Published at July 17, 2024by Jörg Brandeis

I'm writing this article because of something that just happened. Today I had an interesting conversation with someone from the purchasing department of a potential customer about a training offer. The IT department had named us as their preferred provider, but purchasing had also found a few cheaper alternatives. What became clear to me once again: quality is not the decisive factor when purchasing IT services. Because you can't tell the quality directly from the offers, so it hardly works as an argument. Save money, no matter what it costs.

Investing in high-quality SAP training

At a time when enterprise software is becoming ever more important, the ability to develop your own software is a must for companies that use SAP. When it comes to training developers, it is crucial to rely on high-quality training. Cutting corners in the wrong place can get expensive, because poorly trained developers cause considerable follow-up costs.

Visible and invisible costs

If you ask a controller what a training course cost, you get an invoice with:

• External costs - training provider, possibly catering
• Internal costs - the opportunity costs of the participants, possibly resources

But often the impact of the training on the work afterwards is not taken into account. This also causes costs or brings savings that don't show up in any bookkeeping. I call them the invisible costs - like black holes that you can't see, but whose effects are gigantic.

1. Efficiency through expertise

Good training in SAP technologies makes developers more efficient and more competent. They learn the latest practices and methods, which they can apply directly. Poor training leads to inefficient work and higher correction effort - and that drives up the costs.

2. Reducing development errors

Errors in SAP development can mean costly rework. High-quality training reduces this risk, as it ensures that developers have the skills they need to develop software correctly and efficiently. This avoids expensive errors and saves money in the long run.

3. Employee motivation and retention

Investing in further education shows employees that their growth and development are valued. This increases not only satisfaction but also loyalty to the company. Lower turnover and savings in recruitment are the result - a major advantage, especially in the SAP area.

4. Securing the ability to innovate

SAP technologies are constantly evolving. Up-to-date training in Modern ABAP, RAP, Fiori Elements, SAPUI5 and CDS keeps developers current and enables them to develop innovative and competitive solutions. Companies that cut corners here risk falling behind technologically.

5. Cost-benefit analysis

Although high-quality SAP training may seem expensive at first, the potential savings from avoided errors, lower turnover and more efficient project execution are considerable. Inferior training can ultimately be much more costly when you take the negative effects into account.

How do you recognize good training providers?

• Does the provider have a good reputation? A good reputation is the result of many years of good, high-quality work.
• Is the provider specialized in SAP technologies?
• Do you know someone who has experience with the provider? We can name many enthusiastic reference customers for every topic.
• Are the trainers good and well known? We are involved in many areas:
  • we give talks at DSAG events
  • we are SAP Press authors or SAP Champions
  • we organize events such as ABAPConf and the HANA Tech Night
  • we write articles on our blog or in the SAP Community Blog
  • we regularly publish free webinars together with the company Cadaxo
  • we are excellently connected within the SAP Community. Benefit from our direct contact to many experts and SAP employees
• Can you talk to the trainer beforehand and tailor the content to the needs of the company? A customized training course saves time and money!
• Does the provider also train consulting firms? Some of the best and most renowned consulting firms are regular customers of ours!
• Do you also get good support after the training? We offer weekly office hours for our participants. For all the questions that only come up during implementation.

Conclusion

A high price does not always guarantee good training. But quality has its price. For SAP customer companies, it is essential to invest in high-quality training. The short-term costs are quickly offset by the long-term benefits, such as a more efficient way of working, lower error rates, improved employee satisfaction and a strong ability to innovate. High-quality training is a smart investment that helps secure competitiveness and sustainable success in working with SAP technologies.

Back to the title: Buy cheap, buy twice. With consumer products this fits, and the price of the wrong decision is effectively capped. But with training that's not the case...