Martins Kipens has been working in SAP development for about 20 years, with a particular focus on the IS-U industry module for utility companies. Today, he runs an SAP consulting business in Germany and is also a co-owner of Tendicon, a company based in Tenerife. Tendicon not only provides traditional SAP services but also offers web development and interface solutions—an area Kipens believes will become increasingly important in the future. In this interview, he talks about his career journey, the challenges in the industry, and how modern remote collaboration with an international team can be highly effective.
Interview with Martins Kipens, SAP Consultant at Tendicon
BI: Mr Kipens, to start things off, can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you get into IT?
MK: I was born in Riga, the capital of Latvia, and moved to Germany with my family as a teenager. After finishing school, I studied computer science and quickly found myself in the SAP world. I realized early on that there was a strong demand for specialists in this area, so I joined a large company. It was a real deep dive—there was a lot I didn’t know at first, but I taught myself on weekends. That period was a great learning experience. Now, I’ve been working in SAP development for over 20 years, especially in the energy sector.
I speak Latvian, German, English and Russian, which has been a real asset in international projects.
You’ve specialised in SAP IS-U and the energy industry. What attracted you to this area?
What I enjoy most is the combination of technical depth and process knowledge. The energy sector presents a lot of unique challenges. SAP IS-U is a very comprehensive module with lots of potential for customisation and optimisation. In this industry, the landscape is constantly evolving—the systems need to keep up. Right now, for instance, there’s a lot of focus on dynamic electricity tariffs, which adjust based on the time of day or the availability of renewable energy like solar power.
You run an SAP consulting business in Germany and are also involved in Tendicon in Tenerife. How did that come about?
It started through personal contacts. The idea was to build a company that combines traditional SAP consulting with modern technologies. That’s how Tendicon in Tenerife was born. I’m regularly on-site, but I also work from Germany. Remote work is very normal nowadays and works really well for us.
How does remote collaboration work with your team in Tenerife?
Very well. We use modern collaboration tools, have clear processes and regular check-ins. As long as communication is reliable, distance isn’t an issue. And if it ever is, I can just hop on a flight and be there.
What services does Tendicon offer?
On the one hand, we offer classic SAP services—consulting, development and customising. On the other, we also focus on web development, databases, APIs, and technical online marketing. While not every project requires all of these, we see growing demand in this area. SAP has been around for a long time—it’s a mature, high-quality system. But now it’s moving into the cloud, and clients are looking for up-to-date solutions that integrate with apps and web services. That’s the kind of holistic solution we aim to deliver.
What’s your view on the current shortage of skilled professionals in IT?
It’s definitely getting harder to find qualified talent, especially in the SAP field. At the same time, the job market has changed. Salaries in this sector don’t vary that much between companies, so many developers are looking for more than just good pay. They’re also looking for interesting work environments—and that’s where a location like Tenerife really stands out.
What makes Tenerife particularly appealing in this context?
Tenerife is attractive to digital professionals from a variety of fields—not just because of its year-round pleasant climate and island lifestyle, but also thanks to a vibrant and inspiring digital community that’s emerged here in recent years. For many, it’s not necessarily about staying forever. It’s about quality of life and exciting experiences.
Of course, it’s not for everyone. But for those open to living abroad, it’s a compelling option. At Tendicon, this gives us a clear edge over many traditional job offers—especially since our clients are mostly based in Germany, so you don’t even need to speak Spanish to work with us.
Are there any specific skills you’re currently looking for?
SAP know-how as well as German and English language skills are of course essential in our SAP department. However, we also provide training, so people with little or no SAP knowledge but with programming experience may also fit in with us. In general, experience in web development, APIs and database technologies is also of interest to us. We’re not looking for jack-of-all-trades – we want specialists who are strong in their field and open to growing further.
How do you see the future of IT in the SAP space?
SAP will continue to be a core platform for many companies. But the world around it is changing—web technologies, mobile apps, cloud systems. Integrating these areas is becoming more and more important. We want to help businesses navigate and thrive in this increasingly complex landscape.
This interview was conducted in May 2025.
Our conclusion to the interview with Martins Kipens, SAP Consultant at Tendicon
Martins Kipens brings together decades of SAP expertise with a forward-looking approach to modern IT. His work with Tendicon shows how traditional consulting and new technologies can be successfully combined—even across borders. For IT professionals seeking flexibility, exciting projects and a unique working environment, Tendicon could offer a very attractive opportunity.