When the focus of attention is on the IT sector, SAP is considered to be the most important IT infrastructure that has always been useful in coping with all the changes. As technological advancements have affected every sector effectively, SAP has seen rapid growth and demand over the last few years. With this ever-growing technology, it becomes essential to possess a firm understanding of how it can be applied adequately.
Meet Christopher Carter, Founder & CEO of Approyo, who has over three decades of experience working in the SAP industry. A confident leader who has always led his company towards success by creating a clear-sighted vision and delivering ground-breaking results.
Below are the Highlights of the interview between Christopher Carter and Insights Success.
“Take care of your staff they take care of the customers, you will find success”
Describe your background and, what did you do before you started, or came into this business?
I like to say I have always been a technologist. I went to college with a Commodore Vic20 under one arm and an Apple 2e under the other. They were my first computers, and it’s what I learned to code on. My first code was to make birds fly across my screen, it was fun and exciting for me. This is how I got started in computers, what got me on the road to SAP, and what led me to owning and creating businesses.
Describe your company and its cutting-edge franchise services which address all the needs of your customers.
Approyo is a part of the SAP PartnerEdge Ecosystem. As a partner of SAP, we provide SAP software as a service. We provide SAP consultation, hosting, and managed services, as well as implementations and migrations onto SAP platform systems. Approyo is made up of a global team of SAP experts, who currently manage over 200+ SAP landscapes and have done over 100 migrations for our customers around the globe. Over the years, we have worked to bring firms running R/3 up to S/4 1909.
What strategies do you undertake to make your employees resourceful?
The easiest way to make sure your employees are most resourceful in the SAP industry is to provide them with the tools they need to do so. At Approyo, we provide our employees with access to any training they desire. If they want to learn a new platform or get a new certification, who are we to stop them? We will pay to allow our employees to grow and succeed. The more success they experience inside their job, the more success we will experience as a team. The most important thing is to make sure that your team is ready to go through an implementation or migration at all times.
What are some of the vital attributes, in your opinion, that every leader should possess?
In my opinion, there are a few. First, be humble, but know the buck stops with you, so make the decision and go on with it. Do not second guess yourself. I fully believe that once you make the decision, you must live with it. Next, your staff is your lifeline always, you treat them like gold, and they will treat your company, your clients, and you, with the respect you show. You get what you give. Lastly, learn your numbers. You are the leader, so you should know your data on all customers on a day-to-day basis, including the ROI, the spending, the revenues, etc. It’s on you and no one else.
What is your greatest life achievement?
My greatest personal life achievement is the family I’ve been blessed with, having my two incredible daughters with my wife. Business-wise, it is that we created the first virtualized SAP R/3 and S/4 environments for production usage by real customers. Our team had customers ready for launch pre-certification and then we held a certified launch at the SAP Sapphire Now Event. My everyday achievement I am proud of is that I am able to help and educate customers around the globe with SAP landscapes.
Where do you see your industry in five years?
I see the industry growing. In five years, it will be 2025, leaving just two years until the SAP S/4HANA deadline. With such an important deadline in place, those who are currently on SAP platforms will be forced to move to the next biggest and brightest platform. With the success that SAP has shared over the past year alone, I think that it will attract more and more companies to join the SAP community. Our world is run off of business, and successful businesses have ERP systems in place. Those who have not implemented one yet will soon realize that having one is truly the only way to take them to the next level.
What one thing, more than anything else, do you want to accomplish in your business before you get out?
I want to provide the SAP ecosystem with quality SAP Managed service and support, allowing the clients to sleep well at night. Our goal is to help in any way shape or form. When I leave this planet, I want to have made an impact on people, and I want them to say that I was able to help them personally and professionally.
What advice would you like to give to the emerging entrepreneurs?
Just do it. Find the details of a path you want to go down, get the motivation, and do it. If you want to grow and, get going then jump into it, but make sure that you are passionate and dedicated to your mission. You can do whatever you put your mind to if you believe that, in the end, you will get the results you work for.
How do you sustain your entrepreneurial spirit in this changing technological era?
I love technology, and it allows me and everyone to grow! I meditate every morning at 6:00 a.m. to get my mind ready. I spend a lot of time learning about new technology in the marketplace. I love to learn and I love to share my knowledge with the world. I’m constantly on the internet, doing research and learning about new technology, whether it be about SAP, Artificial Intelligence or Digital Transformations.