SAP introduces BPX certification: Bridging IT and business

SAP’s upcoming TechEd event in Las Vegas will see the debut of an official BPX certification. BPX, SAP’s shorthand for Business Process Expert, will officially take its place alongside SAP’s technical certifications in areas such as NetWeaver, ERP and SOA.

What does this mean for working SAP consultants and for those interested in breaking into SAP? If you’re a technical SAP expert with extensive background in a specific industry or module — such as HR or manufacturing — then getting the BPX certification will be a way to let SAP hiring managers know that you pack a double punch: All-important industry expertise as well as IT chops. Meanwhile, if you’re trying to break into SAP with a strong background in a specific industry’s business processes, your certification may open the door to future SAP consulting opportunities (although it won’t replace solid IT education or experience.

SearchSAP expert Jon Reed recently conducted a podcast (listen to it here) with SAP’s Mario Herger, who has an extensive wiki defining business process skills in the SAP context. Jon learned that, in SAP’s estimation, “Certified BPXers can be the ‘marriage counselors’ between IT and business users and help to ensure the success of IT projects.” Given the high rate of failure of IT projects, BPXers are very much needed to ensure that SAP projects go well.

For those of you who are particularly interested in business processes and SAP, be sure to look through this master list of business process workshops at TechEd, and don’t be shy about asking SAP how the BPX role can help to build out your career as an SAP consultant.

Demir Barlas, Site Editor