Eursap's Ask-the-SAP-Expert – Mickael Quesnot

Eursap's Ask-the-SAP-Expert – Mickael Quesnot.

This month, we feature Mickael Quesnot. Mickael is based in Rouen in France and is one of the most followed SAP consultants on LinkedIn in the world, with over 64,000 followers. And with good reason: he has built a vibrant community following through his expertise and experience in all things SAP S/4HANA, in addition to Concur and Esker. Mickael has worked in ten countries in Europe and around the world – UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, La Martinique, Canada, France, Switzerland, China and Germany – thus making him almost unique in a broad understanding and overview of where SAP stands today globally.
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Thanks so much for agreeing to talk to us, Mickael! For readers who don’t know you, can you give yourself a brief introduction?

Bonjour Jon, thank you for the invitation. To put it simply, for the last 25 years, I’ve had my hands deep in the engine of SAP systems. My career has been about real-world, practical implementation and optimisation across more than eight countries, delivering complex projects for clients like SAFO, FIDUCIAL, CMA CGM, and UPSA.

Currently, I serve as the SAP Director at Key Performance Consulting (KPC), where I wear many hats - consultant, project manager, and business architect - to guide our clients through their digital transformations.

But my other passion is giving back to the community. I founded the S4H CLUB (a French Association that helps SAP job seekers) and its YouTube channel with a clear mission: to cut through the theoretical jargon and provide concrete, hands-on advice. My philosophy is "no more polished slides." I want to talk about the real challenges and solutions that SAP professionals face every day.
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From your initial training in economics and your Master’s in ERP, what were the most pivotal decisions that shaped your SAP career?

Looking back over 25 years, three decisions stand out.

1.    Connecting Business Strategy to System Configuration: My Master’s in ERP was the bridge from understanding why a business needs to change to how to actually make it happen in a system. I decided early on that I would never be just a technical consultant; I would always focus on the concrete business value, which is a mindset that has guided every project since.

2.    Choosing the Field Over the Office: I actively sought out international projects. For me, implementing SAP in 8+ different countries wasn't about tourism; it was about understanding that a blueprint that works in France needs to be adapted for the business culture in Spain or the scale of operations in China. This on-the-ground experience is my foundation.

3.    Building a Community Based on Practice, Not Theory: The decision to create S4H CLUB and be active on platforms like LinkedIn was pivotal. I saw a huge gap between the polished marketing from vendors and the real-life struggles of consultants and users. I chose to share what I’ve learned "les mains dans le cambouis" (with my hands dirty) to create a space for practical, unfiltered knowledge sharing.
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Where do you see SAP S/4HANA evolving in the next 3–5 years, particularly in Supply Chain modules like SCM and Concur?

The evolution is all about creating a truly unified, real-time enterprise. I often use a car analogy I discussed on the Inside SAP S/4HANA Cloud podcast: many vendors are retrofitting their old on-premise systems for the cloud. It’s like stuffing a battery into a classic combustion-engine car. It moves, but it carries all its legacy limitations. S/4HANA Cloud was designed from the ground up as an "electric vehicle," built for performance and continuous updates.

1.    For SCM: The lines between modules like MM, SD, PP, and WM will continue to blur into end-to-end processes powered by intelligence. The future is a supply chain that doesn't just report problems but anticipates and solves them.

2.    For Finance: The integration between SCM and Finance is now instantaneous thanks to the Universal Journal (ACDOCA). A stock movement is a real-time financial event. The very concept of reconciliation becomes obsolete because the problem is eliminated by design. This allows for a "continuous close" and gives businesses a live P&L.

3.    For Concur, CIM & Esker: These solutions are essential components of the intelligent enterprise. Concur provides crucial visibility on project and travel costs. Esker or CIM automates the entire order-to-cash and procure-to-pay cycle, feeding clean, real-time data into S/4HANA.
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What emerging technologies (e.g., AI, event-driven architecture, BTP, SAP Event Mesh) are you most excited about and how do you see them integrating into SAP landscapes?

From a practitioner's standpoint, I'm most excited about BTP and AI because they solve a classic problem: how to innovate without breaking your stable core system.

BTP is the official "sandbox" for innovation. It allows us to build custom Fiori apps and extend processes without touching the core S/4HANA code. This "clean core" approach is a revolution.

And to be direct, working with AI is no longer an option for me - it's a necessity. I use it every day as a copilot. It helps me improve and debug ABAP code, and it acts like a GPS to find the most efficient path to deliver projects on time, whether it’s for a Public Cloud, Private Cloud, or on-premise deployment.

It’s an essential tool for modern delivery.
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How would you say innovations like AI chatbots or intelligent automation are changing the game for consultants and clients?

It radically transforms the roles of everyone involved.

•    For Clients: It's a huge win. Their finance teams can shift from focusing on the "how" of processing to the "why" behind the results. The critical skills are now commercial acumen, data storytelling, and the ability to influence the business. You're building financial leaders, not just bookkeepers.

•    For Consultants: Our role is elevated. We're not doing heavy custom development anymore. Our job is to "activate the electric car" for the customer using fit-to-standard methodologies, focusing on configuration, data migration, and crucially, change management. AI will not replace a good consultant, but it will replace a lazy one.
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You’ve held roles in both technical presales and strategic leadership—what advice would you give someone navigating that same crossroads?

To be honest, my leadership style is very direct. Customer service is my mindset, and customer satisfaction is a pillar of everything I do. I am not a director who leads from behind a desk with Excel dashboards. I am a general with my soldiers in the SAP project trenches. I am not hiding in my tent.

Even today, I continue to spend 99% of my time in the field: implementing SAP, enhancing systems to provide a fit-to-standard solution, and when it’s not possible, ensuring we deliver perfect ABAP code. This hands-on experience is the foundation of my credibility. My strategic advice is built on the successful delivery of a wide range of projects: S/4HANA Retail for SAFO, Private Cloud for CNAS, on-premise for FIDUCIAL, and Public Cloud for CEB and AP2E, to name a few.

This is also why my door - real or virtual in Outlook - is always open to every consultant on my team. My leadership is operational, and my credibility depends on staying in the field.
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You often mentor junior consultants. What core qualities would you say distinguish a future SAP leader early in their career?

Beyond curiosity and empathy, the most important quality is an obsessive commitment to continuous learning. This is not just a theory for me; it's my daily reality. My day starts at 6 a.m., and the first two hours are dedicated to preparing content and engaging with the SAP community on LinkedIn. I spend another two hours of my own time every single day - no lunch breaks - studying SAP Cloud to stay ahead. This is a seven-day-a-week commitment, even when I'm on vacation. In fact, I'm writing this from Budapest right now.

A future leader doesn't just learn on the job; they are relentlessly driven to learn on their own time. My philosophy is simple: "I learn, I share. When I don't know something, I learn it myself. Then, I create a tutorial or a video so others can benefit."

And if I could yell one piece of advice at my younger self, it would be: "Stop fixing the system, fix the damn process first!" A true leader understands that technology is a tool to serve the business process, not the other way around.
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You have a unique CV when it comes to SAP, having worked in so many different countries around the world. Can you identify differences in culture when it comes to the push for digital transformation?

Definitely. The technology is the same, but the human approach varies greatly. A great test case is the upcoming French e-invoicing reform. A true global platform must natively manage the data flows to the state portal (PPF) or a certified partner (PDP). When we talk to clients, we ask: "Is your French localization a bolt-on module, or is it an integral part of the global core process?" The answer reveals everything about a vendor's architecture. This shows how a global standard must also have deep, integrated local compliance. It's about creating a solid core of best practices while allowing for the cultural and regulatory flexibility needed to succeed locally.
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If SAP were a famous cuisine—Italian, sushi, or perhaps fusion—what kind of meal would it be, and what dish would you say represents SAP S/4HANA SCM best?

Given my roots, I have to be biased! For me, SAP is like a classic, rustic French Cassoulet.

It's not a flashy, trendy dish. It's robust, reliable, and has been perfected over generations (like SAP's business logic). It contains distinct, high-quality ingredients - the white beans (Finance), the sausage (Sales), the duck confit (Materials Management)—that can be enjoyed on their own, but are truly magnificent when slow-cooked together into a perfectly integrated whole.

SAP S/4HANA SCM is that cassoulet served in real-time. With every spoonful, you get a perfectly balanced taste of all the ingredients at once. That's the single source of truth and the integrated, real-time view that S/4HANA provides to the supply chain.
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Finally, Mickael, you seem to keep yourself very busy. Do you find time for any hobbies or activities outside of the world of SAP?

Of course, it's essential to disconnect the laptop! My life outside of work is very hands-on, which is a great balance to the digital world of SAP.

My biggest passion is DIY; I love the challenge of restoring apartments. It’s a different kind of project management, but just as rewarding when you see the final result. That DIY spirit extends to my community work as well - I produce all the videos for the S4H CLUB YouTube channel myself.

To clear my head, I enjoy walking; it's not uncommon for me to walk 10km a day between hotels and customer sites. I also love sharing my corner of the world with others as an Airbnb host. And while I have a great passion for food, I don't drink any alcohol. For me, the pleasure is in managing my own personal "supply chain" - from finding the best local products at the market to the "go-live" at the dinner table with family and friends!