Top 12 SAP Developer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, standing out as a SAP developer requires not just expertise in SAP software but also a diverse set of technical and soft skills. This article delves into the top 12 skills that can elevate your resume and enhance your attractiveness to potential employers, ensuring you secure your place in the evolving landscape of SAP development.

SAP Developer Skills

1. ABAP
2. SAP Fiori
3. SAPUI5
4. HANA
5. OData
6. BAPI
7. IDoc
8. SAP Workflow
9. CDS Views
10. SAP BTP
11. SAP S/4HANA
12. SAP BW/4HANA

1. ABAP

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is a high-level programming language created by SAP for developing applications within the SAP ecosystem, including custom reports, interfaces, extensions, and forms.

Why It's Important

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is crucial for an SAP Developer as it is the primary programming language for building and customizing applications within the SAP ecosystem, enabling tailored solutions for business processes.

How to Improve ABAP Skills

Improving your ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) skills involves continuous learning and practice. Here are concise tips for an SAP Developer seeking to enhance their ABAP expertise:

1. Official SAP Learning: Leverage SAP Learning Hub for official courses and certifications. It provides comprehensive learning paths for different SAP solutions, including ABAP.

2. Practice Coding: Utilize SAP Community ABAP Trials to access ABAP environment trials where you can practice coding and experiment with new features.

3. Code Review and Standards: Familiarize yourself with ABAP programming guidelines. The Clean ABAP initiative on GitHub offers a style guide for writing more maintainable ABAP code.

4. Stay Updated: Follow SAP Developers Blog for the latest trends, updates, and tips on ABAP development shared by the community and SAP experts.

5. Hands-On Projects: Engage in real-world projects or contribute to open-source projects to apply your skills practically. Solutions like ABAPGit enable version control for ABAP, facilitating collaboration and project work.

6. Networking: Join SAP Community to connect with other ABAP developers, participate in forums, and access a wide range of resources and expert advice.

By following these steps and continuously challenging yourself with new projects and learning opportunities, you can significantly improve your ABAP skills and stay at the forefront of SAP development.

How to Display ABAP Skills on Your Resume

2. SAP Fiori

SAP Fiori is a collection of apps, based on the SAPUI5 framework, designed to provide a user-friendly, role-based interface for SAP software functions, enhancing user experience across various devices and platforms.

Why It's Important

SAP Fiori is important for an SAP Developer because it provides a modern, user-friendly interface for SAP applications, enhancing user experience and productivity. It supports efficient, responsive design principles, allowing developers to create adaptable applications for any device, improving accessibility and usability.

How to Improve SAP Fiori Skills

Improving SAP Fiori involves enhancing user experience, optimizing performance, and ensuring seamless integration. Here are concise strategies for an SAP Developer:

1. Follow SAP Fiori Design Guidelines: Adhere to SAP Fiori Design Principles for a consistent and user-friendly interface.

2. Utilize SAP Fiori Elements: Leverage SAP Fiori Elements for efficient application development with predefined templates.

3. Optimize Performance: Implement performance best practices such as minimizing round trips, lazy loading, and data caching.

4. Customize and Extend: Customize and extend applications using SAPUI5 flexibility services for a tailored user experience.

5. Ensure Accessibility: Make your applications accessible by following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

6. Testing: Perform thorough testing using tools like SAP Fiori tools for quality and performance assurance.

7. Stay Updated: Regularly update your skills with the latest SAP Fiori Roadmap and SAP Community discussions.

By focusing on these areas, SAP Developers can significantly improve the quality and user experience of SAP Fiori applications.

How to Display SAP Fiori Skills on Your Resume

3. SAPUI5

SAPUI5 is a JavaScript-based framework developed by SAP for building responsive web applications. It leverages HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript to create enterprise-grade, feature-rich UIs that can integrate seamlessly with SAP back-end systems.

Why It's Important

SAPUI5 is important for an SAP Developer as it provides a modern, comprehensive toolkit for building responsive, user-friendly web applications optimized for both mobile and desktop, seamlessly integrating with SAP systems and adhering to enterprise standards.

How to Improve SAPUI5 Skills

Improving your skills in SAPUI5, a UI technology for developing web applications on the SAP platform, involves understanding its core principles, best practices, and staying updated with the latest features. Here's a concise guide:

1. Understand the Basics: Ensure a strong foundation in HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery, as they are crucial for SAPUI5 development. SAP's official documentation is a great starting point.

2. Follow Best Practices: Adhere to SAPUI5 best practices for performance optimization, code readability, and maintenance. SAP provides a Best Practices guide that covers various aspects of application development.

3. Utilize SAP Web IDE: Get familiar with SAP Web IDE for a more efficient development process. It offers templates, code completion, and debug tools. Learn more from the SAP Web IDE overview.

4. Explore SAPUI5 SDK: The SAPUI5 SDK is an invaluable resource for developers. It includes samples, API references, and extensive documentation.

5. Engage with the Community: Join the SAP Community to exchange knowledge, tips, and get answers to your questions. Participating in forums and discussions can provide insights and solutions from experienced developers.

6. Practice: Develop sample applications or contribute to projects. GitHub is a great platform to find SAPUI5 projects where you can contribute, learn by doing, and get feedback from the community.

7. Stay Updated: SAPUI5 is regularly updated. Follow the SAPUI5 Road Map to stay informed about new features and updates.

8. Learn from SAPUI5 Experts: Watch tutorials and read blogs from SAPUI5 experts. Websites like SAP HANA Academy and OpenSAP offer free courses and videos.

By combining these resources and strategies, you can significantly improve your SAPUI5 development skills and stay competitive in the field.

How to Display SAPUI5 Skills on Your Resume

4. HANA

HANA is SAP's high-performance, in-memory database designed to accelerate data processing, enable real-time analytics, and simplify application development for SAP developers.

Why It's Important

HANA is important for an SAP Developer because it enables high-speed, real-time data processing and analytics, significantly improving application performance and enabling advanced data-driven decision-making capabilities within the SAP ecosystem.

How to Improve HANA Skills

To improve SAP HANA performance and efficiency as an SAP Developer, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Optimize Data Models: Ensure data models are streamlined and efficient. Use calculation views for complex operations and leverage the push-down capabilities to minimize data transfer. SAP HANA Modeling Guide

2. Index Management: Properly manage indexes. SAP HANA automatically handles most indexing, but be mindful of unnecessary or duplicate indexes that might slow performance. Indexing in SAP HANA

3. Code Push-Down: Maximize code push-down to execute data-intensive logic directly on the HANA database, reducing data transfer volumes and leveraging HANA’s in-memory processing capabilities. Code Push Down Techniques

4. Partition Large Tables: Use table partitioning for large tables to improve data management and access speed. Partitioning strategies can be based on range, hash, or round-robin. Table Partitioning in SAP HANA

5. Optimize SQL and Data Access: Write efficient SQL statements and use appropriate filters to minimize data loads. Avoid SELECT * queries and be specific in your data retrieval. SQL Performance in SAP HANA

6. Leverage Caching: Utilize caching mechanisms where appropriate to reduce database load and improve response times for frequently accessed data. Caching in SAP HANA

7. Regular Database Maintenance: Perform regular database maintenance tasks such as updating statistics, monitoring, and cleaning up unused objects to ensure optimal performance. SAP HANA Administration Guide

8. Performance Monitoring and Tuning: Regularly monitor performance using HANA Studio or SAP HANA Cockpit and adjust configurations, models, and code as necessary. SAP HANA Performance Monitoring and Tuning

Implementing these strategies involves a mix of understanding SAP HANA's architecture, efficient data modeling, and proficient coding practices. Always test the impact of changes in a development or testing environment before applying them to production.

How to Display HANA Skills on Your Resume

5. OData

OData (Open Data Protocol) is a standardized protocol for creating and consuming RESTful APIs, allowing for the integration, access, and manipulation of data across different platforms and systems, commonly used in SAP environments for efficient data exchange.

Why It's Important

For an SAP Developer, OData (Open Data Protocol) is crucial as it provides a standardized protocol for creating and consuming data APIs. This simplifies data access and integration across SAP and non-SAP applications, enabling efficient, real-time data exchange and interoperability in the enterprise landscape.

How to Improve OData Skills

Improving your use of OData as an SAP developer involves enhancing performance, understanding versioning, and leveraging SAP-specific tools and best practices. Here's a concise guide:

1. Master the SAP OData Model: Understand the core principles of OData and how it's implemented in SAP. Focus on efficient data modeling and leveraging SAP annotations. SAP's official OData documentation is a great starting point.

2. Utilize SAP Gateway Performance Optimization Techniques: Implement server-side paging, filtering, and sorting to minimize data transfer. SAP Gateway offers tools and techniques for optimizing OData services, detailed in their performance guide.

3. Cache Data Where Appropriate: Use SAP's caching mechanisms to store OData responses temporarily, reducing the need for repeated data fetches. SAP provides guidelines on caching strategies.

4. Utilize $batch and $expand Queries Wisely: Minimize the number of HTTP requests through batch processing and reduce the need for subsequent requests by expanding entities in your queries. However, use these features judiciously as they can increase server load. SAP Gateway and the OData documentation provide insights into effective use.

5. Opt for SAP Fiori Elements and Smart Controls: When building UIs, SAP Fiori Elements and smart controls automatically handle OData calls efficiently, adhering to best practices. They significantly reduce the amount of boilerplate code. Learn more through the Fiori Elements overview.

6. Stay Updated and Use the Latest OData Version Supported by SAP: SAP regularly updates its support for OData, with newer versions offering improved features and performance. Keeping your skills and applications up-to-date ensures you're using the most efficient approaches available. Refer to SAP's OData service documentation for the latest features and standards.

7. Security: Ensure your OData services are secure by implementing SAP's recommended security practices, such as HTTPS, OAuth, and SAP Cloud Platform Identity Authentication. The SAP security guide provides comprehensive details.

8. Continuous Learning and Community Engagement: Technologies and best practices evolve, so engage with the SAP community through forums like SAP Community and SAP Developer Center for the latest tips, tutorials, and discussions on OData and SAP development.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your OData implementations within SAP environments, leading to more efficient, maintainable, and high-performing applications.

How to Display OData Skills on Your Resume

6. BAPI

BAPI (Business Application Programming Interface) is a standardized programming interface provided by SAP, allowing developers to access and manipulate business data and processes within SAP systems in a consistent manner.

Why It's Important

BAPI (Business Application Programming Interface) is crucial for SAP developers as it provides standardized methods to access and manipulate business data and processes in SAP systems, enabling seamless integration, automation, and extension of SAP functionalities across diverse applications.

How to Improve BAPI Skills

To improve Business Application Programming Interface (BAPI) in SAP, follow these concise steps:

1. Understand BAPI Standards: Grasp the fundamentals and standards of BAPI to ensure your development aligns with SAP best practices. SAP Documentation is a valuable resource.

2. Design Before Implementing: Plan your BAPI's functionality, inputs, and outputs before coding. This helps in creating efficient and reusable BAPIs.

3. Use SAP's BAPI Wizard: Leverage the BAPI Wizard in SAP tools to simplify and standardize the creation process. SAP BAPI Wizard Guide provides step-by-step instructions.

4. Perform Error Handling: Implement comprehensive error handling to manage exceptions and ensure reliable BAPI operation. SAP Error Handling Best Practices offer strategies and examples.

5. Optimize Performance: Optimize your BAPI for performance by minimizing database accesses, using appropriate buffering, and streamlining data processing. SAP Performance Optimization Guide can help in identifying bottlenecks and improving efficiency.

6. Test Thoroughly: Utilize SAP's testing tools to rigorously test your BAPI for different scenarios and ensure it behaves as expected under various conditions. SAP Testing Best Practices provides insights on effective testing strategies.

7. Document Your BAPI: Provide clear and detailed documentation, including purpose, parameters, and usage examples. This facilitates easier integration and maintenance. SAP Documentation Guidelines outline how to create effective documentation.

8. Ensure Security: Secure your BAPI to protect against unauthorized access and ensure data integrity. SAP Security Guide offers comprehensive security practices.

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, an SAP developer can significantly improve the design, implementation, and maintenance of BAPIs in their SAP environment.

How to Display BAPI Skills on Your Resume

7. IDoc

IDoc, short for Intermediate Document, is a standard data structure for electronic data interchange (EDI) between application programs written for the SAP business system or between an SAP application and an external program. It is used for asynchronous transactions: Each IDoc is initiated by exactly one sender and is sent to one or more receivers.

Why It's Important

IDoc (Intermediate Document) is important for an SAP Developer because it is a standard data structure for electronic data interchange (EDI) between application programs written for the SAP business system or between an SAP application and an external program. IDocs serve as the vehicle for data transfer in SAP's Application Link Enabling (ALE) system, facilitating the integration and communication between different SAP systems and between SAP and non-SAP systems, thereby enabling efficient, reliable, and automated business processes.

How to Improve IDoc Skills

Improving IDoc (Intermediate Document) in SAP involves enhancing data exchange and communication efficiency between SAP systems and external systems. Follow these concise steps for optimization:

1. Optimization of Segments: Reduce the number of segments in an IDoc to enhance processing speed. Focus on sending only necessary data.

2. Parallel Processing: Implement parallel processing for IDoc handling to speed up throughput. Use SAP's built-in mechanisms like BD87 for parallel IDoc processing.

3. Archiving and Cleanup: Regularly archive and delete old IDocs to maintain system performance. SAP Note 872388 provides guidelines for IDoc archiving.

4. Error Handling Automation: Automate error handling using custom code or tools like ALE Error and Conflict Handler (ALEECH) to minimize manual interventions.

5. Tuning ALE Settings: Adjust ALE (Application Link Enabling) settings for optimal IDoc communication. This includes configuring RFC destinations for improved performance.

6. Use Change Pointers Wisely: Use change pointers efficiently to generate IDocs only for relevant data changes, minimizing unnecessary IDoc traffic.

For more detailed guidelines and best practices, refer to SAP's official documentation and resources:

• SAP IDoc Documentation
• SAP Community for IDoc Discussions
• SAP Note 872388 for IDoc Archiving

Remember, a targeted approach focusing on system-specific needs yields the best results in IDoc improvement.

How to Display IDoc Skills on Your Resume

8. SAP Workflow

SAP Workflow is a tool within the SAP system that automates and manages business processes, allowing for the design, execution, and monitoring of these processes by defining tasks, assigning them to users, and managing their execution flow, ensuring tasks are completed in a structured and efficient manner.

Why It's Important

SAP Workflow is important for an SAP Developer because it automates business processes, ensuring tasks are executed consistently and efficiently, integrates seamlessly with SAP applications, and enhances productivity by optimizing workflows and reducing manual interventions.

How to Improve SAP Workflow Skills

Improving SAP Workflow involves enhancing efficiency, usability, and integration. As an SAP Developer, focus on the following areas for improvement:

1. Optimization of Workflow Design: Simplify and optimize the design of workflows. Ensure that steps are necessary and add value. For in-depth design concepts, refer to the SAP Workflow Design Guide.

2. Enhancement of User Interfaces (UIs): Improve user experience by enhancing UIs, utilizing SAP Fiori for a more responsive and modern design. Explore SAP Fiori Design Guidelines for best practices.

3. Integration with SAP and Non-SAP Systems: Enhance workflows by integrating with both SAP and non-SAP systems for seamless data exchange. SAP provides various integration tools and APIs documented at SAP Integration Suite.

4. Use of Business Rule Framework Plus (BRFplus): BRFplus allows for the management of complex business rules without coding, making workflows more adaptable. Learn more about BRFplus in the official documentation.

5. Monitoring and Error Handling: Implement comprehensive monitoring and error handling to quickly identify and resolve issues. SAP Solution Manager offers tools for monitoring; details can be found here.

6. Performance Optimization: Regularly analyze and optimize the performance of workflows. This includes database optimization, efficient use of resources, and minimizing unnecessary steps. SAP provides performance tuning guidelines within the Performance Optimization Guide.

7. Regular Training and Updates: Stay updated with the latest SAP Workflow developments and best practices through SAP training and certifications. SAP Learning Hub (SAP Learning Hub) is a valuable resource for continuous learning.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the efficiency, usability, and functionality of SAP Workflows, contributing to overall business process optimization.

How to Display SAP Workflow Skills on Your Resume

9. CDS Views

CDS (Core Data Services) Views are a development framework provided by SAP for data modeling and representation. They allow developers to define semantically rich database views on the SAP HANA database, encapsulate complex SQL queries in a simpler form, and integrate with SAP's security and authorization models. CDS Views are used for efficient data retrieval and are central to developing applications on SAP's S/4HANA platform, enabling developers to extend and customize standard business operations.

Why It's Important

CDS (Core Data Services) Views are important for SAP developers because they provide a powerful and efficient method for defining and consuming semantically rich data models directly within the SAP HANA database, facilitating enhanced performance, reusability, and integration capabilities for developing SAP applications.

How to Improve CDS Views Skills

Improving CDS (Core Data Services) Views for an SAP developer involves optimizing performance, enhancing maintainability, and ensuring security and data consistency. Here's a concise guide:

1. Performance Optimization:

   • Use S/4HANA-Specific Features: Leverage new annotations and capabilities like @ClientDependent for client handling.
   • Efficient Field Selection: Only select fields that are required for your application to minimize memory usage and improve response time.
   • Indexes and Keys: Ensure proper indexes are used and keys are defined for faster data retrieval.

2. Maintainability:

   • Meaningful Naming Conventions: Follow SAP naming conventions for readability and easier maintenance.
   • Documentation and Annotations: Use annotations (@EndUserText.label, @AbapCatalog.sqlViewName) for better understanding and maintainability.

3. Security and Data Consistency:

   • Authorization Checks: Implement authorization checks using DCL (Data Control Language) to secure data access.
   • Data Consistency: Utilize referential integrity and check constraints to ensure data consistency.

4. Testing and Validation:

   • Regularly test your CDS views with different datasets to ensure they perform well under various conditions and validate against business requirements.

5. Utilize Available Tools and Frameworks:

   • SAP provides tools like SAP Fiori elements and ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) for efficient development and testing.

For detailed guidelines and best practices, consider referring to these resources:

• SAP Documentation on CDS Views
• ABAP Programming Model for SAP Fiori
• Best Practices for CDS Views on SAP Community

Remember, continuous learning and adapting to new updates in the SAP ecosystem is key to developing and enhancing efficient and robust CDS views.

How to Display CDS Views Skills on Your Resume

10. SAP BTP

SAP BTP (SAP Business Technology Platform) is an integrated platform offering development and runtime environments for SAP applications, facilitating data management, analytics, integration, and extension capabilities for developers to build, extend, and enhance SAP applications in a cloud-native development environment.

Why It's Important

SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform) is crucial for an SAP Developer because it serves as a unified, comprehensive platform for building, extending, and integrating SAP applications efficiently. It streamlines development with a rich set of services, tools, and capabilities, enabling innovation, agility, and the creation of intelligent enterprise solutions.

How to Improve SAP BTP Skills

Improving your skills in SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) as an SAP Developer involves staying updated on the latest tools, best practices, and gaining hands-on experience. Here are concise steps to enhance your expertise:

1. Explore SAP Learning Journeys: SAP Learning Journeys provide structured learning paths to deepen your knowledge in SAP BTP. Focus on specific areas relevant to your work. SAP Learning Journeys.

2. Utilize SAP Developers Tutorials: SAP provides a collection of tutorials that are updated regularly, ensuring you learn the latest development practices for SAP BTP. SAP Developers Tutorials.

3. Engage in SAP Community: The SAP Community is a rich resource for sharing knowledge, solving problems, and networking with peers. Participate in discussions and contribute to stay at the forefront of SAP BTP development. SAP Community.

4. Stay Updated with SAP BTP Roadmap: Understanding the future direction of SAP BTP can help you anticipate changes and prepare accordingly. SAP BTP Roadmap.

5. Practice with SAP BTP Trial Account: Hands-on practice is invaluable. Use the SAP BTP trial account to experiment with new features and build proof-of-concept projects. SAP BTP Trial.

6. Attend SAP Events and Webinars: SAP and its community often organize events and webinars that can provide deeper insights into BTP capabilities and emerging trends. SAP Events.

By following these steps and actively engaging with the resources and the SAP developer community, you can significantly improve your SAP BTP skills.

How to Display SAP BTP Skills on Your Resume

11. SAP S/4HANA

SAP S/4HANA is an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system built on the SAP HANA platform, offering real-time data processing, advanced analytics, and a simplified user experience. For an SAP Developer, it represents a modern development environment for creating, extending, and integrating business applications, utilizing SAP Fiori for UI and emphasizing cloud-native technologies.

Why It's Important

SAP S/4HANA is important for an SAP Developer because it represents the next-generation ERP business suite designed for high-speed, in-memory computing, enabling real-time data processing, simplified architecture, and improved performance, thus facilitating the development of advanced applications and fostering innovation in business processes.

How to Improve SAP S/4HANA Skills

To improve SAP S/4HANA as an SAP Developer, focus on the following areas:

1. Learn and Utilize SAP Fiori: Enhance user experience by developing responsive apps using SAP Fiori. Official SAP Fiori Guide.

2. Optimize ABAP Code: Use the ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) for code optimization and ensure your custom code is S/4HANA compatible. ABAP Test Cockpit Setup.

3. Leverage CDS Views: Utilize Core Data Services (CDS) views for efficient data modeling and retrieval. CDS Views Overview.

4. Master SAP HANA Database: Enhance applications by utilizing the advanced processing capabilities of the SAP HANA database. SAP HANA Developer Guide.

5. Stay Updated with SAP S/4HANA Releases: Regularly update your knowledge with the latest SAP S/4HANA releases for new functionalities and improvements. SAP S/4HANA Release Notes.

6. Engage with the SAP Community: Exchange knowledge, get insights, and solve problems by engaging with the SAP Community. SAP Community.

7. Adopt SAP BTP: Explore SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) for extending applications and integrating systems. SAP BTP Overview.

8. Implement DevOps Practices: Streamline development and operations by adopting DevOps practices for continuous integration and delivery. SAP DevOps Guide.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the performance, usability, and maintainability of SAP S/4HANA applications.

How to Display SAP S/4HANA Skills on Your Resume

12. SAP BW/4HANA

SAP BW/4HANA is an advanced data warehousing solution designed for real-time analytics and reporting, built on the SAP HANA in-memory database. It simplifies data modeling, administration, and enhances data management for SAP developers, enabling efficient handling of large volumes of data across diverse sources.

Why It's Important

SAP BW/4HANA is important for an SAP Developer because it provides a modern, simplified, and high-performance data warehousing solution that supports real-time analytics and decision-making, ensuring efficient data modeling, storage, and management within the SAP ecosystem.

How to Improve SAP BW/4HANA Skills

Improving SAP BW/4HANA involves optimizing data models, enhancing performance, and leveraging the latest features for efficient data management and analytics. Here's a concise guide for an SAP Developer:

1. Stay Updated: Regularly check SAP BW/4HANA Release Notes to stay informed about new features and optimizations.

2. Performance Tuning: Utilize the SAP BW/4HANA Performance Optimization Guide to enhance query performance and data loading processes.

3. Data Modeling Best Practices: Follow SAP's guidelines for efficient data modeling, focusing on simplification and streamlining data structures.

4. Leverage HANA-Specific Features: Maximize the use of SAP HANA’s advanced capabilities such as Calculation Views and Advanced DSOs for real-time analytics and simplified data layers.

5. Code Optimization: Optimize ABAP code for HANA by using SAP HANA-specific ABAP programming constructs and ensuring efficient use of database procedures.

6. Use Integrated Data Management Tools: Leverage tools like SAP Data Hub or SAP Data Intelligence for streamlined data integration and management across diverse landscapes. Refer to SAP Data Intelligence for more information.

7. Continuous Learning: Engage with the SAP Community and SAP Learning Hub for the latest tutorials, webinars, and community expertise to continuously enhance your skills and knowledge.

8. Automation and Testing: Implement automated testing and CI/CD pipelines using tools like SAP Cloud ALM to improve the quality and reliability of developments.

By focusing on these areas, an SAP Developer can significantly improve the efficiency, performance, and capabilities of SAP BW/4HANA systems.

How to Display SAP BW/4HANA Skills on Your Resume