Career path for ABAP developer.

[former_member230666]

Hi Experts,

I've 5 years of experience as an ABAP developer and I'm thinking of switching career path. Which have better prospects? Should I move to BASIS or Functional team? I hope to hear your opinion.

[former_member185613]

hi Shawn,

Just my opinion: I would not move completely to a different path but rather try to combine the current knowledge with the new one. Having good ABAP knowledge will help you when you change to a functional team. With the previous knowledge in ABAP and the new functional aspects learning, you can have a better understanding of the business processes.

Regards,

~Athreya

[former_member196331]

My Answer is Functional team?.

Small Examples: Suppose MM is having 2000  screens. Function person is responsible for these

2000  screens.

But Developer is Responsible for what he had developed only. Which means his responsible is less  time.Just use and throw For a client.

[former_member230666]

Hi Athreya,

Thanks for your reply. Because i'm looking into specialization. I guess ABAP knowledge is the foundation and an added advantage if were to move to Functional. Normally what is the job scope of a functional guy?

[former_member196331]

I think.

Scope of the functional guy.

1)Analyzing the Client requirement.

2)An Erp is not ready made product to any client

3)Functional consultant has to prepare the product before giving this product to the client

4)Support If the project is all ready implemented ,then understanding the things what previous people has done. If any new developments then functional people has to pass the tasks to the

deveopers

5)Before moving development task to the end users. Testing has to be done by functional people.

[former_member230666]

Thanks for your reply. I'm not quite sure on that. Sometimes developer spend more time than functional team. More often, it is the ABAPer that have to debug, drill in to find out the root cause and propose a technical solution. What is your thought?

[former_member196331]

Ok, These words Good to hear. Bcz importance to the abaper. Good

[former_member230666]

how about basis? will ABAP knowledge help if were to switch to BASIS?

[former_member196331]

That is also good.

[former_member185613]

Hi Shawn,

In simple words, a functional consultant would understand the business requirement and try to implement it in the system. As we know, there are many business scenarios that are already made available in SAP so you may have to configure the system according to the customer need. There are possibilities that customer requirement is not implemented in standard SAP system so you may have to come up with a custom logic for it. This is just one of the things a functional consultant does.

With both ABAP and functional knowledge, you would understand the feasibility and limitation both from technical and functional front when the customer proposes a business process.

Regards,

~Athreya

[former_member187692]

Hi there Shawn,

                        After 5 years down the lane in ABAP and SAP you must have already a pretty clear picture of the market growth in your place. Now, since you have mentioned BASIS and Functional Module(I assume you already have a module in mind), well in my opinion I would take up a functional module which suits my interests somewhere down the lane but I wouldn't leave my technical side. I mean to say, I am good at ABAP - Web Dynpro. So, for now I will plan in such a way that,  I get some Workflow experience as well and then slowly move on to Functional side while keeping my technical skills in sharp. - A Techno Functional Consultant. 

                             Regarding BASIS, I can suggest that you sit down with your BASIS consultant and get a picture of the work what he does and learn where it can take you a year down the lane. See if that's what motivates you or your are looking for.

BTW have you look into HANA or SAP Mobility. Even that is also a path for ABAPers.

Regards,

Naren K.