SAP FI & ABAP Collaboration: What Should a Functional Consultant Understand from the Code?

One of the longest-running debates in SAP consulting is: “Should a functional consultant know how to code?” The answer: No, but you must understand it. As an FI consultant, your responsibility doesn’t end with customizing. You should also know how the system works behind the scenes. When you understand key concepts like debugging, BAPI, BADI, and user exits, you stop being just a tester, you become a problem solver. 1. How Much ABAP Knowledge Should a Functional Consultant Have?

A functional consultant doesn’t write code — but should be able to read and interpret it. This skill empowers you in three major areas: 1. Debugging: You can perform initial error analysis independently. 2. FS Writing: You can prepare more accurate Functional Specifications for developers. 3. Enhancements: You can anticipate which BADI or BAPI best fits your need. 2. Functional & Technical Collaboration: The Real Project Dynamic

Every successful SAP project shares a core principle: “Functional consultants understand the process; technical consultants make it happen.”

Functional Consultant:

- Understands business logic, process flow, and control points.

Technical Consultant:

- Implements those rules through ABAP code.

Together, they:

- Eliminate unnecessary custom coding.

- Shorten testing cycles.

- Detect errors early.

Conclusion: Understanding Code Makes You Stronger SAP no longer seeks consultants who only know customizing. The new generation consultant is someone who: Understands business processes, reads code logic, can debug efficiently, and speaks the developer’s language.

As an FI consultant, grasping the basics of ABAP isn’t just a technical edge — it’s what earns you trust and influence in the project room. You’re no longer asking ‘Why doesn’t it work?’ , you’re defining ‘How should it work?’