SAP SuccessFactors

What is SAP SuccessFactors?

SAP SuccessFactors is SAP’s cloud-based suite of human resources software. The SAP SuccessFactors suite is traditionally most known for its talent management tools and offers core HR capabilities through Employee Central and payroll capabilities through Employee Central Payroll.

While SAP still has many customers running its legacy on-premise SAP ERP HCM solution, SAP SuccessFactors is SAP’s primary focus for Human Capital Management (HCM) and Human Experience Management (HXM). As a result, SAP now focuses most of its HR technology innovation and development resources in the HR space on SAP SuccessFactors. Additionally, the vendor plans to end mainstream maintenance for SAP ERP HCM in 2027.

Modules and offerings within the SAP SuccessFactors suite include:

What is SAP SuccessFactors?

SAP SuccessFactors is SAP’s cloud-based suite of human resources software. The SAP SuccessFactors suite is traditionally most known for its talent management tools and offers core HR capabilities through Employee Central and payroll capabilities through Employee Central Payroll.

While SAP still has many customers running its legacy on-premise SAP ERP HCM solution, SAP SuccessFactors is SAP’s primary focus for Human Capital Management (HCM) and Human Experience Management (HXM). As a result, SAP now focuses most of its HR technology innovation and development resources in the HR space on SAP SuccessFactors. Additionally, the vendor plans to end mainstream maintenance for SAP ERP HCM in 2027.

Modules and offerings within the SAP SuccessFactors suite include:

• SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (Core HR)
• SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
• SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Service Center
• SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting
• SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding
• SAP SuccessFactors Performance & Goals
• SAP SuccessFactors Compensation
• SAP SuccessFactors Learning
• SAP SuccessFactors Succession & Development
• SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics
• Employee Experience Management with SAP Qualtrics

Key SAP SuccessFactors Considerations for SAPinsiders

• SAP is focused on integrating SAP SuccessFactors and its other cloud applications into its broader set of offerings. This focus is especially of interest to organizations using a variety of SAP tools. As companies adopt cloud solutions, integration between those products and the rest of an organization’s technology stack can be a challenge. SAP CEO Christian Klein noted that SAP has been working to bring the same integration experience between SAP SuccessFactors and other apps that traditional SAP ERP HCM had with the on-premise SAP ERP suite of applications.
• Managing cloud releases is different than on-premise releases. SAP SuccessFactors releases updates twice per year, and these updates often provide significant changes to functionality. Most changes are not mandatory, but customers seeking to get the most out of their cloud systems should implement updates where possible. Doing so requires a release management strategy to track the latest updates and encourage adoption. Most updates can be added to SAP SuccessFactors by opting in, a stark change from on-premise releases, which require more technical work.
• Self-service is an important component of cloud HR tools like SAP SuccessFactors. The most successful companies in their HR strategies are utilizing self-service. For example, employee and manager self-service related to time and attendance and performance management are likely to create better employee experiences and generate more efficient HR processes by removing the reliance on an HR employee to complete related tasks and paperwork. In addition, there is a possibility for self-service in more HR areas such as onboarding and learning.