What ERP profiles does a company need? Guide to building the right team

Implementing or evolving an ERP system does not solely depend on choosing a platform like SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or Odoo. The success of the project is also conditioned by the people responsible for analyzing processes, configuring the solution, developing customizations, performing integrations, and ensuring that the platform can evolve alongside the business.

Therefore, one of the first questions an organization must address is what ERP profiles it really needs. A project may require anything from a functional consultant who translates business needs to developers, technical consultants, architects, or managers capable of coordinating the entire implementation.

In this guide, we analyze the main ERP specialists, what role each one plays, and when it makes sense to incorporate them.

What is an ERP profile?

An ERP profile is a professional specialized in one of the areas necessary to implement, develop, integrate, manage, or evolve an enterprise resource planning system.

These professionals can work with platforms such as:

• SAP.

• Microsoft Dynamics 365.

• Odoo.

• Oracle ERP.

• Other enterprise systems.

However, knowing the platform is not enough.

ERP projects combine technology and business processes. Finance, sales, logistics, inventory, purchasing, production, or human resources can be interconnected within the same system. That is why there are functional, technical, and architectural profiles with different responsibilities.

Main ERP profiles a company may need

Not all organizations need to form the same team. The size and composition will depend on the platform used, the scope of the implementation, existing integrations, and the degree of customization required. Here are some of the most common profiles.

ERP functional consultant

The ERP Functional Consultant acts as a bridge between business needs and the capabilities of the platform. Their job is to understand how the company operates and configure the ERP to accurately represent those processes.

They can participate in areas such as Finance, Purchasing, Sales, Inventory, Logistics, Production, and Human Resources.

This profile is especially important during an implementation because it helps transform operational requirements into configurations and workflows within the ERP.

When to hire them?

When the company needs to implement new modules, redefine processes, or adapt the ERP's operation to new business needs.

ERP developer

The ERP Developer comes into play when the standard functionalities of the platform are insufficient. Their responsibility is to develop customizations, modules, extensions, and specific functionalities. Depending on the ERP, technologies can vary significantly.

For example, a project may require specialists in SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, or Odoo development.

They may also participate in process automation, module development, interface customization, integrations via APIs, business rule development, and adaptation of existing functionalities.

When to hire them?

When you need functionalities that the ERP does not provide natively or need to adapt the platform to specific processes of your company.

ERP technical consultant

The ERP Technical Consultant has a more technical architecture-oriented focus, integrations, and the technological operation of the platform.

They can work on projects where the ERP needs to communicate with CRM, e-commerce, internal applications, financial systems, logistics platforms, APIs, databases, and external services.

In organizations with multiple enterprise systems, this profile can become a critical piece.

When to hire them?

When the ERP is part of a complex technological ecosystem and needs to exchange information with other platforms.

ERP solution architect

As the complexity of the project increases, the need to make architectural decisions arises. This is where the ERP Solution Architect comes in. Their role is to define how the solution should be structured and how its different components will relate.

They can participate in decisions related to ERP architecture, integrations, scalability, security, information flows, external systems, migrations, and technological evolution.

They do not limit themselves to solving a specific functionality. Their perspective encompasses the complete solution.

When to hire them?

In complex implementations, significant migrations, large-scale business projects, or ecosystems where the ERP must connect with numerous platforms.

ERP project lead

An ERP project may involve developers, functional consultants, business managers, external providers, and different internal departments.

The ERP Project Lead helps coordinate these parties.

Among their responsibilities may be defining priorities, coordinating teams, overseeing deliverables, managing dependencies, controlling risks, and facilitating communication between business and technology.

When to hire them?

When the implementation involves different teams, modules, or business areas and centralized coordination is needed.

What specialists do you need based on the ERP project phase?

A company does not necessarily need to incorporate all these profiles simultaneously. The composition of the team can change depending on the phase of the project.

Implementation of a new ERP

During a greenfield implementation, it is usually necessary to combine functional and technical knowledge.

A team could include an ERP Functional Consultant, ERP Technical Consultant, ERP Developer, ERP Solution Architect, and ERP Project Lead.

The initial goal is to understand existing processes, configure the platform, and determine which functionalities require customization.

Customization of an existing ERP

If the platform is already operational but needs new functionalities, the technical weight increases.

In this scenario, ERP Developers, Technical Consultants, and Functional Consultants may be especially important.

The functional profile defines how the process should work, and the developer implements the necessary modifications.

Integration of the ERP with other systems

When the main challenge is connecting the ERP with CRM, e-commerce, internal applications, or other platforms, the priority shifts.

Typically, the ERP Technical Consultant, ERP Developer, and ERP Solution Architect become more important.

The goal is to ensure reliable information exchange between the different systems.

Migration or modernization of the ERP

Companies working with legacy platforms may need to update versions or migrate to more modern solutions.

These projects may require ERP Solution Architects, Technical Consultants, Developers, Functional Consultants, and Project Leads.

The difficulty lies not only in transferring data. It is also necessary to preserve critical processes, validate integrations, and minimize the impact on operations.

SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, or Odoo: the profile also depends on the platform

Another determining factor is the ERP used.

A specialist with experience in a specific platform cannot necessarily directly replace another specialized in a different ecosystem.

SAP profiles

SAP projects may require functional consultants, technical specialists, developers, and architects with specific knowledge of solutions like SAP S/4HANA, SAP Fiori, or SAP Business One.

Microsoft Dynamics profiles

Organizations using Microsoft Dynamics 365 may need specialists in Business Central, Finance, Supply Chain, or Dynamics CRM, depending on the implemented modules.

Odoo profiles

Odoo allows a high level of customization, so projects may need developers specialized in modules, automation, and integrations, in addition to functional consultants capable of configuring business processes.

The platform, therefore, should be one of the first criteria when selecting a specialist.

How to know what ERP profile your company needs?

Before starting the search, it is advisable to answer some questions.

What ERP platform do you use? Are you implementing, maintaining, or migrating the system? Do you need functional configuration or development? Are there integrations with other applications? What business processes will be involved? What level of seniority does the project require?

Defining these variables helps avoid a common mistake: searching for a generic “ERP specialist” when the project needs much more specific competencies.

For example, a complex integration will likely need a technical profile. A reorganization of the financial process may primarily need a functional consultant. A complete transformation of the platform may require both profiles along with an architect.

Internal ERP team or external specialists?

Maintaining all ERP profiles within the staff is not always necessary.

Needs can change significantly during the project lifecycle. An implementation may require several specialists for a few months and then only need support or occasional development. The models of IT outsourcing, Team as a Service, and nearshore talent allow for the incorporation of specialized capacity according to the project phase without having to permanently build the entire structure internally.

For companies that need to temporarily expand their technological capacity, this approach also allows for the incorporation of specialists who work alongside the existing team.

How to find suitable ERP specialists for your project

Correctly selecting an ERP profile requires evaluating more than just a list of technologies.

It is important to check:

• Real experience with the platform used.

• Knowledge of the necessary modules.

• Experience in similar projects.

• Technical or functional capability according to the role.

• Experience with integrations.

• Seniority.

• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams.

• Understanding of business processes.

At lateam, we help companies identify and hire ERP specialists tailored to the characteristics of each project.

Our process allows us to analyze the platform, the necessary competencies, and the project context before selecting the right professionals.

Frequently asked questions about ERP profiles

What ERP profiles exist?

Among the most common profiles are ERP Functional Consultants, ERP Developers, ERP Technical Consultants, ERP Solution Architects, and ERP Project Leads. The right combination depends on the platform and the project scope.

What is the difference between a functional consultant and an ERP developer?

The functional consultant primarily focuses on understanding business processes and configuring the ERP, while the developer creates customizations, modules, automations, and integrations when standard functionality is insufficient.

Do I need an ERP architect?

Not all projects require one. An ERP Solution Architect is particularly useful in complex implementations, migrations, architectures with multiple systems, or projects with numerous integrations.

Can I hire just one ERP specialist?

Yes. If your company already has a technology team, you can incorporate only the missing profile to cover a specific need.

What ERP platform should the specialist dominate?

It depends on the system used by your company. You may need professionals specialized in SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Odoo, or other ERP platforms.

Is it possible to incorporate a complete ERP team?

Yes. In larger projects, functional profiles, developers, technical specialists, architects, and project managers can be combined.

Find the ERP profiles your company needs

There is no universal ERP team. The right combination depends on the platform, business processes, integrations, technical complexity, and project phase.

Correctly defining these variables before starting the search allows you to select professionals that are truly aligned with the organization's needs.

At lateam, you can access ERP specialists and other technological profiles to expand your team according to the needs of each project. If you already know what profile you need, you can request technological talent. If you are still defining the project, you can also contact our team to analyze which specialists fit your needs best.

You can also check the lateam blog for more content on technological hiring, IT outsourcing, and building specialized teams.