make any kind of commitment. The same goes for finding the right SAP Ariba consultant.
You want to be sure that they understand your business needs and can provide you with the best possible solution. Much like going on a date, knowing which questions to ask is essential in order to determine compatibility.
Today we’re going to cover how you can make this part of the process as easy as possible by sharing the key questions to ask your SAP Ariba consultant, as well as giving a few tips as to how to find a good one.
Looking for an SAP Ariba Consultant in All the Wrong Places
To continue to use our metaphor of looking for a good person to date, you’re going to have to know where to find them. You’re not going to find the right person for you by hanging out at a bar every night.
The same goes for finding an SAP Ariba consultant- you’re not going to find the best ones by looking in all the wrong places. There are a few places that you should avoid when looking for an SAP Ariba consultant.
First, avoid any consultants that are not certified. This is one of the most important things to look for in a consultant, as it ensures that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to help you. Another place to avoid is online job boards.
While there are some good consultants that can be found here, it’s mostly a crapshoot. You never really know what you’re going to get, and it’s often someone who is just looking for a quick buck and doesn’t have your best interests in mind.
The last place you’ll want to avoid is social media groups. While there are some great ones out there, more often than not they tend to be full of people who aren’t actually consultants and don’t have any real experience working with clients.
So where should you look if you want to find a good SAP Ariba consultant? A great place to start is with your own network. See if anyone you know has worked with a consultant in the past and can give you a recommendation.
This is often the best way to find someone, as you’ll be able to get a first-hand account of what it’s like to work with them. Another great place to look is on LinkedIn. There are a number of groups dedicated to SAP Ariba consultants, and this is a great way to see who is out there and what their experience level is.
You can also reach out to consultants directly on LinkedIn, which can be a great way to start building a relationship before you even hire them.
Finally, you can also try attending SAP Ariba events. These are often attended by consultants, and it’s a great way to meet people in person and get an idea of what they’re like to work with.
Asking the Right Questions
Once you find a list of people you think might work well for you, it’s time to start setting up some interviews. This is where you’ll really get to know each consultant and see if they’re a good fit for your needs.
There are a number of important questions that you’ll want to ask, but we’re going to focus on three key areas: their understanding of your business, their approach to solving problems, and their project management style.
It’s important to get a sense of whether or not the consultant understands your business and its specific needs. After all, they need to be able to provide you with a solution that meets those needs. Here are a few questions you can ask in order to gauge their understanding:
- What do you think are the most important factors in our industry?
- How would you approach solving a problem like ours?
- What do you think is the most important thing for us to focus on right now?
- What are some of the challenges you think we’re facing?
- How do you think our business could be improved?
- How much do you know about the source-to-pay process?
Asking these questions will help you to get a sense of whether or not the consultant has a good understanding of your industry and your specific business needs.
It’s also important to ask about their approach to solving problems. This will give you an idea of how they think and how they would go about solving the problems you’re facing. Here are a few questions to ask in this area:
- How do you like to work through problems?
- What is your process for finding a solution?
- How do you know when you’ve found the right solution?
- What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in finding solutions in the past?
- How did you overcome those challenges?
Asking these questions will help give you an idea of how the consultant thinks and how they would approach solving the problems you’re facing. It will also give you some insight into their problem-solving skills and abilities.
Finally, you’ll want to ask about their project management style. This is important because you need to be sure that they’re able to work in a way that’s compatible with your own style and needs. Here are a few questions to ask in this area:
- How do you like to work with clients?
- What is your communication style?
- How often do you like to check in with clients?
- What is your approach to project management?
- How do you handle changes or problems that come up during a project?
Asking these questions will help you get an idea of how the consultant likes to work and what their communication style is like. It will also give you some insight into their project management skills and abilities.
Once you have all of this information, you’ll be in a much better position to make a decision about whether or not the consultant is a good fit for your needs.
Making Your Final Choice
Now that you’ve asked all the important questions, it’s time to make your final decision. The first thing you’ll want to do is go through all of the information you’ve gathered and see if there are any red flags. If there are, then it’s probably best to move on to another consultant.
Next, you’ll want to compare the different consultants you’ve interviewed and see who is the best fit for your needs. This is where it’s important to have a good understanding of what your needs are and what you’re looking for in a consultant.
Once you have that, it should be relatively easy to see who is the best match. If you’re still having trouble making a decision, then try reaching out to some of the other people in your network who have worked with consultants in the past. See if they have any recommendations or insights that might help you make a decision.
Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to reach out to the consultant and let them know that they’ve been chosen. This is where things can get a little tricky, as you don’t want to come across as too pushy or demanding.
The key here is to be polite and professional. Start by sending them an email or LinkedIn message expressing your interest in working with them. Include a brief overview of your project and what you’re looking for in a consultant.
Then, ask if they would be interested in setting up a call to discuss further. If they are interested, then great! You can set up a call and start working together. If they’re not interested, then it’s probably best to move on.
Once you’ve made contact with the consultant, the next step is to start working together. This is where things can get a little bit tricky, as you’ll need to make sure that you’re both on the same page about what’s expected of each of you.
The best way to do this is to set up a meeting (either in person or over the phone) and go over the details of the project. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of what they’ll be doing and what you’ll be doing.
It’s also important to establish some ground rules about communication, deadlines, and expectations. By taking the time to do this at the beginning, it will help ensure that there are no misunderstandings or problems down the road.
Moving Your Business Ahead
Doing things to help your business grow is always a good idea. But, finding the right person to do it can be hard. You want someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, and compatible with your business.
By asking the right questions, you can be sure that you find the best possible consultant for your needs. This will help ensure that your project is a success and that you’re able to move your business ahead.
