The Shift in SAP Consulting
Industry Trends & Challenges
Big consulting firms are slowing down. Clients are cutting budgets. They no longer want expensive, open-ended advisory work. They expect results.
Hiring at top firms has dropped. McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and Accenture posted fewer than 250 UK jobs in 2023. In 2021, they had over 1,700. Consulting isn’t dying, but it’s changing.
SAP projects still move forward. But clients want them done faster, cheaper, and with less risk. They don’t have time for long design phases or custom-built solutions that need constant upkeep. They want SAP to work as-is, with minimal tweaks.
This shift puts pressure on SAP project managers, consultants, and developers. The old ways don’t fit anymore. Spending months writing specs from scratch? That’s too slow. Customizing everything? That’s too costly. Clients demand execution, not endless planning.
SAP sees this too. That’s why they push a way to keep systems simple and upgrade-ready.
AI makes this shift easier. It speeds up documentation, testing, and knowledge sharing. It helps teams focus on what actually moves projects forward.
The industry isn’t shrinking. It’s resetting. The ones who adapt will stay ahead.
Clean Core & AI: The Future of SAP Project Execution
SAP wants companies to keep their systems simple. That’s why they push Clean Core. It means using standard SAP functions instead of customizing everything. When you avoid unnecessary changes, upgrades become easier, maintenance costs drop, and systems stay flexible.
This approach makes sense. But in real projects, it’s not always easy. Standard SAP doesn’t cover everything. Teams often spend weeks figuring out what works and what needs adjustment. This slows projects down.
AI changes that. It helps SAP professionals work faster and smarter. Instead of writing blueprints, specs, and test scripts from scratch, AI generates drafts in minutes. Consultants refine them instead of starting from zero. This cuts hours of manual work and gives teams more time to solve real project challenges.
The Universal AI Prompt is one way to do this. It produces essential project documentation based on proven structures. It’s not perfect, but it speeds things up. Teams can quickly review AI-generated drafts, adjust where needed, and move forward without wasting time on busy work.
AI also helps with testing. It can generate test cases, spot inconsistencies, and even check configurations. Instead of manually writing test scenarios, teams can focus on fixing actual issues.
The old way of running SAP projects is too slow for today’s demands. Clean Core and AI aren’t just options—they’re becoming necessary. If you want to stay ahead, it’s time to rethink how SAP projects get done.
How SAP Professionals Can Adapt
The way we work in SAP projects is changing. Clients want results faster. They expect standard solutions, not endless customizations. AI speeds up execution, but only if we know how to use it. Here’s what each role can do to stay ahead.
For SAP Project Managers
- Use AI-driven documentation to free up time for planning and risk management. Let AI draft specs, reports, and training materials.
- Follow SAP Activate to keep projects structured and efficient. Avoid unnecessary design phases that slow things down.
- Focus on Clean Core compliance. Push teams to explore standard SAP solutions before considering custom work.
- Track where AI helps most. Measure time saved on documentation and testing. Adjust workflows to maximize efficiency.
For SAP Consultants
- Know what standard SAP can do before recommending changes. Many customizations are unnecessary when you configure the system properly.
- Test AI-generated deliverables. Review blueprints, functional specs, and test scripts. Find out where AI works well and where human input is needed.
- Train yourself on Clean Core principles. Learn how to guide clients toward standard processes without resistance.
- Use AI for knowledge sharing. AI can summarize past decisions, making it easier to onboard new team members.
For SAP Developers
- Understand Clean Core boundaries. Avoid unnecessary modifications. Keep custom work minimal and upgrade-friendly.
- Use AI for test case generation and validation. Automate repetitive tasks so you can focus on solving complex issues.
- Learn where AI fits into development. Explore how AI tools can assist with debugging, writing test scripts, or generating code snippets.
- Transfer coded solutions into configurable business rules, using tools like Business Rule Framework (BRF+).
SAP projects don’t need to slow down. AI and Clean Core make execution faster, but only if we apply them right. The best SAP professionals adapt. The rest get left behind.
Call to Action: Join the Fast Implementation Track for S/4HANA
The consulting industry is shifting. Clients expect faster results, lower costs, and fewer customizations. Clean Core and AI help us meet these demands. But theory alone won’t cut it. We need hands-on experience.
That’s why I created Fast Implementation Track for S/4HANA. This group is for SAP professionals who want to test AI-driven project execution in a real way.
We use a rented SAP system to simulate an S/4HANA implementation for a fictitious company. AI generates key project deliverables based on the Universal AI Prompt. We refine these outputs together, testing how AI fits into Clean Core implementations.
Here’s what we do:
✅ Generate business blueprints, functional specs, test scripts, and training materials with AI.
✅ Validate AI outputs against real SAP configurations in the rented system.
✅ Discuss best practices for keeping projects standard, fast, and future-proof.
✅ Share lessons learned to build a knowledge base for AI-powered SAP execution.
This isn’t just another discussion group. It’s a hands-on space where we experiment, learn, and improve together. If you want to master AI-driven project execution and Clean Core principles, this is the place.
Join us. Let’s build the future of SAP consulting—together.
Appendix: Research Articles
The following research articles provide insights into the current state and evolving trends in the consulting industry:
- “Are Management Consulting Firms Failing to Manage Themselves?“
This article examines the challenges faced by strategic consulting firms, highlighting widespread staff cutbacks and changes in recruitment strategies. It attributes these issues to aggressive hiring sprees in response to unprecedented client demand before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. - “3 Long-Term Shifts Behind The Consulting Industry’s Massive Evolution“
This piece discusses significant disruptions in the consulting industry, driven by increased investment in AI and digital transformation. It also explores changing perceptions of the consultant’s role in modern business environments. - “The Business Consulting Industry Is Being Disrupted, and Nothing Can Stop It“
This article analyzes the risks and opportunities arising from the ongoing disruption in the consulting sector, affecting firms, agencies, and independent consultants alike. - “Career Path Challenges in the Consultancy Sector“
This research paper delves into the complexities of career management within consulting organizations, focusing on the relationship between career progression, seniority, and performance. - “7 Consulting Industry Trends & Outlook for 2024“
This article outlines key trends shaping the consulting industry, emphasizing the need for firms to become more agile and data-driven to stay competitive. - “A Study on Management Consulting’s Role in Industry’s Adaptation to Change“
This study highlights how organizations facing new challenges and opportunities benefit from strategic assistance provided by management consultants, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. - “How Small Consultancies Grow: Challenging Problem-Based Theorising“
This paper explores the growth dynamics of small management consultancies, challenging traditional problem-based theories and offering insights into the entrepreneurial stages of firm development. - “The Three Challenges of Corporate Consulting“
This article identifies three primary challenges—mission, identity, and structure—that corporate consulting entities must navigate to achieve synergy with their product-based businesses.
These articles collectively shed light on the evolving landscape of the consulting industry, offering valuable perspectives for professionals aiming to navigate and thrive amidst these changes.