Why the Shift is Happening
The traditional split worked in a pre-AI era, where ERP projects were linear and heavily customized. But today’s intelligent ERP environments demand agility:
- AI-Driven Automation: Copilot and ERP-native AI agents reduce the need for repetitive manual configuration.
- Low-Code / No-Code Platforms: Microsoft Power Platform, SAP Build, and Oracle Visual Builder empower functional consultants to create apps, workflows, and dashboards — once the domain of developers.
- Embedded Generative AI: Assistants draft workflows, generate reports, and create queries — reducing dependence on technical specialists.
Simply put: ERP projects no longer need siloed roles. They need consultants who can bridge strategy, technology, and AI.
The Rise of the AI-Powered All-Rounder
An all-rounder consultant isn’t someone who knows “a little bit of everything.” They’re professionals who bring depth in business knowledge, hands-on technical fluency, and AI literacy.
Key traits of this new profile:
- Business Process Expertise – Understanding finance, supply chain, HR, and operations at a strategic level.
- AI & LCNC Fluency – Using Copilot, Power Automate, and low-code apps to deliver solutions faster.
- Technical Agility – Writing light code, configuring integrations, and working with APIs when required.
- Strategic Consulting – Advising leaders on AI governance, compliance, and business outcomes.
Why This Matters for Organizations
- Faster Implementations: All-rounders reduce the back-and-forth between functional and technical teams.
- Smarter ROI: Consultants who understand both process and technology ensure AI and LCNC features are actually adopted, not shelved.
- Resilience: As AI automates lower-value tasks, all-rounders ensure consultants still deliver strategic value.
According to Gartner, by 2026, over 50% of ERP implementations will be led by hybrid consultants who can deliver both business and technical outcomes.
How Consultants Can Evolve into All-Rounders
- Build AI Literacy – Understand how predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and generative assistants work inside ERP.
- Master Low-Code / No-Code – Learn Power Platform, SAP Build, or Oracle VB to design solutions without waiting on heavy development cycles.
- Stay Certified – ERP certifications increasingly emphasize AI and LCNC integration. They’re your proof of capability.
- Engage with Strategy – Don’t just configure modules — advise leadership on how AI + LCNC can transform operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the functional vs technical ERP consultant model still valid? +
MindCurve Perspective: Increasingly less. We’ve seen AI and LCNC make consultants more hybrid — clients now expect all-rounders.
What does AI actually change in ERP consulting? +
MindCurve Perspective: It removes repetitive configuration and reporting work, freeing consultants for strategy and innovation.
How does LCNC impact consultants? +
MindCurve Perspective: Tools like Power Platform let functional consultants build solutions once reserved for developers. Consultants must now guide governance and scale.
What skills matter most for the new ERP consultant? +
MindCurve Perspective: AI literacy, low-code design, API knowledge, and strategic business advisory.
How does this benefit organizations? +
MindCurve Perspective: All-rounders reduce silos, accelerate adoption, and ensure AI features deliver real business ROI.
Final Thought
As Mahatma Gandhi said: “If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
The ERP world now belongs to those who believe they can bridge roles, learn continuously, and build capacity.
The question is: Are you still a “functional” or “technical” consultant — or are you evolving into an AI-powered, low-code-enabled all-rounder?