IT & TECH
Career Moves for Application & Business Developers — Where You Could Shift To
Nobody has missed the rise of AI — and maybe especially not those earning their living in the IT & Tech industry. What’s becoming clearer now is how it reshapes the work itself. In business systems and applications, some parts of the role are becoming easier to standardize, while others are growing in importance. That shift is starting to influence which careers move forward, and which are coming to a standstill.
We talked to one of our Talent Insight Experts, Hanna Löfgren, who shares her view of the current market in IT & Tech — and where your next career move could take you.
How AI is Changing Career Paths in Business Systems & Applications
AI is changing career paths — but not because these roles suddenly disappear. In business systems and applications, the pressure lands first on work that is easier to standardize: writing tickets, basic module setup, routine customization and narrow specialization that stops at handover.
The value is moving the other way: toward people who can connect business needs, platforms, integrations, data and change. That is the story candidates need to understand now — not a fear story, but a direction story.
Hanna Löfgren, one of our Talent Insight Experts, says:
“The market still wants these profiles. But it rewards the people who move closer to ownership now — the ones who shape outcomes, not just handover work.”
Where the Value is Moving Now
The shift is bigger than AI alone, but AI speeds it up. It is no longer enough to know a module, document a need or sit inside one silo. The premium is moving toward people who can improve a process, connect systems, drive adoption and make better decisions across the whole solution landscape.
That is why the career story should not be told as junior → senior → manager.
It should be told as execution becoming ownership.
The Four Career Moves That Matter Most
1. Business Understanding → Solution Ownership
“If you only write tickets, you are easier to replace. If you can frame the problem and improve the process, your value goes up.”
For Business Analysts and process-focused consultants, the winning move is up the value chain: from gathering needs to shaping the solution. The role becomes less about documenting requests and more about simplifying processes, prioritizing smarter and helping the business decide how the system should work.
Typical next step:
Senior Business Analyst, Product / Business Systems Owner, Functional Lead or Solution Architect.
2. Configuration → Industry-Led Transformation
“Industry specialization is becoming a bigger differentiator than just knowing the system.”
For Application Consultants, platform knowledge still matters — but it is no longer enough on its own. The edge is increasingly industry depth: understanding how a retail, public-sector or manufacturing process should run in real life, and owning releases, adoption and change around the platform.
Typical next step:
Senior Consultant, Stream Lead, Project Manager, Business Systems Manager or Functional / Solution Architect.
3. ERP Depth → Technical Solution Design
“The future ERP consultant is closer to solution design than pure setup.”
For ERP consultants, one strong future path is deeper technical ownership. That means integrations, extensions, data flows and solution trade-offs — not just functional specialization. This is where Technical Solution Architect becomes a natural step.
Typical next step:
Technical Specialist, Technical Solution Architect, Integration Lead or Technical Project Manager.
4. Architecture → Two Stronger Routes
For architects, the shift is not about staying relevant — it is about choosing direction. One route goes deeper technically, toward TSA, integration leadership and delivery architecture. The other becomes more business-facing, moving toward advisory, pre-sales, enterprise design and transformation leadership.
Typical next step:
Enterprise Architect, Advisory / Pre-sales Architect, Head of Business Applications or Transformation Lead.
What IT Candidates Should Do Now
The smartest move now is not chasing the next title. It is building broader ownership while the market still rewards it.
- Build AI literacy inside your own workflow — not as a side hobby.
- Add industry and process depth, not just more tool knowledge
- Strengthen integration, data and release / governance thinking
- Show proof of ownership: improvements, migrations, adoption or cross-team impact
At Worko, that is the useful career conversation: not just what title you have today, but which direction makes you more valuable tomorrow.
Curious to know more about how you can be more proactive and intentional with your career management? Join our network and let us help!
Want more career tips, inspiration, and insights in your industry? Read more on our blog!
