Know Responsibilities Of Erp Functional Consultants

By Author: Peter Naruka
Total Articles: 74
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An ERP functional consultant role is crucial responsibilities in implementing and successful running of ERP. Functional consultant starts the first process in ERP implementation which includes understanding the modules to be implemented and configuration and set up options available and ends his task by providing user manual and user training. The role of functional consultant is important and vital for successful implementation of ERP.

Functional consultant is required to generate 'As Is' document, this document is the study of whole present business process and work flow of the organization where ERP has to be installed. In 'As Is' document functional consultant describes the current business processes, current business flows, identification of complications in current business processes and flows, flow diagrams and DFDs of the present system. This document describes ongoing working process of entire organization.

After 'As Is' document gets approved ERP consultant joins the technical team and consultant to do GAP analysis and Mapping. This effort is required to identify the GAP between present work flow and ...
... processes and ERP. The complications in the present system, redundant processes, manual processes which can be automated and areas which can be automated completely through ERP are identified and solutions are worked out.

After GAP analysis and Mapping the DFDs and ERDs are prepared which are called as 'To Be' document, this document is description of future way of working after implementation of ERP. Even in this step ERP functional consultants are expected to play a role and contribute.

ERP consultants are also expected to prepare test cases. These test cases are designed to check the functioning of new system, this may include unit testing, system integration testing, performance testing, user acceptance testing, regression testing or any other software testing. Functional ERP consultant is expected to get the results approved by relevant authorities before allowing the software for practical use.

ERP functional consultant prepares a document which describes all the changes been made to match up the ERP with 'To Be' document. With the help of this document the in-house team of the organization in future can make changes and refinements according to their newly developed needs.

In the end of the implementation, functional ERP consultant is expected to provide training to the end users. This training includes introduction of ERP and it's functioning, attributes of the new system, ways to perform daily tasks and precautions that one has to take while doing his job. Enhanced training includes meaning of error messages and their implications on overall system so that end users are well aware of the consequences of the mistakes they might make during their daily routine work.

To perform well as functional ERP consultant one has to be an able listener and communicator. An ERP functional consultant understands, explains and convince people from low to high end of the organization and also he has to participate in the discussions held with his team leader and technical consultants. Even excellent written communication is also expected in ERP functional consultant as he needs to document all the steps of the implementation, prepare user manual, generate reports and send E-mails to users, customer and his own team.

Read about ERP Functional Consultant. Also know How to Become a Top ERP Consultant. Read about SAP ERP Software Review.