Working as SAP BI consultant – interview with Jacek Rosik

Terms such as Big Data are well known for being on the top of the IT trends ranking for a long time. Data processing and analyzing are becoming if not already have a clue role in the process of business decision making. At the same time, limited number of business analysis specialists makes it one of the most promising directions in the labor market. We decided to talk with a person working as a Business Intelligence Consultant and find out, how to start a career in this field, how does work of such person look like and what abilities one must have to achieve a success. Our pick is Jacek Rosik – SAP BI Consultant working in fast developing company, Apollogic, which is based in Poznań. This company operates on the market of IT consulting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and is known as Poznań Enterpreneurship Leader this year. In the field of business analysis they achieved, among others, Prize for IT Leader in the category of BI Trends. Feel invited to read our interview. 

What is Business Intelligence?

This is a very wide term, what makes it hard to summarize and close in just few sentences. Trying to simplify things, it may be described as: „A process in which data, collected in databases, data warehouses etc. is transformed into reports, in which Key Performance Indicatiors (KPI) provide us with knowledge, which is valuable in terms of increasing competitivness of the enterprise”.

How did you start a career as a SAP Consultant in the field of BI?

Before I started to work in Apollogic, I finished computer studies with specialisation of data processing technology. I had a chance, as well during studies as after graduating, to work with small projects in and outside Poland concerning data processing and reporting on them. It was definitely a good beginning of a career as a SAP BI Consultant, which I started in Apollogic.

How does your day at work look like?

Sometimes before going to work I manage to wake up earlier and go for a jogging for an hour. It seems to me then, that the day is longer and I have more time for everything. When I start work, I always check mailbox first. I work in a project, in which most of the people involved work in U.S.A., so every morning I read arrangements and decisions from previous day, and, often I need to implement them until the end of my working day, in order to get the response the next day. After checking mail and list of reports from users I initially plan the next day concerning priorities of particular tasks. Before starting my work, I also manage to drink morning coffee with a little company that gives a bit of time for social chatting.

What is the most satysfying thing in your work?

Every day is different, there is no place for routine, we always have various challenges and problems to solve. In addition, my job means working in international environment, where you may exchange your knowledge and experience with people from different countries. Furthermore, I work with new technologies, what guarantees constant development and improvement of my own skills. Our company organises also various events such as student workshops, which I had a chance to lead. Sharing my knowledge gave me a lot of joy and satisfaction. And the last but not least, people from Apollogic, that I meet also apart from working time. Good atmosphere makes working much easier.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Dynamics of work, variability, just as I mentioned it as an advantage, as it doesn’t leave space for boredom. At the same time it is though a challenge and provides a lot of difficulties. Sometimes, a meeting is called immediately, at the very last minute, or it is demanded to take care of some issue as a priority, what enforces reorganization of the whole day. Ability to make priorities and time management are very important.

How do you cope with these difficulties?

It is possible to learn everything, very often it is just a question of practice. In other cases, you can always count on help from your team. Whoever deals with any problem, that he/she finds impossible to deal in short time posts it on the forum. There are no stupid questions, it is just that sometimes we miss some detail, and if the issue is serious and important we make brainstorming or at least a discussion.  In this way of solving problems, we also learn from one another.

What are the advantages and disadvantages in working as a SAP BI Consultant?

It is quite hard for an optimist to find any drawbacks, as I am always trying to find positive aspects. Dynamics of working that I mentioned before, changing priorities and deadlines on one hand may be considered as a disadvantage, on the other hand though it never makes work boring. The same story goes with with creating reports, which being done everyday may seem monotonous in the beginning, but as I said before – BI is a really wide term that is connected with many various fields such as BW or data analysis, what gives the possibility for widening knowledge and abilities. Another issue, that has its dark and bright side is the fact that SAP BI Consultants very often cooperate with people who live in different time zones in countries like for example U.S.A. or India. Managing to make an appointment, which will be beneficial for both sides may be really challenging in this case. It happens to attend meetings in the late afternoon. In such cases, participation in meetings may be executed from home. In the end, it is not a big deal, and additionally it is a good occasion to practice English and exchange knowledge
in international environment.

What traits, in your opinion, are most important in working as a Business Intelligence Consultant?

There is a wide range of traits, that are important in working as a SAP BI Consultant. I would mention especially good knowledge of databases, foreign languages, basic knowledge about programming. Besides this, important features are: good communication, organization of work, willingness to getting to know new tools and consant learning, also precision and meticulousness, which are crucial from the point of view of our client.

Thank you very much for the interview, I hope that thanks to that there will be more young people willing to follow promising career path in the field of Business Intelligence.

 Interview was conducted by Adam Trawiński – marketing specialist in Apollogic.