Hiring SAP S/4HANA Contractors for a Clean Core Approach

By Jeff Sharpe, Co-Founder, Fokis Services
Originally published June 9, 2026 · Updated October 17, 2026

“SAP experience” is a starting point, not a complete hiring brief. When an S/4HANA project follows clean core principles, the interview should explore how a consultant makes extension and integration decisions.

SAP describes clean core extensibility as a way to support needed extensions while making system upgrades and extension handling smoother. Read SAP’s clean core extensibility paper.

Ask for decisions, not just terminology

Invite the candidate to describe a real requirement, the options considered, and the trade-offs. A useful conversation connects the technical approach to a business need.

• Standard fit: How did you determine whether configuration could meet the requirement?
• Extension choice: What led you to the extension method used, and what alternatives were rejected?
• Integration: Which interfaces and dependencies were involved?
• Upgrade planning: How was the solution tested and documented for future change?

Match expertise to your environment

Specify the edition and release, the workstream, and the development or integration responsibilities. Experience on one landscape does not by itself establish experience with your particular constraints.

SAP documents both in-system and side-by-side extensibility options for S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, including extensions on SAP BTP. Use the relevant product documentation when agreeing technical requirements. See SAP’s extensibility documentation.

Make the assignment clear

Agree the deliverables, review responsibilities, documentation, and handover. Ask the technical lead to assess project examples rather than relying only on certificates or keyword matches.

For a defined development or integration assignment, talk to Fokis about SAP and ERP contract specialists. For ongoing ownership, explore permanent recruitment.