SearchSAP.com’s Jon Franke interviewed David Foote of Footpartners in a Podcast, a market research group that tracks value of IT skills since 1999.

I think his separation of the SAP growth areas into 3 skills based sections (see below) is a big help for SAP professionals out in the field in order to find the path for the next 3-5 years. However, as a reader/listener I think you have to remember that his views are obviously strongly influenced by the North American SAP market.

Foote (left) observed a specialisation in functional areas: he says their research shows that a lot of newly created functional roles within SD, HR, FI, BW and Netweaver in general do now absorb the classical programming as well as analysis roles. “They’re essentially ABAP developers doing analyst work.”

The following areas are seen by him as the key areas for the next 4-5 years:

• integration and reduction
• data management, Data Warehouse, BI and BW
• modelling – “Enablers”, Architect, Business Analysts, Process Information Officers – “more or less a play for ABAPers” (Foote)

Integration and reduction: Basis admins should be looking at the integration side of things – gain consolidation skills. I would probably add that this can also (still) be a worthwhile areas for ABAPers to get into, ie SAP XI.

According to Foote, managers of large data repositories will have key skills in an SOA enabled future – current BI/BW specialists could be the key people here.

The general move into modelling tools to develop next generation apps and UIs is in general a good opportunity for ABAPers or any non-SAP developers in general. This is already gaining momentum as we speak (WebDynpro, Muse, Duet, etc.).

One interesting points obviously is how might SAPs big push into the midmarket affect SAP professionals? Foote thinks that if you’re looking for more responsibility and a wider range of skills then you might want to look at a move to a smaller company. However I doubt that a lot of SAP professionals might want to delve into a position that per se promises to be such an overly pressurising environment.

Foote also mentions that consulting companies are looking for a lot of new people and talent right now. These consutling firms are worrying that they are continually understaffed within the SAP area, he adds. People looking to move into the consulting market will find a strong demand for it within the next 4-5 years, Foote reckons – however they have to weigh up the lifestyle issues due to travelling etc.

Foote’s view on outsourcing as a danger for SAP professionals? The closer you are to the “family jewels”, the more likely it is that companies keep the work on-site rather than outsource. I really like that comparison !

In general, Foote sees SAP as a great area to work in. He encourages people to press their employers hard for retention and remuneration, as his observations currently indicate an “employees market”. However he also has some slight warnings ready as he points to the boom and bust of IT security specialists after 9/11.