You have done your research and know the entire list. A lot of “experts” have tried to sweet talk you into one thing or the other. But which functional modules are in and which are not? We do a quick check!

Before we get onto this journey, one this must surely be kept in mind. What sometimes works is not a particular module, but where a combination of modules is used. A good example could be SAP MM and SAP PP which may not be great on their own, but if taken together as “Logistics” with a bit of SAP SD thrown in, they definitely make the cut. Your background goes a long way in figuring out what’s the best thing to pursue as well. Just sticking to the trends is not a great thing to do.

So with that in place, let’s look at some of the hottest modules in SAP, ranked in terms of their relative consulting demand:

1) FI/CO(Financials) – Financials remain the hottest thing out there in the “SAP Function Modules” arena, driven by the core upgrades. Let’s divide it into three areas:  Financials (FI), Controlling (CO), and “value added” components. One really needs that ERP 6.0 upgrading experience in the core Financials area. ‘Accounts payable’ may not be the most sought after, but when you have General Ledger under your belt, you are in the league for sure. With SAP’s multi-lingual possibilities, it is possible to have a top-down GL structure that integrates parallel lines of sub ledgers in real time. A good skill to own, compliance-based reporting is yet one more reason why the SAP Financials(FI) demand ranks the highest. The CO module or the “controlling” areas are also in demand. SAP has been finetuning its CO components for a while, and the functional areas in CO are strong, and starts leading into BI/SEM, which is not a bad skill to have on the resume either.

2) HR/HCM (Human Resources/Human Capital Management) - HR/HCM is a category slowly inching towards and vying for the top spot.  Having core upgrades in its centre as well, HR/HCM is remaining hot in part because HCM is emerging as a competitive advantage for companies (as opposed to the traditional HR administrative/back office approach). This is causing a growth for those who are skilled in Performance Management configuration, as well as E-Recruiting, and a similar surge can be looked at, in the need for other areas of Talent Management as well, as more and more companies realize that they need the best possible software solution to aid in their attempts to recruit and retain top talent as a key competitive driver. Being one of the hottest areas of Talent Management, it is important because you can’t manage talent unless you can systematically evaluate and reward performance.

3) SD (Sales and Distribution) – It is not surprising to see Logistic upgrades being pulled into extended Supply Chain Management (SCM). When it comes to the distribution side of SD this is a sought after area.  There is also a growing requirement for SD-Variant Configuration, which often ties into PP and MM. Besides these, there is also Pricing, which can be very sophisticated, and the bread-and-butter Billing component comes into play also. Another area looking at driving demand for SD consultants is the SD-GTS (Global Trade Systems), now frequently called GTM (Global Trade Management) – a key area for many international SAP implementations, and one that requires significant expertise to configure properly. Requirements regarding international tax are complicated, and SAP’s GTM solution is going to play an increasing role in this. Sales and Distribution covers a lot of area, from the “sales” side of SD tying into CRM, and the “distribution” side tying into overall Logistics side of SAP as well as the Supply Chain Management (SCM) components. SD’s integral role in all these areas promises continued consulting demand.

4) WM (Warehouse Management) – A surprising entrant here is, Warehouse Management, which has made a big rise from earlier days. Of late there have been more emphasis on WM jobs lately and that is because SAP’s WM component is starting to win more projects over the best of-breed warehouse management systems that many companies previously opted for instead of SAP WM.

5) PS (Project Systems) – This continues to gain a strong foothold as a perhaps unexpectedly popular SAP niche area. A versatile module that links up with several key areas of SAP, but the PS-FI/CO integration between PS and the costing components in the SAP CO (Controlling) module is probably the key to the ongoing demand in this area.

That concludes a quick check into the world of SAP modules. There are successful consultants across all these verticals and so many more. If this helps in giving a better sense of providing an answer to which functional skills are most prevalent, the job here, is done.