We recently spoke to Solution Architect Elaine Cheng, who has been with us for an incredible 15 years this year! She shared some brilliant insights into her SAP consultancy journey so far, and reflected on how The Config Team has evolved during her time with us.
“If you’d told me 15 years ago that I’d be working on the kinds of projects I have, with the companies I’ve partnered with, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, I was working in a small IT department at a Japanese B2B company, wearing multiple hats and doing a bit of everything SAP-related. I wasn’t actively looking to move into SAP consultancy, but when the business decided to outsource the entire department, I started exploring my options. That’s when an agency introduced me to Andrew Moses, and my journey with The Config Team began.
“At the time, TCT was a very different place. It was a small team, just Andrew, Carolyn, and a few other consultants, and not yet a widely known name in the industry. I was also the only southerner on the team, which made staying connected a bit more of a challenge especially before remote working was the norm. But working side by side with the team on my first project, I quickly realised I’d made the right choice.
“Making the jump from an end-user environment to consultancy was a big shift. I had solid SAP experience, but consultancy brought a whole new set of skills to learn. Over the years, I’ve gained so much confidence, not just in my technical abilities, but in how I work with clients, how I adapt to different environments and how I approach challenges. Andrew has played a huge part in that. He’s always been someone who builds you up and gives you the confidence to grow.
“One of the things I love most about this role is the variety. No two engagements are ever the same. Each project brings new people, new industries and new ways of working. I’ve worked with everyone from shop floor operators to senior directors, and every interaction teaches you something. You learn to be flexible, to adapt your approach and to really listen.
“I think what sets The Config Team apart is our focus on the user. We’re not just here to implement systems. We’re here to make people’s lives easier. That means asking the right questions, even when it means challenging the status quo. We often hear “we’ve always done it this way”, but we’re good at understanding pain points from a technological and business operations perspective, and digging deeper to understand what’s really needed to resolve them.
“The team has grown a lot since I joined, but it feels more connected than ever. We’ve got more social events (and even a social committee now), with even more collaboration and sense of community. When we won the King’s Award for International Trade and all the southern colleagues got together in Windsor to celebrate, it really hit home how far we’ve come. And of course, no reflection on my time with The Config Team would be complete without a mention of Carolyn’s famous flapjacks!
“Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown. Consultancy has given me the chance to explore different industries, discover what I enjoy most and shape my own path. If anyone’s considering making the move into consultancy, my advice is to go for it. You’ll gain new perspectives, develop new skills and open doors you didn’t even know were there.”