In a market where SAP specialists are scarce and in high demand, companies face a strategic decision related to the benefits of training SAP teams versus hiring external talent. Both options are valid, but their impact on costs, speed of adoption and operational efficiency is very different.
For organizations looking to accelerate SAP projects, stabilize operations or move to SAP S/4HANA, understanding this difference is key to making high-impact decisions.
Benefits of training SAP teams in-house: an investment for the long term
Developing SAP talent within the organization offers significant benefits, especially for companies with complex operations or that rely on highly customized processes.
Among the most outstanding advantages are:
- Increased team retention and commitment
- Better understanding of the business and internal processes
- Reduction of long-term external dependence
- Increased operational stability on critical SAP platforms
When training is structured through continuous plans and practical methodologies, companies are able to evolve internal talent along with the SAP platform. For organizations looking for support in this process, Zemsania offers specialized SAP training models and technological talent.
External talent vs. benefits of training SAP teams: how to make the best decision
While developing internal talent is critical, the reality is that some companies need immediate results or require very specific skills that they cannot train internally in the short term.
In these cases, external SAP talent enables:
- Incorporate profiles ready to operate and execute projects
- Accelerating implementations, migrations and functional support
- Reducing risks in critical projects
- Filling urgent vacancies in areas such as FI, CO, SD, MM, Basis or ABAP
This approach is especially effective when combined with a nearshore model, which allows access to highly skilled SAP talent in Latin America at more competitive costs than in the US. Learn more about our capabilities.
More information about SAP S/4HANA in the official documentation.
The most effective strategy: combining in-house training with external talent
Most companies that are executing successful SAP transformations use a hybrid approach:
- Trained internal talent for stable and business-critical roles
- Specialized external talent to cover peaks in demand, short-term projects or hard-to-find skills
This model reduces costs, streamlines execution and provides flexibility. It also allows internal teams to learn directly from expert consultants, accelerating their maturity curve and improving organizational self-sufficiency.
How to choose the best option for your company
To define whether your organization should prioritize internal training or outsourcing, it is useful to evaluate factors such as:
- SAP project urgency level
- Technological and functional complexity of the operation
- Available budget
- Internal capacity to manage teams or training processes
- Projected growth and evolution to SAP S/4HANA
When these elements are analyzed strategically, the organization can design an SAP talent model that minimizes risk and maximizes performance, both operationally and financially.
Conclusions on the benefits of training SAP teams
Companies that depend on SAP to operate require a talent approach that combines speed, business knowledge and stability. Understanding the benefits of empowering SAP teams enables managers to make better talent and operational decisions.
Zemsania Global Group helps organizations in the U.S. and Latin America design hybrid SAP talent strategies through training models, specialized acquisition and high-performance nearshore teams.