Oz Fretz, B2B Workforce Sales Team Executive Sponsor, on the B2B Difference, and How You Can Set Yourself Apart from the Pack as a Consultant.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Oz Fretz who has joined the B2B Workforce Sales Team as an Executive Sponsor. Oz comes to us following a 31 year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM, where B2B staffed a major SAP implementation he was working on. During our chat, Oz shared his thoughts on the state of the ERP consulting marketplace, and how B2B Workforce is making a difference in that market. As a veteran of the consulting profession, Oz has developed a unique perspective on providing excellent service to the client. He shared his views on how applying a bit of old-fashioned work ethic in today's changing consulting market can help set you apart from your contemporaries.

B2B- What does your role here at B2B entail?

Oz- My role is to support Julie Semler, National Account Manager, in the growth of the IBM account and assist Brad Elster, VP of Sales, and Tim Shearer, CEO, in effectively cross-selling B2B's services as well as those of our sister company, SAPPHIRE.

B2B- How do you find B2B now that you are part of the team versus being a client?

Oz- I was pleasantly surprised to find that B2B is a terrific company with a first rate reputation whose folks are a lot smarter than I ever expected, and a lot younger too!

B2B- How do you find B2B's ability to fill our client's needs?

Oz- Over the past few months I've been involved with 4 or 5 significant opportunities at IBM. In every case B2B has responded promptly and aggressively with very competent professionals, and that makes a sales person's job a lot easier! We really can deliver the consultants in ways that very few people can.

B2B- What do you see as market trends and skill sets that are the most valuable for our consultants to have?

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SAP in the news

SAP MidYear Outlook, 2008: Trends and Opportunities
By Ray Kelly, VP Solutions, B2B Workforce

As I write this article, the second quarter is coming to a close. Sapphire/ASUG 2008, the biggest SAP schmoozefest of the year, is behind us, and we can now look ahead to TechEd in Vegas in September. At this midway point in 2008, it's a good time to take stock of what B2B Workforce learned at Sapphire and what kind of SAP activity we anticipate for the rest of the year.

One great thing about SAP trade shows: you learn a lot more about consulting needs talking shop on the exhibition hall floor than you ever could out of formal reports. What we learned from talking to our major staffing partners, including Accenture, IBM, and SAP America, is that all of them were very encouraged about their backlog of needs and their expected project work for the rest of the year.

There is a Backlog of SAP Staffing Needs, and B2B Workforce is in the Driver's Seat

During our meetings with clients at Sapphire, we didn't talk about hypothetical job needs in the future - we left with real job orders and placed many of you after the conference. That's a sign of a healthy market. We were also encouraged to hear that these firms will continue to share their best project openings with B2B Workforce. We received excellent feedback on the caliber of the consultants we provide (that's you folks!) and our partners even cited our staffing solutions and our excellent track record in their own meetings and presentations.

One of the fun parts about Sapphire is walking the exhibition floor and getting a feel for our competitors. Forget about who has the best convention giveaway or the cutest stuffed animals - what really matters is the value your firm is delivering to customers. As our SAP team reflected on the conference, it was clear that our best practices in the following areas continue to set us apart:

For more, Click here

SAP's Mid-Market Push Creates Skills Gap: Click here

SAP To Acquire Manufacturing Software Vendor Visiprise: Click here

SAP Developer Challenge Celebrates the Spirit of Co-Innovation: Click here

Jon Reed Interviews Kent Bettisworth on the Keys to SAP Consulting Success, Presented by B2B Workforce. "The Keys to SAP Consulting Success, Sapphire 2008 in Review, and SAP PS Innovations"

Kent is a senior Project Systems and Fixed Asset consultant with a great view of what it takes to succeed as an SAP consultant. After you listen to this podcast, you will understand why Kent is one of Jon's "go to" people when it comes to analyzing SAP skills trends and staying ahead of the skills curve. During this back-and-forth discussion, Jon asks Kent for his reaction to the SAP keynotes and the trends Kent noticed in terms of SAP-for-the-BlackBerry, Business by Design, Role-Based Portals and beyond. A major focus of the podcast is a closer look at the so-called "SAP Skills Shortage" and how SAP professionals should respond

To listen Click here

Ask the SAP Career Expert

Q:I am an SAP programmer with a few years of ABAP experience, mixed between work in the FI/CO area and some in SD as well. I have been looking to move into functional SAP consulting. How would you recommend doing that?

JR: Moving from the technical to functional side of SAP is an objective I hear about frequently. It can certainly be done. Sometimes when I hear from folks who are looking to make the transition, it is because they are worried that there is no future for technical SAP work in the age of outsourcing. Other times, they are concerned that ABAP is on the way out.

I usually spend part of my answer to these questions putting those concerns to rest. True, technical work is more prone to outsourcing, but basic functional tasks can be outsourced also, and I think we'll see more of it going forward. But if you make a point of keeping your technical skills on the cutting edge and picking up the latest NetWeaver tools and tricks, then you should be in good shape to continue on the technical side of SAP.

I also don't think that moving to functional SAP work solely because of rates is a good idea either. Yes, on average, functional consultants are paid a bit more than technical SAP consultants, but I know some elite technical consultants doing very well also. Most of the SAP consultants who are getting the best rates are those who have deep experience and a real dedication to staying on top of all the innovations in their chosen area.

So IS there a good reason for moving to a functional area of SAP? Yes. You should move to the functional side of SAP when you are really drawn to the work being done in that area. If you would like to focus the next phase of your career - really mastering a new functional area - then that's a very good reason to make the move. You do want to keep yourself challenged and engaged with your work.

Click Here to read the rest of Jon's answer to this question and more.

Oracle in the news

Oracle Consumes 44 Percent Of The Database Market: Click here

Deals pay off for Oracle's fourth quarter, year: Click here

Oracle Moves Toward Vertical Insurance Apps With Skywire Buy: Click here

Announcement

Are you an Oracle Consultant? Would you like B2B Workforce's top tier clients to know your name even before we present your resume?

You need to get published!

The B2B Workforce Marketing Team can help you secure publishing opportunities and expand your career options. To learn more about publishing opportunities through B2B Workforce email Katie Kaduk at kkaduk@b2bworkforce.com with "Get Published!" in the subject line.

Health Tip from WebMD

8 Summer Steps for Healthy Living
Improve your health with steps so simple you'll barely notice the effort.

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Feature

In the warmer, longer, lazier days of summer, the living may not be easy, but your life probably feels less chaotic. Even adults tend to adopt a "school's out!" attitude in summer. That's why this is a perfect time to improve your health in a fashion so seasonally laid back you'll barely notice the effort. To get you started, WebMD went to eight health experts in fields such as diet, fitness, stress, vision, and oral health. We asked them this: If you could only suggest one simple change this season to boost personal health, what would it be? Here are their top eight tips.

1. Give Your Diet a Berry Boost
   If you do one thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries -- blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries -- every day. They'll help you load up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the risks of age-related illnesses. Blueberries and blackberries are especially antioxidant-rich. A big bonus: Berries are also tops in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even help prevent some cancers.
2. Get Dirty -- and Stress Less
   To improve your stress level, plant a small garden, cultivate a flower box, or if space is really limited, plant a few flower pots -- indoors or out. Just putting your hands in soil is "grounding." And when life feels like you're moving so fast your feet are barely touching the stuff, being mentally grounded can help relieve physical and mental stress.
3. Floss Daily
   You know you need to, now it's time to start: floss every single day. Do it at the beach (in a secluded spot), while reading on your patio, or when watching TV -- and the task will breeze by.

Flossing reduces oral bacteria, which improves overall body health, and if oral bacteria is low, your body has more resources to fight bacteria elsewhere. Floss daily and you're doing better than at least 85% of people.

To view the full article on WebMD.com: Click here

FUN STUFF

With summer in full swing we thought those with children at home may need an activity idea to fill some of that free summer vacation time. These recipes for edible play dough combine creative time with snack time. So much for not playing with your food! Enjoy!

We wouldn't want to leave the adults out. Here is a link to a color test time waster for the big kids out there!