Author: Mindquest

The rise of tech freelancers

Not that long ago, freelancing was a somewhat mysterious concept reserved for a few lucky ones and the creative types. Nowadays, independent workers make up a significant part of the workforce with the rise of tech freelancers. And their numbers are growing exponentially. This is especially true in IT, where skill shortages and the constant need for IT professionals across all industries provide the perfect conditions for a freelance lifestyle.

We take a look at the
factors propelling (and hindering) this transformation.

A new office environment

This rise in
freelancing is in large part due to the generational shift in the workplace.

By the end of 2020, millennials will have caught up with Generation X, with each making up 35% of the world’s labour. At the same time, those born after 1997 (Gen Z) will have established a solid foothold in the workplace with 25% of the total.

A recent survey of more than 7,000 freelancers in over 150 countries revealed that a staggering 70% of independent workers are under the age of 35. Those younger than 25 represent 21% of the total.

This new workforce configuration is introducing important changes, from corporate culture to salary expectations or how teams operate. Considering that, by 2025, millennials will represent three-quarters of all employees and many of them will be in managerial positions, these new standards will have a big impact on recruitment moving forward. Concepts like flexible schedules, hypermobility and freelancing are becoming more ubiquitous and sought after.

Want to become an IT freelancer/contractor?

>>> Careers in Tech and IT: Towards a Freelancisation of Permanent Positions?

>>> IT Job Hunting Done Well: A Step-by-Step Guide

A
freelance-friendly scene

Albeit often
accompanied by controversy, the emergence of the so-called gig economy has too
contributed to the normalisation of the freelance life. While some tout the
benefits of this labour model, such as greater flexibility or financial
freedom, others consider it a source of precarious employment. Whereas that
could be argued when it comes to very specific sectors, the reality is that tech freelancers
generally enjoy an advantageous position in comparison to their in-house
counterparts.

Yes. Independent workers must deal with limited social protections, fluctuating activity and internal red tape. However, the average daily rate of tech freelancers fluctuates between €350 and €800 – well above the average rate of salaried employees in most countries. They also express a 4-out-of-5 satisfaction with their lifestyle.

Programming and IT make up 29% of the global freelance workforce, sharing the top three with web and graphic design. The fit between IT and a freelance lifestyle is clear. A highly coveted skillset that is relevant to almost all industries gives IT professionals the flexibility and bargaining power required to go independent. IT contractors are also among the best-paid freelancers.

A new regulatory landscape with the rise of tech freelancers

But freelancing faces
some roadblocks too. All around the world, new regulations on temporary
employment are being put in place in an effort to avoid precariousness and
reduce the disparity between permanent and short-term positions. Nonetheless,
some of these well-meaning measures can end up doing more damage than good.

A good example of this
problem is the UK’s IR35. Set to kick in on April of this year, this piece of
legislation plans to increase employment tax costs for those companies who
consider a contractor as an employee in all but name. Although the law is
intended to discourage companies from abusing temporary contracts for
tax-saving purposes, what it could mean in practice is that companies would
steer clear of contractors altogether.

Both the freelance
community and businesses are pressing for the legislation to be
re-examined.

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27th February 2020
Data security : Is your cloud data secure?

Digital transformation is well underway. An estimated 50% of all business data is already stored in the cloud; while 48% of this data can be considered sensitive in nature. These figures, which were reported on Monday in a global study by Thales and IDC, paint a promising future for the enterprise cloud industry. They also seem to signal growing confidence in the technology’s security and privacy capabilities. So, regarding data security, is your cloud data secure?

Data security: number and perception

The same survey revealed that only 57% of all cloud-stored sensitive data is protected by encryption, whereas 100% of respondents admit to having at least some unencrypted sensitive data in the cloud. One could think this constitutes further proof of the enterprise’s sense of data security. In reality, the number of respondents that feel their data is vulnerable to cyberthreats (86%) has increased considerably since last year’s report (67%). Furthermore, 47% of businesses report having been breached or failed a security test in the past year.

There is thus a clear
disconnect between the perceived levels of data security and the actual measures
being put in place. Many decision-makers are not paying enough attention to
their own danger alerts, and that is dangerous.

So — how can you tell
if this happening in your organization? There are a few telltale signs.

Choosing the right multi-cloud
partners

Achieving optimum levels of data protection is becoming increasingly difficult as more and more companies turn to different cloud providers to meet their various business needs. The vast majority of businesses (81%) report using more than one infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) vendor. Meanwhile, 72% of organisations state they use between 11 and 100 software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications — That’s a lot of potentially breachable data living in the cloud.

Data security: how to implement a proper strategy

These multi-cloud environments add a layer of complexity on top of the already complicated world of cybersecurity. In turn, survey respondents identify complexity as the top barrier to implementing a proper data security strategy.

To protect data
integrity, organisations must leverage the appropriate set of tools across
platforms and partner with those vendors offering solutions that fit within
their ecosystem. Ideally, your various security tools and protocols should cover
both on-premises and cloud-based data and be compatible with one another.

If that’s not the case, it might be time to review your security architecture. Putting together the right team has also become essential for multi-cloud success. Consider hiring a cloud security specialist if you haven’t done so yet.

Data vs network
security

Despite 83% of
organisations planning to either maintain or increase their security spending
in 2020, the portion of the security budget destined to data security remains
marginal at 15.5%. Comparatively, companies spend much more on network security.
This seems to be due to another important disconnect — that between the major perceived
security threats and the reality behind most data breaches.

While more than half of businesses are worried about cybercriminals, terrorists and corporate espionage; everyday issues that tend to pose greater challenges to data integrity are often less cause for concern. Just in the UK alone, 90% of data breaches experienced in 2019 originated from a human error. Employee communications, system misconfigurations and privileged users with access to sensitive resources are all potential risks that network security cannot mitigate.

Data security: accesses and permissions

A great focus on data security is, therefore, highly recommended. Re-examine and restrict your access protocols and permissions, encrypt greater amounts of data and make sure to store and safeguard the keys properly. Moreover, invest in data recovery and backup tools.

Also, do not rely too much on your providers to protect your data. Sure, the cloud is fundamentally a shared responsibility environment. However, there are many proactive measures that you can implement internally to safeguard this data.

Remember – if there is
a breach, it will be the company’s reputation the one to take the biggest hit,
not the provider’s.

The threat of
emerging tech

Although most experts do not see widespread quantum computing entering the scene until 15 or 20 years from now. The security risks this emerging technology represents are already in the minds of business leaders. Around 72%% of companies believe quantum computers will start disrupting their encryption efforts within 5 years.

Quantum computations
can potentially decipher most cryptographic key systems used today. However,
the technology is still in its infancy, and companies shouldn’t worry too much about
its security implications just yet. But, if you’d like to start future-proofing
your system, there are several vendors out there already working with quantum
cryptography methods.

27th February 2020
SAP FICO Consultant : Job Description
Use our template to create a compelling and comprehensive SAP FICO Consultant job description to attract top talent.

The SAP FICO consultant is responsible for developing and implementing SAP-based ERP solutions, focusing on the finance and controlling areas. They work closely with the client’s finance team to analyze and design SAP FI/CO solutions, perform testing and ensure the stability of the solution.

The SAP FICO module is one of the most widely used SAP modules and includes SAP FICO configuration and usage. Therefore, aspiring SAP FICO consultants should have a strong foundation in all aspects of the SAP FICO module to succeed in their role.

Find SAP FICO Consultant missions on our freelance and permanent IT recruitment platform, or join Mindquest so you don’t miss out on any SAP assignments!

What is SAP FICO?

SAP FICO is a functional component of SAP ERP, used in many large companies to generate and manage financial statements. It is used for reporting, but also for analysis for decision-making. Explore the role of the SAP FICO Consultant

Learn more about SAP careers from this SAP project management expert. You might also want to explore the role of the Salesforce Consultant

Above all, we are talking about two modules: SAP FI (Financial Accounting) for the Finance part and SAP CO (Controlling) for the Management control part:
- The SAP FI module allows
  companies to generate financial statements such as balance sheets or profit and
  loss reports. It is itself made up of secondary modules dedicated to specific
  accounting processes: Customer Accounting (FI-AR), Fixed Asset Accounting
  (FI-AA), General Ledger (FI-GL)…
- The SAP CO module manages the
  planning, reporting and supervision of operational costs. A determining module
  to improve the profitability of a company, it is also composed of secondary
  modules: Cost control by product (SAP CO-PC), Accounting (SAP CO-OM-CEL),
  Analysis of the income statement ( SAP CO-PA)…
As a consequence, the SAP FICO consultant is an expert on these specific modules. Before installing the software, their primary role is to analyze and define the needs of the company. They can then have an advisory or support role.

What is the role of the SAP FICO Consultant?

Analyze and assess user needs

Before installing the solution, the SAP FI
/ CO consultant must analyze and understand user needs. As a result, they will
be able to precisely define which functionalities to configure.

Solution and functionality development

Once the assessment is completed, the role of the consultant is to implement the solution. His knowledge of business case allows him to develop tailor-made functionalities to fully cover the needs of the company.

Train future users

After installing the solution, the SAP FICO consultant must ensure that future users can handle the software. They then train future users and play a support role in the event of any problems.

To help companies achieve a successful SAP implementation, this whitepaper explains SAP implementation best practices. It also presents a case study from the global leader sportwear company ADIDAS as an example of successful SAP implementation.

Whether you are a business leader, IT professional, or project manager, this whitepaper will help you understand how to plan, execute, and manage a successful SAP implementation that delivers tangible benefits and ROI.

Required skills of the SAP FICO Consultant

How to become a SAP FICO consultant? Here is a list of the skills needed to succeed in this career.

Technical expertise

As an expert, mastery of the SAP FICO modules is obviously essential. The consultant must have very good technical knowledge in order to be able to fully meet the client’s needs and to develop suitable functionalities. But also to validate and document the project requirements.

Knowledge of accounting, corporate finance & management control

Firstly, business knowledge is essential for the FICO consultant: they must master and understand the end user’s problems, as well as the business processes involved, to set up suitable workflows in the information system.

A good analytical mind

Soft skills are also essential the SAP FICO consultant must be able to better analyze the processes and business lines of the company, to determine if the necessary functionalities fall under a standard use of SAP FICO or if they require custom development. They also often act as an intermediary between technical teams and trades.

Listening skills
and pedagogy

Then, to better understand the needs of the company, the SAP FICO consultant must have good interpersonal skills and always remain attentive to their client and future users to assess their needs. Likewise, once the solution has been implemented, the consultant will have to provide training for future users: being a good communicator and teacher is therefore very useful.

Also read the 5 key benefits of hiring a SAP FICO Consultant

Context

SAP FICO consultants can work either in-house or externally.

In-house consultants work for the organization during and after the implementation phase, while external consultants are only involved in the implementation.

Moreover, consultants are responsible for system configuration and execution, based on business requirements, GAAP analysis, process improvement, and identifying new opportunities or products. Thus, their role is more significant than that of end/power clients since they are accountable for successful execution of the system. Becoming an SAP FICO consultant is a major career advancement.

In addition, the SAP FICO consultant plays an important role during a digital transition. It is usually the large companies that use this type of profile. Recently, some SMEs have integrated this tool into their activity to gain competitiveness. Today, the needs of companies in SAP FICO expertise are numerous.

Salary of the SAP FICO Consultant

How much does a SAP FICO Consultant make?

The salary of a SAP FICO Consultant can also vary depending on several factors such as location, years of experience, industry, and company size. According to Payscale, the average salary for a SAP FICO Consultant in Europe is around €61,000 per year, with the range typically falling between €40,000 to €89,000 per year.

While according to Glassdoor, the average salary for a SAP FICO Consultant in the United States is around $97,000 per year, with the range typically falling between $75,000 to $120,000 per year.

However, the actual salary can differ based on the country and specific location within that country.

Training of the SAP FICO Consultant

The FICO functional consultant can come from a business school with a finance option, an engineering school, or even from an accounting background. However, it is generally necessary to pass the various SAP certifications concerning the SAP FI and SAP CO modules, as well as to have several years of experience in the implementation and support projects.

In conclusion, a SAP FICO consultant typically evolves by taking on increasingly important integration missions and supervising a team. As they gain more experience and expertise in the field, they may be entrusted with critical integration projects that have a significant impact on the organization’s financial systems and operations. Thus, this offers opportunities for growth and advancement in the field of finance and technology.

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of SAP

Are you looking for IT mission opportunities in the Tech and IT sectors on a freelance or permanent basis? Mindquest can help you find your next IT assignment opportunity. Find a SAP FI CO Consultant mission by consulting our freelance and permanent mission offers available on our digital recruitment platform Mindquest :
27th February 2020
Weekly News Digest #6

Join us as we bid farewell to one of the fathers of UI. Larry Tesler, the innovator behind “cut”, “copy” and “paste” passed away earlier this week. He was instrumental in making computers accessible to the general public, and we owe him much for that.

Tesler’s CV included Stanford, Xerox and Apple. His chief invention, cut and paste, is said to be based on the old editing technique of cutting portions of text and gluing them elsewhere. The feature debuted in Apple’s 1983 Lisa computer.

A week in retrospect…

Let’s start
with AI.

Researchers from the ESPCI Paris and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology recently published a study which might explain why single-celled organism like viruses are so successful. The research shows that, under the right ecological conditions, groups of these organisms start behaving like a single one.

The computational models used to recreate said conditions can have a tremendous impact on AI research. By emulating the natural selection process, we could build rich neural networks that one day could rival even that of the human brain.

The Internet
of (Wild) Things.

Both climate change and IoT are in everyone’s mouths these days. Not often in the same sentence, though.

We can’t recommend enough Charles McLellan’s piece on how IoT is helping organisations fight biodiversity loss and climate change. From camera-based anti-poaching systems, to listening networks that monitor for the sound of chainsaws, NGOs and charities are doing impressive things all over the world.

A truly refreshing perspective on the applications of emerging tech.

In mergers
and acquisitions…

Google has acquired the Dutch company Cornerstone, which specializes in helping companies transition from on-premises to the public cloud. The move signals the push of big tech companies to deliver all-in-one cloud solutions and achieve market dominance.

Meanwhile, Dell is selling the cybersecurity leader RSA to a consortium of equity firms. The company said in a statement that the $2-billion deal will help simplify its business and product portfolio.

21st February 2020
The ‘Holy Trinity’ of Data Science
There are probably dozens
of variants of the Venn diagram that Drew Conway proposed a few years ago
to capture the core skills of a data scientist. Needless to say, the role has experienced
many changes since then, while rapid technological developments and the boom of
AI have further propelled the profession to the top of LinkedIn’s emerging
jobs ranking.

Well — we couldn’t resist putting forward
our own version of the infamous Venn diagram. Like Conway’s, ours is built on three
axes. However, our model focuses on broader categories rather than on specific expertise.
In today’s ever-changing business world, soft and cross-cutting skills are the
truly decisive factors that, in the long run, can ensure adaptability and
success.

Thus, our “holy trinity,” if you will, of
data science is made up of:
- Curiosity
- Technical know-how
- Collaboration
Thinking of a career in the field, or
wondering if you’re doing this right? Let’s dive into each component.

The importance of a curious mind

Probably obvious, but it’s impossible to
talk about science and not mention the innate curiosity that powers it. Whether
you plan to explore the possibility of life in other planets or the mysteries
of quantum entanglement, it is the thirst for answers to questions and riddles
that will make you advance.

This, of course, applies to the problem-solving
capabilities required in data science projects. Nevertheless, well-directed technical
inquiries tend to fall on shaky ground whenever there are not accompanied by a
good contextual understanding. Just because you’re good at playing with data and
creating models that produce intricate insights and machine learning
experiences, none of it is worth anything if your work isn’t helpful to the
overarching goal.

For this reason, the need for curiosity
expands to the domain of expertise in which you operate (i.e. finance, political
studies, marketing). The more you know about the field of work of your company
or department, the better questions you will ask yourself, the useful insights
and models you will produce.

Note that we’re highlighting “curiosity” rather than “knowledge.” You’re going to spend many hours working with this data. Make sure it’s something that you are passionate about or at least find interesting.

Knowing the technical ins and outs

Some describe a data scientist as someone
who knows more about math and statistics than your average programmer while
having greater coding capabilities than your average mathematician. Although this
definition errs on side of oversimplification, it is not totally misguided.

To be successful in data science, you need
to be proficient in certain data engineering and coding-related methodologies
and practices. It is important not only to know how to build effective code, but
also how to efficiently extract and clean data.

Additionally, there is the crucial
technical knowledge that has less to do with computer engineering and more with,
for instance, data privacy compliance. You must know what data sets you can
manipulate and which ones you can’t, which processes can be computed on the
cloud and which ones are better reserved for on-premises infrastructure. At the
same time, if you work in finance or in any other field where sector-specific concepts
are a basic requirement, you will have to dominate those on top of your
knowledge of data science.

Playing as a team

This is where soft skills play the biggest
role. Interpersonal communication and teamwork have always been one of the key
factors of success Their relevance in this hyperconnected world of ours is only
increasing.

There must be good cooperation between all
teams and stakeholders involved in the process, and, for that, you should be
able to communicate efficiently and in a compelling way. It’s not enough with working
closely with developers or analysts. Knowing how to present a project in
layman’s terms becomes essential if you want to be granted the staff or
computational power that you’ll need to complete it.

Apart from this, you need to be well-versed
in concepts like Agile development, which help teams streamline the production
pipeline. Version control, a unified repository, and a good understanding
between development and production are a teamwork-must in today’s IT world.
20th February 2020
Test These Upcoming Dynamics 365 Features

In a true CI/CD fashion, Microsoft makes public its Dynamics 365 features release plans months before starting production deployment. New and upgraded features are rolled out twice per year in two phases: wave 1 (April – September) and wave 2 (October-March).

The company published the 2020 wave 1 plan last month, with deployment set to begin on April 1st. Some of these features, like UX improvements, will be automatically enabled for end users during April. We suggest you review the full list of updates if you haven’t done so yet and assess ; whether or not a heads-up to those affected is in order.

Meanwhile, customers and partners can explore a host of early –access features in a non-production, sandbox environment. It’s always recommended to test these new functionalities ahead of deployment to ensure they run properly within your ecosystem. Early access also offers a great opportunity to revise business and reporting processes to see how the new tools can help optimise workflows.

We have gone through the official documentation and highlighted a few features for you and your staff. To tinker with before wave 1 kicks in. You can find a step-by-step guide on how to turn on early access here.

Enhanced automation
and data-sharing for marketing

Dynamics 365 Marketing is getting several additions to improve the customer journey experience and the automation of personalized email marketing. Delivering more dynamic and content-rich messages is now easier thanks to new test-sending and content design capabilities. Smarter customer journey management allows users to set time-sensitive automated emails to expire at a given time. While defining segments is now quicker and more intuitive.

In addition, marketers can now export customer data and results reports to Excel for further manipulation and analysis.

Sales forecasting
and smoother user experience

To facilitate the creation of bottom-up sales forecasts that help managers goal progress; Microsoft is introducing new model customization capabilities and increased forecast accuracy. End users will also enjoy a more seamless user experience, with easier email template selection and faster product-to-opportunity matchmaking.

Good news for administrators! You’ll finally be able to explore feature settings and configure the Sales Hub application from a single location. Not, until April, however.

Learn more about Microsoft career paths & Microsoft certifications

Dynamics 365 features: Greater efficiency of service and supply chain management

Microsoft is making it easier to deliver customer service in a faster and more personalized manner. Both remotely and on the field. Dynamics 365 Customer Service is improving search of and access to knowledge articles. As well as providing a more immersive timeline experience to review and register a customer’s history in real time.

As for Field Service, the module is getting a new dashboard for service managers to control the use of resources. Additionally, technician time tracking entries are being integrated into the platform for enhanced visibility.

In yet another push towards operational efficiency, Microsoft is also expanding IoT capabilities for Supply Chain Management. You can now set up notifications and relevant actions for users to take during order delays. Quality anomalies and equipment down scenarios. Users can set up devices via a non-code interface for quick and effortless access to this IoT intelligence service.

Learn all about Microsoft careers and the various paths one can take within the Microsoft Technologies ecosystem with the Microsoft Technologies Careers Guide

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20th February 2020
Weekly News Digest #5

A week in retrospect…

The global association of mobile operators (GSMA) announced on Wednesday that it is cancelling this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s largest mobile trade show. The decision was taken after several industry giants like Amazon, Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom pulled out for fear of the newly baptised COVID-19 virus.

The announcement comes as a huge financial blow for the city of Barcelona and for many smaller consumer electronics companies that rely on the show to debut their new devices and make most of the year’s deals.

Interestingly, it’s business as usual for other global trade shows of similar scale being held right now, like Amsterdam’s ISE. Multiple companies that cancelled their attendance to MWC are currently exhibiting their products and solutions at ISE, suggesting fear of the virus is not the only factor at play here.

Good and
bad news fo ther UK’s tech sector. First the bad ones.

We learned this week that British tech firms ended 2019 with the worst quarterly results since 2012. The bump in the road seems to have been motivated by the political uncertainty surrounding the country’s geopolitcal future.

Don’t panic, though. The UK’s tech industry is doing great. In fact, it registered the tech world’s biggest salary raises in 2019. Even ahead of San Francisco and New York.

Meantime,
in Switzerland…

What’s the
easiest way to crack a country’s encrypted communications? Well, of course —
to secretly buy the company selling them encryption services in the first
place.

At least that’s what the CIA and the West German government did with the Swiss company Crypto AG. In what the CIA itself describes as “the intelligence coup of the century,” the U.S. intercepted other countries’ communications for decades.

The whole thing started with mechanical encryption devices and ended in 2018, when ubiquitous cyber-encryption services brought the Swiss firm to bankruptcy.

Lastly, if you’re working on apps for Windows, here’s a friendly reminder that Microsoft released this week a new dev toolkit for its dual-screen OS, Windows 10X.

Dual and foldable screens are the latest fad. Will they last?

13th February 2020
Secure your S/4HANA migration team before costs skyrocket

If your business is dependent on SAP’s ERP software suite and you are still running on ECC, then we’re probably not the first ones to tell you this — the clock is ticking. Yes. As of last week, SAP is officially extending free ECC support throughout 2027 and optional maintenance until 2030. But that’s not that much extra time considering the hefty work the upgrade requires. How to secure your S/4HANA migration, the Golden Opportunity for IT Professionals?

In any case — What perhaps you haven’t
considered yet is that, with every month that passes, the migration’s financial
impact on your bottom line increases exponentially.

That is, of course, if like most companies, yours is not considering building S/4HANA capabilities in-house. According to a recent report by Resulting IT, only 18% of managers admit to having put a focus on developing internal SAP expertise.

Bringing external personnel into your team to infuse a good dose of talent is one of the best-proven skill development strategies out there. However, you might want to take into account external factors that are sure to turn the process into a very time-sensitive matter.

It’s a very simple equation:

Volume of work + Skills Shortage + High Percentage of Experts Retiring Soon = £ £ £ £ £ £ £

Let’s break it down, to secure of your S/4HANA migration.

Secure your S/4HANA migration #1 – Volume of work and internal reluctance

In recent years, we’ve all gotten used to software updates taking just a few minutes or hours at most. Not surprisingly, a lot of companies think of the migration to S/4HANA as a simple software update that will be ready over a weekend. Nothing further away from the truth.

Read our article about The Value of SAP and SAP S/4HANA.

Moving to S/4HANA requires a complete
redesign of your ERP environment and, in many cases, of your business dataflows
and reporting pipelines. That is a
sizable project, especially considering that the same Resulting IT report puts
the ECC product set at around 400 million lines of code. Add that to the extensive
customizations most companies have implemented throughout the years, and you end
up with quite a thick book to translate into S/4HANA.

However, it is not in the technical details that the biggest challenges reside. As SAP co-CEO Christian Klein stressed in the company’s most recent earnings call, the biggest obstacles to S/4 implementation are changing legacy business processes and gaining the acceptance of managers and employees.

Undertaking the migration is a lengthy and resource-heavy process, but SAP has put in place all the tools your team will need. Now, convincing your organization to revisit its internal procedures and get used to a host of new tools — That’s different. And it is precisely why the move to S/4HANA demands a clear business case to start with. Which, in turn, requires time and advance planning.

#2 – Widening skills gap and an ageing workforce

Skill obsolescence is an unpleasant side effect of progress. Nothing new here, especially if we are talking about IT. Still, when it comes to S/4HANA, the difficulties in finding talent that is well-versed in the new environment multiply.

The aforementioned
report also reveals a generalised lack of experience in the live or nearing
go-live stages of the transition. Although 48% of SAP specialists declare
having been involved in S/4 projects, a significant portion of these are
solutions architects and therefore only have experience in the early
blueprinting stages of the project. Securing the services of consultants with operational
know-how will be no easy feat.

Couple that with the
fact that 40% of UK SAP experts plan to retire within the next 10 years, and we
are looking at the perfect storm.

S/4-savvy consultants surveyed in the report expect to charge between £650 and £749 per day. And that’s not only true for external talent. Permanent employees with proven S/4 skills will also benefit from the situation, with an estimated yearly salary of at least £100,000 and increased career prospects.

In a nutshell – Migrating to S/4HANA is a race against increasing employee costs as much as it is a race against the clock. If your organization plans on sticking to SAP solutions, it is a good idea for both your wallet and peace of mind to start procedures as soon as possible

DISCOVER OUR ULTIMATE S/4HANA CAREERS GUIDE

12th February 2020
Freelancers in tech: did you say precariousness?

Freelancing is the subject of much ink as the gig economy keeps on growing. Frequently portrayed as the future of work, freelancing is not always the Holy Grail of well-being … especially not in tech, an area that is so buoyant.

Whoever says freelance often implies freedom, autonomy, a passion-driven career. But make no mistake: the reality is often far from ideal. Freelance status is also synonymous with limited social protections, fluctuating activity and having to deal with a good amount of internal red tape. A mixed bag, then. A status that might not always be enviable.

What’s it like in the fields of technology, digital and data, which are particularly dynamic and hungry for talent? Are freelancers to envy or do they face the same difficulties?

Tech, a sector rather favourable to freelancers

It is quite evident that the situation of freelancers in tech is significantly better than for those in other sectors. With the same level of experience, a freelance web developer or a SAP consultant will find it easier to find assignments and will be better paid than a freelance photographer or a communications consultant.

Firstly, because the
talent war is particularly intense in these areas of competence, with companies
fighting to attract and retain the best profiles. Secondly, because in tech and
digital companies often work in “project mode”. This operational
mentality lends itself very well to freelancing, with very specific skill needs
and limited time.

And this trend is accelerating
— Organizations are progressively opening up to the idea of collaborating
with freelancers and are increasingly structured in ways that allow for greater
integration of this type of employee. However, on closer inspection, the
reality is more heterogeneous than it seems.

Varying career prospects

As in all sectors and areas
of activity, it can be difficult for freelance consultants to make themselves
visible to companies. Furthermore, the logic of supply and demand varies
greatly depending on the field and the function.

If a consultant with expertise in SAP management software is in addition specialized in a specific SAP module, they will be able to expect an average daily rate of between 500 and 850 pounds. Meanwhile, an independent web designer will often be satisfied with a daily salary of 250 to 350 pounds.

Beginners can find it
difficult to find a place among the experts, as companies never hire a
freelancer that needs to be trained. Additionally, for assignments that require
a lower level of expertise, firms are more likely to call on lower-cost,
offshore services.

In contrast, some tech
freelancers hold a “rockstar” status, with a very high level of
experience, highly specialized and sought-after skills, and excellent
references. These profiles have a particularly enviable situation because they
are over-solicited by recruiters and agents, and therefore in a position to
impose very high levels of remuneration and particularly advantageous
contractual conditions.

These rare profiles do
not endure a latency period between two gigs, often have higher salaries than
they would on permanent contracts, and enjoy the luxury of being able to choose
their assignments. All the advantages of being self-employed, without the
constraints.

Freelancers in tech: what is the recipe for success?

No miraculous formula
here: success is first reserved for those who have proven themselves in terms
of results and performance in the workplace. Reliability and flawlessness are
fundamental.

And that’s not all.
The entrepreneurial spirit counts quite a lot. Working freelance is a lifestyle
choice that does not suit everyone. You must know how to manage the relational
aspect and build trust with your customers, juggling between know-how and
interpersonal skills. It’s also important to know how to make the right career
choices.

What does exactly mean
to make the right career choices? Well, first specialize in areas of expertise
and / or sectors where the demand is high. Among the highly rated profiles of
the moment: SAP consultants, Microsoft technology specialists and security and
infrastructure expert.

Then you must make an
effort to continuously improve and develop your skillset. Build a good CV with
solid experiences, keep abreast and adapt to technological developments.
Finally, learn how to enhance your profile and experiences, manage your
visibility and maintain and nurture your professional network. It’s not easy
when you’re independent since you often tend to focus on the present or the
near future.

The good news is that
you’re not alone. Tech recruiters and sourcing experts are well placed to guide
professionals in the management of their development, as well as in the present
and future development of their skills.

In summary, if tech freelancers want to be successful in this ever-evolving market, it is vital for them to know how to seize the right opportunities while positioning themselves in the best niches of expertise.

And thus the “rockstar” is born.

7th February 2020
Weekly News Digest #4
Good morning! So… Thursday. Quite the week, right?

The UK is officially no longer part of the EU. The Wuhan coronavirus is spreading almost as quickly as the xenophobia it has sparked. Oh, and Trump finally managed to turn the State of the Union address into a full-blown reality TV show.

We have prepared a whole new batch of resources and interesting reads for you to explore this week. But, first things first. Let’s see what the tech world has been up to.

A week in retrospect…

In case the
Iowa caucuses weren’t complicated enough, the
app designed to collect and share the vote results for the US Democratic Party went absolutely bonkers.
It wasn’t hackers, though.

Apparently,
someone was so excited to implement new voting technologies that they
went ahead with an untested app developed by the aptly named company Shadow. No
training for volunteers either. Because, you know — why.

They
spent the rest of the week manually counting the results. Oh, blessed be paper
backup.

Meanwhile,
somewhere over the rainbow…

The Cloud
Wars wrapped up this fiscal year’s offensive as the big players announced Q4 earnings.

AWS retains its leadership, with Microsoft on second place
and narrowing the gap. In third place, Google Cloud, which released its
first official cloud earnings report earlier this week.

The FY2019
revenue table for the top 3 cloud divisions stands as follows:
1. Amazon — $35 billion (37% more than in 2018)
2. Microsoft — $16.4 billion (39% yearly increase)
3. Google — $8.9 billion (53% spike from last year)
Also —I BM recently changed CEOs, promoting its head of cloud to the top position in an effort to catch up with the competition.

Let the 2020 race begin.

Big news for the SAP community this week — The company is extending free ECC support throughout 2027, with optional maintenance until 2030.

Looks like SAP has finally accepted an extension as inevitable if it wants more of its customers to migrate to S/4HANA. The ERP vendor has vowed to support the new iteration until 2040.

Finally,
human trials of the first AI-designed drug
will soon start in Japan.

Targeted at patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the new compound represents a major technological and medical achievement. While the average drug development takes about 5 years to get to trials, AI did it in just 12 months.

Let’s hope it actually works. That would mean better, faster, and cheaper medicine for all.
7th February 2020