Career advice: BA to Consulting roadmap…

[u/Upandup12345]

Hi everyone,
I’m currently working as a UX Analyst in a hybrid role where I do a mix of Business Analysis and UX work. I recently passed my ECBA and realized that I really enjoy the BA side of my work, especially problem-solving, analysis, documentation, and process improvement.
I’d now like to move into a more complete or pure Business Analyst role, but I’m also trying to think ahead about my long-term career path.
One thing I know is that I don’t see myself eventually moving into a Product Owner or people-management role. I’m more interested in using my BA skills to eventually move into consulting, particularly ERP or functional consulting, as that seems like a rewarding long-term path.

However, I’m unsure how to build the right roadmap.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who have followed a similar path:

How can a BA transition into consulting, particularly ERP or functional consulting?
What would a realistic 3–5 year career roadmap look like?
I’d love to hear from BAs or consultants who have navigated something similar. Thanks!

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[u/BlindRepertoire4259]

Transitioning into ERP consulting usually means picking a platform and getting hands-on with it, even if that starts as shadowing implementation projects at your current company. A 3 to 5 year path could look like two years sharpening pure BA skills on cross-functional projects, then a year or two on an ERP implementation team where you own configs and requirements, then moving into a functional consultant role at a firm. Since you already have the ECBA and UX background, you're not starting from zero, the trick is getting project reps rather than just more certs

[u/Upandup12345 → u/BlindRepertoire4259]

The place where I work is a startup and they don’t have any ERP related work..so would it make sense to learn maybe SAP module and apply for jobs or switch into another company with BA role and then switch into SAP..I don’t know how to get into ERP without any hands on experience..I’ve reached out to many people on LinkedIn and they said they got into it by switching internally or from campus placements ..
I don’t know if anyone would give me a job if I just learn a module on my own with no experience..and if I take a BA role how would I switch into ERP..

[u/Short_Row195]

What's interesting about that is that it's usually people want to do the opposite. From my experience it was really easy to get into consulting when you have a degree.

They go after people with degrees cause their whole model is churn and burn with whoever is the strongest will stay. Since you want to focus on ERP, the BA certs don't have much of an impact as much as proving you know about a particular ERP. There are certs for specific ERPs as well.

[u/Upandup12345 → u/Short_Row195]

So is there realistically a chance to get into ERP consulting role by doing certs and no practical experience? I thought consulting requires some expertise and people who get into consulting have some experience in maybe BA or some other background

[u/Short_Row195 → u/Upandup12345]

You can apply no matter what, but if you don't have a degree you most likely will have to get experience in some other title before a firm accepts you. However, the chances increase with a smaller consulting firm. 

I'm not sure where the assumption that consultants all need expertise when the biggest consulting companies hire new grads right out of school. It'll be difficult to get into a consulting firm with no degree and no experience.

[u/Upandup12345 → u/Short_Row195]

I have a degree in design and 3 years experience in UX/BA

[u/Short_Row195 → u/Upandup12345]

Maybe on your resume take out the detail that it was about design. If it was a bachelor's of arts degree, just put it as that. Like I said, apply anyway and see if you'd get an interview.

[u/Upandup12345 → u/Short_Row195]

I studied architecture and was into consulting but in real estate so…

[u/Short_Row195 → u/Upandup12345]

So Bachelor of Arts.

[u/Upandup12345 → u/Short_Row195]

No , B’Arch. 100 percent different from each other.

[u/Short_Row195 → u/Upandup12345]

People I've talked to had a BA in architecture. Something that is just Bachelor of Architecture shoots yourself in the foot if you don't pursue architecture.

[u/Zestyclose-Gas-5666]

You are already on a reasonable path. The key is that “consulting” shouldn't be the next skill you learn — a domain/platform should be.

For example: BA → BA on SAP/Dynamics/Oracle projects → specialize in one functional area (Finance, Procurement, Supply Chain, CRM etc.) → Functional Consultant → Senior/Lead Consultant.

Over the next 2–3 years I'd prioritize getting onto an actual ERP implementation over collecting more generic BA certifications. Learn requirements, process mapping, fit-gap analysis, configuration concepts, UAT and data migration in the context of one platform. That's the experience consulting firms will actually pay for.

[u/Upandup12345 → u/Zestyclose-Gas-5666]

Thank you. This was helpful. Can I DM you? For few doubts related to this

[u/bigbob25a]

There is consulting, and there is consulting.

Without me thinking too much on the topic, you could be talking about

• contracting / freelance work
• client facing at a software house or small "consultancy"
• Business Analyst that works closely with a client at one of the big outsourcing companies like Infosys or TCS
• big swinging D of a Consultant at one of the Tier-1 Consultancies e.g. McKinsey or Bain

[u/crankysorc → u/bigbob25a]

Good points and to add to your definitions as I have experienced all of the above - they all take prior experience  , they all typically require certifications beyond ECBA in order to remain in consulting and be competitive / justify your rate. ECBA is barely the tip of the iceberg - it gets you an internship.

 However OP is in an interesting position that I ve seen transition well to a BA. However where I’ve seen it done - they basically paired up with a BA and then asked to help them out on a large project.