SuccessConnect 2024: Talking HR, Payroll and AI

© SuccessConnect

I had the pleasure of being interviewed as part of the SuccessConnect Virtual show. We discussed the benefits of moving to the cloud and I talked about success stories from our EPI-USE and EPI-USE Labs clients who successfully transitioned to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll.

Here are the questions and my responses:

1: As you know, we still have a number of customers in the HCM space on an On-premise deployment today. Can you tell the audience, in your experience, what are the main benefits you have seen when they move to SAP SuccessFactors EC (Employee Central)?

I hear this question a lot as our customers know that there are upcoming dates and a requirement to transform, however the benefits of moving to EC are easy to articulate. I’ve been in the SAP HCM space for a long time and I understand the deep love customers have for their existing on-premises solution because it has been a consistent workhorse that has not let them down. And I know SAP SuccessFactors offers continuity options to allow them to stay in their safe space for a while longer, but all the new INNOVATION including intelligent technologies with AI, experiences, and advancements are only available in EC.

There has never been a better time to put employees at the center of the business and provide them with the tools to be connected, engaged, empowered and supported in the workplace and deploying SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central is the required first step to making that happen.

2: I’m glad you mentioned Artificial Intelligence (AI). Where do you see AI having the biggest influence when it comes to Core HR?

It is such an exciting time for AI in Core HR. Just think we’ve already heard that 80% of routine HCM tasks will be covered by AI in SuccessFactors. Leveraging Joule, the digital assistant, not only reduces the HR team’s workload, it also significantly improves the employee experience. Requesting time off, clocking in and out or checking leave balances… with the tools they need.. right at their fingertips.

That’s why I see the biggest influence for AI in the HCM space is specific to assisting, promoting, enhancing, and identifying new opportunities for employees in their organization. Studies have shown that employees like when intelligent technology is used to assist them in furthering their career.

Greatly improving the employee experience overall as they gain more understanding that technology is designed to help them not only for the automation of tasks in their work but in improving their position and growth opportunity in the organization all the while supporting the Management and HR teams of the Company.

3: Ethics and privacy are big topics in AI. I can see where this would be even more important in the field of HR. How is SAP managing that?

SAP has already been a leader in this space with an ethical lens focused on intelligent technology but this past August they unveiled their comprehensive ethical guidelines for the development and use of generative AI and business AI applications.

This update to their existing AI ethics policy marked a significant step forward in responsible AI governance, setting a new standard for the tech industry.

One of the things I like about this is that SAP drew inspiration from the United Nations Pact for the Future (UNESCO) which shows how they are leaning into global standards and best practices as well as defining a framework that has guiding principles that can continue to grow in the future as tech continues to evolve.

4: You have the benefit of working with a broad range of customers when it comes to implementing SAP SuccessFactors, can you give us some insight into your success stories and where we are helping customers win?

As a leader in the HCM space, EPI-USE Labs has been instrumental in the transformations for our clients, and they have been sharing their success stories, Menzies, PostNL and North American Lighting are three that have successfully moved to ECP.

Something our clients have in common - whether it’s Amway, Purdue University, Scandinavian Airlines, PG&E, or Owens Corning - is that they want to balance technical savings and efficiencies with the opportunities that the latest technology offers their employees to improve their experiences.

Our approach has been to lead with education, so that the decision makers are well informed on what they have today and their options for tomorrow so that they are in the best position to make and defend an informed decision for their specific transformation.

5: Finally, what would be the one takeaway you would want to leave with customers when it comes to Core HR and their move to SAP SuccessFactors?

My takeaway is: Don't let the support dates drive your urgency to transform – but rather make your priority the experience for the employees and the benefits for the employer in leveraging a cloud model where you have the opportunity for lower costs, simplicity and automation, continuous new functionality and intelligent tech leveraging AI.

It's increasingly becoming harder to attract and retain employees and having a world-class HCM system is one way to ensure that you are positioned to do exactly that.