An Insight into the World of SAP Architecture

Rajiv Kaul

In the ever-evolving realm of technology, the role of IT consultants is often misunderstood. Each professional brings their unique expertise to the table, contributing to a vast and diverse field. Today, we are thrilled to delve into the specific and highly specialised world of SAP architecture with our very own Rajiv Kaul.

Having known Rajiv for many years, it is somewhat surprising how little we truly understood about the intricacies of his work. Rajiv stands out not only for his deep knowledge and technical prowess but also for his ability to simplify complex concepts, making them accessible and insightful for learners at all stages.

During our virtual sit-down, we unravel the layers of his role and discover the breadth of skills required to excel in SAP architecture. His journey, experiences, and the invaluable lessons he offers are a treasure trove for young aspirants eager to carve out their niche in the tech industry.

Can you share your journey to becoming an SAP architect? What inspired you to specialise in this field? 

SAP was not my first career choice but  it was  a chain of events which led me to the position of a sap architect. After migration from Srinagar we directly came to Nagpur. I had a non Kashmiri friend circle who mostly were clear about their Career paths often choosing between a career in IT or a Masters degree followed by a job in USA. I started gaining interest in IT during these school days and then  finally during my engineering days I still remember I had to spend 300 rupees to learn” internet” and  how to browse . This was a new thing in 1990’s and I really got intrigued with it and generated immense interest towards computers and related technology after doing this course. I still remember how I had to convince my dad to pay 300 rupees and make him understand what Yahoo messenger and Hotmail was and the potential advantages of internet including how I can apply for foreign universities for Masters courses etc and that’s where my love for it started to bloom . then once I got into my apprenticeship with a company in India who were going through an SAP implementation, my career journey in SAP took off. That initial experience often coupled with long hours, heartaches to see bugs in your application but a genuine desire to learn set me off on exploration path in SAP. From that point onwards and then various things like certifications,  study courses etc and experience with various clients led me to sap architecture roles.

What were the key milestones in your career that helped shape your expertise in SAP architecture?

 First it was the internet course that I did during college which really helped me develop interest and curiosity in computers. Second it was the apprenticeship opportunity where I learned what sap could do for large enterprise.

When I was in UK for a fortune 500 client,  I saw real time how sap was simplifying their end-to-end processes and the value it was bringing to them. It motivated me and I aligned my efforts to stream line their processes further. This effort was greatly appreciated by the client and I was not only recognised for my efforts it also resulted in career progression.

At this early years of my career, this gesture really motivated me as you could see a clear path highlighting recognition and reward after hard work . that’s where I decided SAP was the career for me as I could bring benefits to clients based on my SAP skills.

Did you always see yourself in this field, or was there a pivotal moment that set you on this path?

Though I was intrigued and interested in IT but my initial plan was to do masters in USA . Immediately after my engineering I had secured admission in a US university but September 11 happened and my plans had to be shelved and at that point having completed my engineering and already forgone all the campus interviews and job opportunities and now Masters also getting postponed I took a plunge in IT.

What does your role as an SAP architect involve? Could you provide a snapshot of your typical day or week?

Primarily my job involves speaking to the client senior management who we call stakeholders to understand what business process are they trying to simplify and adopt in sap and what systems are they trying to integrate with sap so that their end-to-end processes are aligned. 

Once I have this information in my day-to-day job I then liaise with my internal teams which are typically the development and the functional teams to help guide them how we could implement the business processes, outputs, KPI (Key performance indicator) reports etc that client wants to use or materialise in sap. I also influence the selection of integration technology that we need to use to connect sap with their other applications for seamless business experience.

What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of being an SAP architect?

Often when you get a genuine word of thanks and appreciation from a member of client team whose job has become easier or when clients report efficiency and profitability after SAP implementation , they definitely are rewarding.

Equally SAP is not a cure for all business challenges and making client leadership teams understand this is often challenging especially when Sales teams have shown them land of milk and honey to get them to sign the contracts.

What trends or advancements in SAP architecture are reshaping the industry, and how do you see them evolving in the next five years?

SAP application was mainly an on-premise system but in last few years it has has focused  heavily on cloud. It’s a market leader in ERP cloud applications. Nowadays majority of the SAP applications spanning from finance, HR, customer service etc are available in the cloud. Add to this the rapid deployment of AI capabilities in these cloud applications and you have a winning formula. SAP is constantly gauging the market and adopting all the latest trends and functionalities in these cloud applications and I think this is going to continue in the next few years so this no doubt keeps sap in the market leadership board.

How has the integration of AI, machine learning, and cloud computing impacted the role of SAP architects? Do you see these technologies as enhancers or disruptors?

There are two sides to this story. from a client’s perspective these things are definitely enhancers which greatly help in streamlining the business processes or the integration of processes across various applications.

However from a service implementation partner perspective or let’s say from an architects perspective it’s a disrupter because I need to constantly keep abreast with all the latest things around these technologies and fully understand how these could be leveraged from clients perspective.

For those aspiring to become SAP architects, what are the core skills and knowledge areas they should focus on?

Business process understanding in multiple domains, basic coding knowledge and a huge appetite to read and learn new capabilities and options released every month in SAP is a must. Goes without saying, constantly re-certifying in latest SAP products or technologies is needed. To give you an idea, at an average I do a minimum of 6  certifications on latest SAP offerings every year.

What are the top five tips you’d give to budding IT professionals interested in enterprise systems?

Be inquisitive to know the WHY and HOW part of your skill area. Get involved in slightly more overlapping areas with other teams. Keep abreast with latest technologies that can help your clients.

Never lose focus on the basics, .i.e. why your client is implementing an enterprise system

If you weren’t an SAP architect, what career path might you have pursued? Do you have any regrets or what-ifs?

I wanted to pursue a masters degree in US to help start a career in consulting. Yes, felt numb that I had to drop this plan last minute due to Sep 11 terrorist attack but am glad that I bounced back and decided to pursue a career in IT. Even today, I think I may pursue a masters (in UK) just to fulfill that dream.

What motivates you to keep pushing boundaries in this highly specialised field?

On a lighter note, if I don’t find motivation and keep learning, I remind myself that there are 100’s of  offshore consultants waiting to take my job.

What’s a piece of advice or insight that’s stuck with you throughout your career, and who shared it with you?

One piece of advice that stuck with me is “Keep learning. Because if you stop, Knowledge will become obsolete.” A mentor had shared this early in my career. He emphasised the importance of being curious and adapting to new information. This advice heavily influenced me reminding that personal and professional development is a lifelong journey.