What does the integrated process and master data between SAP SuccessFactors and SAP S/4HANA Cloud look like? If we’re looking to implement both solutions, which should we implement first? Is there an Identity Management system within the SAP solutions? Is there an HR component within SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition – if not, what’s the recommended solution?
These were just a few of the questions and topics we discussed in a recent
interactive session on the what, why, and how of using SAP SuccessFactors and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition together. Joined by a great group of organizations, spanning both midsize and large enterprise, we had a jam packed agenda where we covered the business case for a connected cloud HR and ERP approach, SAP’s integration strategy and the advantages only available when operating from a single platform, and an overview of the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central solution which provides Core HR capabilities and serves as the common people data model across all SAP applications.
We were fortunate to be joined by Rizing, a midsize professional services organization, who shared their journey to the cloud with SAP. Following four acquisitions in just a few years, Rizing quickly grew from a small to a midsize business with a truly global presence and customer base. But the result was a fragmented mix of systems and largely manual processes. Rizing shared how their implementation of SAP cloud solutions and specifically the integration between SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, have helped to drive improvements in productivity, transparency, employee insights, and operational efficiencies.
In case you missed it, here are five key takeaways from the session:
1. Organizations of all sizes are realizing the benefits of connected cloud HR and ERP
I shared some recent research that indicates while there’s a desire for a much more integrated approach between HR and other business operations, many companies continue to struggle due to siloed systems, data, and teams. The good news? Change is on the horizon as we continue to see the adoption of this connected cloud approach on the rise, as well as the associated benefits of improved insights, processes, and experiences across the business.
2. Using data versus debating the integrity of the data
As Jodi Hayes-Roth, CEO of HCM for Rizing, shared “Knowing the demand from a people standpoint is the biggest challenge we have. We need just the right amount of people with the right skillsets at the right time in order for us to have a profitable business.” This starts with getting the data right and having a single source of truth to use across the entire business. And then using that data to power end-to-end business processes. Jodi provided some great real-world examples, including the many ways ‘Cost Center’ data is being used across the business and the end-to-end flows of several business processes, including Recruit & Staff and Work & Deliver.
3. Fit-to-standard is key to realizing the best practice approach to cloud benefits
Rizing’s 20-minute segment was filled with a lot of great insights, including some of their lessons learned. Len Harms, Chief Experience Officer for Rizing, reiterated the importance of staying fit-to-standard – or limiting customizations – as critical to their accelerated and ongoing success. As Len Harms, shared, “Staying fit-to-standard will not only help you save money on your implementation but as you progress in the usage of the system, you’ll find it a lot easier to adopt, consume, and set up a cycle of innovation.”
4. SAP takes a holistic approach to integration – going beyond data
So what’s the ‘secret sauce’ that enables SAP to be Best of Suite? As Neetin Datar, VP Integrated Intelligent Enterprise, SAP S/4HANA Cloud shared, “For SAP, integration goes way beyond data integration. We’ve harmonized and integrated SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions across seven suite qualities which represent all the dimensions relevant for a true integration experience.” This approach is enabling organizations to add, adopt, and realize the value of additional SAP cloud solutions at an accelerated pace.
5. HR is messy but you can simplify the complexity
How? With the productized integration between SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition. Nick MacIlvaine, Global VP Core HR & Onboarding CoE, provided some insight into the complexity that comes along with HR, including the challenges associated with concurrent employment, global assignments, retroactive or future-dated changes, and reorganizations. But…all these complexities are solved for when using SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central as your Core HR or HRIS, which operates right alongside SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition on the same cloud platform.
Interested in learning more? Check out the full session video here.
