3 top takeaways from 2023 SAP SuccessFactors SuccessConnect

I had the pleasure of attending the annual SAP SuccessFactors SuccessConnect event this year in Las Vegas, Nevada with approximately 2,300 customers plus several friends and colleagues that I enjoy spending quality time with.  My schedule was packed with educational sessions, Roadmap Strategy Overviews, and meetings with treasured clients and key SAP SuccessFactors executives. I know most summaries will contain updates on the sexy things including the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Joule, the Talent Intelligence Hub, and integration, so I will instead focus on the three top takeaways that I believe customers will be interested in hearing about for right now. They might not be that sexy but they have a focus on the critical business functions that are important to our day-to-day lives.

1. Customers are still on their journey from on-premise SAP ECC to SAP SuccessFactors and the cloud. 

We have been watching this journey since the start, as documented here in our Ultimate Guide: Journey from on-premise SAP HCM & Payroll to SAP SuccessFactors (HXM). Many more customers have made the shift from their on-premise SAP HCM system to SuccessFactors and the Cloud. SAP SuccessFactors continues to offer solutions to assist customers in leveraging the best materials and information to make this transformation. Things to keep an eye out for include:

SAP SuccessFactors Enablement Materials

SAP SuccessFactors offers tools and utilities to assist customers in making the best decisions moving forward, including various enablement materials – such as presentations, a decision tree, migration paths, and discovery questions – that should help guide customers. The intention behind this is to provide a journey that makes sense for the customer, based on their requirements and business needs.

Check out these links:

• Blog: Get a free tool for your HCM Digital Transformation to SAP S/4HANA and/or cloud
• SAP for Me: Launch Readiness Check (valid SAP credentials required)
• Additional Information: Accelerate your HXM Digital transformation

Cross System Workflow 

This content package enables SAP core hybrid customers to streamline HR business processes that run across SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP ERP HCM, using the capabilities of SAP Build Process Automation.

Check out these links:

• Blog: Extending cross-system workflow solution for SAP SuccessFactors

• SAP Business Accelerator Hub: Cross System Workflow for SAP SuccessFactors Solutions 

• Implementation Guide: Implementing Cross-System Workflow for SAP SuccessFactors Solutions

2. Payroll has a continued commitment to innovation

Payroll is always one of my favorite topics and SAP continues its commitment to all things Payroll.  The three main messages for customers are:

There is a 3-tiered vision and strategy

1. SAP to stay as the trusted partner for global payroll:
   We invest to earn your trust in compliance, reliability, security, performance, and our partners. 
2. 'Cloud payroll for all customers ('HXM Move'): 
   We innovate in cloud functionality, integration, and our customer road map.
3. We take the pain out of payroll (next generation):
   There is plenty of room to innovate in payroll.

SAP SuccessFactors is the undisputed leader in Global Payroll

No one does a better job at global payroll. With over 100 countries included for SAP’s On-Premise Payroll and 50 for SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (Greece just added) they continue to be the world leader in this space.  SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll is now at over 10+ million licensed users producing over 700 million pay statements for their customer base, which has grown 28% since last year.

Check out these links:

• SAP Solution Page: SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
• Video: Global Payroll Management and Localization
• Blog on Global Payroll Coverage: Do you manage any non-SAP Payrolls manually?

Investment continues into the next-generation cloud Payroll

SAP SuccessFactors has been transparent that they continue every day to innovate in the Payroll space, including the development of their next generation Payroll solution called SAP SuccessFactors Payroll.  This solution which is in development is gearing up for its early adoption in the UK market, and beta testing for the US starts at the end of 2023.  The focus for these limited test and deployment sites is on niche groups of customers who meet specific criteria and who will provide critical feedback for the continued development of the solution.

SAP SuccessFactors Payroll intends to support a design for the decades to come; lower total cost of ownership, simpler compliance, and an elevated user experience.  It's important to note that this new cloud payroll is highly innovative with a limited market reach; SAP is being deliberate with its build and it will continue this way for some time to come. It is not coming for the masses anytime soon, and SAP SuccessFactors still recommends that customers move to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll for the long foreseeable future.

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll does not have a support end date.  To loosely steal a quote from friend and fellow SAP SuccessFactors Confidant Brandon Toombs “..think of SAP SuccessFactors Payroll like your favorite sports team is building a new arena, it’s something to get excited about but it should not prevent you from buying season tickets to the games and cheering on this year's squad…”   To learn more about your options for Payroll with SAP and SuccessFactors, check out these links:

• Blog: What are your 2023 SAP SuccessFactors Payroll Options?
• Blog: SAP SuccessFactors Next-Gen Cloud Payroll

3. Reporting in HXM has come a very long way

Payroll is one of my favorite topics, but above all else reporting and analytics in HXM is my absolute favorite topic. Similar to keeping an eye on the journey customers have made, I also keep track of the options customers have for all things SAP and SAP SuccessFactors reporting which I regularly update in my free ebook titled the 2023 HCM and Payroll reporting options for SAP and SAP SuccessFactors. Here are the key things of note.

People Analytics

There has been a significant amount of innovation in this space and a strategic direction for the future that is exciting to keep an eye on.  I made an effort to explain the focus of SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics and its integration into the larger intelligent enterprise beyond HCM which you can see in this short video.

Getting started with SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics for your SuccessFactors modules is easy. You simply need to enable and begin using Report Stories immediately. It’s easy to do so by following these simple steps:  

1. Go to Admin Center Upgrade Center.
2. In the Filter By list, select Analytics.
3. Under Recommended Upgrades, click Stories in People Analytics.
4. Click Upgrade Now, and on the confirmation pop-up click Yes.

To learn more about SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics  check out these links:

• Blog: Five reporting options for HCM customers in SAP SuccessFactors
• Blog: Get started with stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics
• Blog: Make your HR and Payroll data available dynamically in SAP Analytics Cloud
• Product Help Page: SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics (valid SAP ID required)