Navigating the ERP Contracting Market: Key Skills and Trends for Infor LN, Infor M3, and QAD
Navigating the ERP contracting market as a freelancer requires a keen understanding of the evolving industry landscape and the essential skills and trends shaping it. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems play a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency and business growth. As companies increasingly invest in ERP solutions such as Infor LN, Infor M3, and QAD, professionals skilled in these platforms are in high demand.
We don’t need to explain the growing importance of ERP systems, and ensuring that businesses have the most skilled individuals delivering them. As technology evolves, so should any requirements for talent, particularly in functions like finance, service, supply chain, and manufacturing.
What key skills are in demand?
Technical Proficiency: Mastery of Infor LN, Infor M3, or QAD requires a deep understanding of their functionalities, configurations, and customization capabilities. Professionals should be adept at system implementation, customization, and troubleshooting to effectively support organizational needs.
Business Acumen: Beyond technical expertise, ERP professionals need strong business acumen to align system functionalities with organizational objectives. Being able to demonstrate a wide understanding of business processes and industry best practices, and market trends enables professionals to drive strategic ERP initiatives that deliver tangible business value.
Data Analytics: With the proliferation of data-driven decision-making, proficiency in data analytics tools and techniques is increasingly essential. ERP professionals should possess the skills to extract, analyze, and derive actionable insights from ERP-generated data, empowering organizations to make informed decisions.
Change Management: Successful ERP implementation often hinges on effective change management practices. Senior professionals with expertise in change management methodologies can facilitate smooth transitions, mitigate resistance, and ensure user adoption, ultimately maximizing the ROI of ERP investments.
Continuous Learning: The ERP landscape is constantly evolving with advancements in technology and shifting market dynamics. Professionals need to embrace a mindset of continuous learning, staying updated on the latest ERP trends, innovations, and best practices to remain competitive in the job market.
Lets link this with the emerging trends (we wrote a whole article on this linked here)
Cloud Adoption: The shift towards cloud-based ERP solutions is gaining momentum, driven by scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Professionals with experience in cloud ERP implementation and migration are highly sought after as organizations transition to cloud-native architectures.
Integration with Emerging Technologies: ERP systems are increasingly integrating with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance functionality and deliver predictive insights. Professionals with expertise or experience in adopting these technologies have a competitive edge in the job market.
Focus on Industry-Specific Solutions: As businesses seek tailored ERP solutions to meet industry-specific requirements, demand is rising for professionals with domain expertise in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and automotive. Specialized knowledge of industry-specific ERP modules and workflows is highly valued by employers.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving ERP job market, professionals skilled in Infor LN, Infor M3, and QAD have abundant opportunities to carve out rewarding long and short-term career opportunities.
By honing key skills such as technical proficiency, business acumen, data analytics, and change management, and staying ahead of emerging trends, as an ERP professional, you can navigate the job market with confidence and unlock new avenues for professional growth and advancement. As long as you can articulate these to a high standard.
As organizations continue to leverage ERP systems as strategic assets, the demand for skilled professionals will only continue to grow, making the ERP job market a promising domain for aspiring and seasoned professionals. If you are already a freelance consultant or interested in exploring a future as an independent freelance consultant, please feel free to get in touch.