This rate of postponement and cancellation is largely a result of a CRM skill shortage -- of consultants and systems integrators in particular -- Gartner, in a recent report indicated.

SAP CRM Projects are more likely than projects involving other CRM vendors to run into these problems. - "Demand outstrips supply for skilled, experienced SAP CRM consultants," said Matthew Goldman, research director for Gartner. That's thanks not only to new SAP CRM sales, but because many customers held off on deploying CRM until they finished their ERP rollout.

The SAP CRM skills shortage presents an opportunity for third-party skilled resources to jump in and fill the skills gap.

These third-parties will be able to command higher rates for SAP CRM projects than for other CRM implementations. So it is important, Goldman believes, that companies implementing SAP CRM revisit their planning assumptions to account for the potentially higher costs.

Some delayed projects are inevitable, despite a company's best efforts. When faced with delayed projects, there are three options: Wait out the delay, improve current legacy systems, or simply do nothing. "Doing nothing is the least preferred option," Goldman said.

So what is SAP doing to avoid this?

Source: 1

Prashanth Rai