Changing the systems from within
As an applications architect at Dataflo, Jeremy Howlett must ensure that what he offers customers remains relevant despite the fast rate at which things change in the information technology sector. He tells Margaret Harris that his job is stressful, but t
What does an applications architect do?
Dataflo’s primary business is in the area of SAP consulting and the organisation is broken down into a number of teams specialising in specific aspects of the software program SAP. I am responsible for the consulting delivery across three of these teams and am also a technical integration manager on some of the larger projects Dataflo undertakes, which means I am responsible for making sure that all the components of the solution work together technically and that the full business process requirements can be supported by the SAP solution.
There is a team of four application architects at Dataflo and we have to ensure that what we offer our customers remains relevant and that our business continues to evolve. This is critical in the information technology industry because technology and solutions evolve at an alarming rate.
What qualifications do you have and how do they help you to do your job?
I have a BCom degree with majors in economics and IT. I think this qualification provided me with a good mix of technical and business knowledge. My job requires a technical understanding of how IT and solutions work together, as well as the ability to understand how businesses operate to achieve their objectives.
How did you end up in your job?
I joined Dataflo in 2004 as a graduate. I had spent a few years overseas travelling and doing odd jobs to fund my travels.
After I spoke to a number of people from various industries, a friend convinced me that a career in SAP consulting was a wise choice. I made arrangements to study a BCom in computer science as a first step in the SAP direction.
By the time I joined Dataflo, the company had already completed its first SAP solution roll-out to a few countries. Two months after I joined, I found myself on a plane to Kenya to perform some SAP training and the rest, as they say, is history.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be an astronaut. When I was young I had a fascination with spacecraft and planets. My parents were forced to buy countless books on these topics to satisfy my curiosity. Unfortunately, Nasa is a fairly long commute from South Africa, which made the dream difficult to achieve.
What would you change about your work, if you could?
Anybody will tell you that working on SAP projects is a stressful way to earn a living. It often involves working long hours to meet tight deadlines.
Many of our customers are located outside South Africa, which means many hours are spent sitting on aeroplanes or at airports. This means there are often sacrifices to be made from a family perspective to deliver on our obligations to our clients.
I guess if I were to change anything, it would be the ability to be more flexible with the time and location of the work we do to maximise the time I get to spend with my family.
Having said that, anybody working in the SAP consulting world understands the demands of projects and the sense of achievement that comes with a successful implementation — the sacrifices are often worthwhile.
What qualities do you need to be an applications architect?
You need to have a broad understanding of general business processes.
You need to be able to walk into a business you know nothing about, absorb the information provided to you and be able to provide highquality consulting based on your business process knowledge. You need to be very solution-focused in your approach. There are always many ways to solve business problems and you need to be analytical and decisive to propose and implement the correct solution for your clients.
You also need to be organised so that you can manage teams of people who are focused on delivering solutions.
Flexibility is also important, because we often have to undertake tasks at a moment’s notice.
We are often asked to do jobs or make decisions that are outside of our comfort zone and the ability to absorb all the information available and make the best decision for the business and the customer is crucial.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to do the work you do?
Being successful in the world of SAP takes time. There is no course or qualification that can prepare you to be an SAP consultant.
It requires hard work and disciplined learning to grow into the role. You will have to perform tasks that are not glamorous or fun as part of your learning experience.
The best advice I have ever received was to take time to analyse your customers, colleagues and peers. Every one of them will have positive characteristics that, if used correctly, will help to make you successful.
Don’t model yourself on anybody specific; rather identify positive traits from a variety of people and use them to make yourself successful.