The Australian SAP market continues to move in a more positive direction, but not without nuance.
That was the key message from Precision Sourcing’s Q3 FY26 SAP Market Report Webinar, hosted by Chay Walbeoff and Chris Reid from our SAP practice. Covering market activity from January to March, the session unpacked how hiring trends, project demand and skill requirements are evolving as organisations move from planning into delivery.
Rather than focusing on headline hype, the discussion reflected what’s actually happening on the ground across SAP programs, consulting environments and end‑user organisations.
A market that has recovered, but remains cautious
Overall sentiment in the SAP market is optimistic. Compared to previous years, activity has recovered well and confidence has improved, with a noticeable increase in job flow over the past 12 months.
Much of this momentum is coming from SAP S/4HANA programs. While the long‑anticipated “ECC cliff” hasn’t triggered a sudden surge, there is a clear increase in transformation activity across migrations, RISE programs and roadmap execution. Many organisations that spent the past year planning and budgeting are now moving into delivery.
That said, caution remains. Economic uncertainty, geopolitical pressures and emerging AI disruption are still influencing decision‑making. Over the past few weeks in particular, hiring processes have shown more stop‑start behaviour, with additional approvals and scrutiny becoming common.
The result is a market that is active and confident, but far more deliberate.
Hiring processes are slowing, while candidate power returns
One of the clearest trends discussed was the changing dynamic between clients and candidates.
Key Hiring Trends Shaping the SAP Market
Contract vs permanent: a healthier split
Another key topic was the evolving balance between contract and permanent hiring.
While contract roles still dominate, permanent hiring has increased significantly over the past quarter. This reflects growing confidence across the market, particularly among consulting firms that are hiring ahead of anticipated project wins and building leadership capability early.
The current split represents a much healthier balance than in recent years, signalling a market that is stabilising rather than retreating.
S/4HANA transformation approaches taking shape
S/4HANA programs are firmly back on the agenda, with organisations approaching transformation in more measured ways.
Brownfield migrations remain the most common pathway, while selective data transition is gaining traction as organisations look to balance risk, control and innovation. Greenfield remains the least common approach, but there are early‑stage greenfield programs beginning to emerge, particularly among organisations seeking deeper transformation.
Across the board, hybrid approaches are becoming more attractive as organisations look to modernise while minimising disruption.
Skills demand: experience, communication and transformation delivery
From a skills perspective, one message was consistent throughout the session: prior transformation experience matters more than ever.
S/4HANA
Candidates with hands‑on S/4HANA implementation experience are strongly prioritised, particularly those who can articulate lessons learned and demonstrate how they add value beyond technical delivery.
Business-focused stakeholder communication
Stakeholder engagement, storytelling and the ability to communicate business impact are now essential alongside technical capability.
High-demand SAP capability areas
Demand remains strong across areas such as FICO, EAM, solution architecture, BTP, integration and public cloud.
Payroll, time management and SuccessFactors
Payroll, time management and SuccessFactors skills also continue to face supply constraints, reinforcing the importance of upskilling and modernising experience where possible.
Navigating the market: advice for candidates and hiring managers
The session closed with practical guidance for both sides of the market.
For candidates, networking, flexibility and continuous learning remain critical. Reputation carries real weight in a small SAP ecosystem, and investing in emerging areas such as cloud, AI and data can significantly improve long‑term prospects.
For hiring managers, speed, clarity and realism are key. Lean teams and “unicorn” job descriptions often slow hiring unnecessarily. Organisations that move decisively, offer flexibility and focus on growth potential are far better positioned to secure top SAP talent.
What’s Ahead
Q4 is shaping up to be a pivotal quarter for the SAP market, with more programs moving from planning into delivery and demand continuing to sharpen around proven S/4HANA and transformation experience. Competition for the right skills is increasing, and expectations around impact, communication and delivery maturity are clearer than ever.
Keen to stay across how the SAP market is evolving and what organisations are really prioritising as new programs kick off?
Keep an eye on our socials so you don’t miss the Q4 SAP Market Report session.
These webinars are designed to give SAP professionals practical context, honest insight and a clearer view of where opportunities are emerging and how the market is moving quarter by quarter.
Ready to Go Deeper? Watch the Full Market Report Webinar
If you want the complete breakdown including market trends, hiring realities, and practical advice directly from Chay and Chris, watch the full webinar video now.
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