SAP SuccessFactors stands at the forefront of HCM innovation, consistently delivering advancements which redefine how organisations manage their most valuable asset: their people.
The 2H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release has done exactly that – it is yet another update packed with updates and enhancements across multiple modules which is set to transform how organisations handle workforce management, talent acquisition, learning, and development.
By strengthening core elements and introducing advanced features, the 2H 2024 release reflects SAP’s dedication to boosting efficiency, improving user experience, and fostering organisational growth. A standout aspect of this release is the integration of numerous new AI capabilities, which include AI-driven insights for payroll management, talent intelligence, and personalised employee experiences.
In this article, we delve into the key highlights of this release, examining how these updates and AI innovations will shape the future of Human Capital Management and enable organisations to excel in a highly competitive environment.
SuccessFactors Foundation
The 2H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release has introduced several significant updates. Together, these updates will boost efficiency, streamline systems and provide a more user-friendly experience. Some of the key updates to the Foundation/Platform include:
- New Location Replication from Employee Central to SAP Master Data
It is now possible to activate the replication of the Location object from Employee Central to SAP Master Data Integration. This means that any location data maintained in Employee Central can now be seamlessly transferred and synchronised with SAP Master Data.
- Role-Based Permissions Troubleshooting Tool
A new troubleshooting tool has been introduced for easier user role and permission search. This search tab will allow users to identify the permission roles of a user as well as compare the roles and permissions of two users. This feature is a strong tool for administrators to identify access issues by reviewing or amending both permission and permission roles assigned.
Image – Role-Based Permissions Troubleshooting Tool
SuccessFactors Employee Central Core
The 2H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release brings noteworthy enhancements to the Employee Central Core module, aimed at improving usability and streamlining processes. Let’s delve into a couple of the key enhancements introduced in this release:
- People Profile Centralises Full Employee Profile
All employee information will now be displayed in one place, improving end-user experience with smoother navigation. The new interface is optional now but will be mandatory next year.
- Deep Links in Company Structure Overview
It is now possible to access the Company Structure Overview by using a deep link. This will allow users to effortlessly access any object within the overview by sharing a link. Previously, this was not possible and the full path to the object had to be found manually.
- Digital Signature Available in Document Generation
It is now possible to digitally sign documents in the Document Generator, using DocuSign. This also includes the ability to set up a signing order and signer type. To enable this function, a separate DocuSign license is required.
Image – Digital Signature Available in Document Generation
SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
In the second half of 2024, SAP’s SuccessFactors release introduces some important updates to enhance the functionality of Employee Central Payroll. These include, but are not limited to:
- Identity Provisioning for Employee Central Payroll
The Employee Central Payroll User creation report is now replaced by the new Identity Provisioning (IPS) feature. This will simplify the user lifecycle process by ensuring that Users are synchronised across all SAP products.
Image – Identity Provisioning for Employee Central Payroll
- Enhancements to Pay Statement Features in Mobile App
The enhancements improve error messaging for payroll access issues in the mobile app, advising users to contact their IT administrator if the service isn’t configured. They also enhance the user experience by allowing pay statement previews even when downloads are restricted, and provide clearer error messages when features are unsupported.
SuccessFactors Recruiting
The 2H 2024 release brings significant enhancements to SuccessFactors Recruiting, introducing AI assistance and functionalities to optimise usability and efficiency. Some key updates are:
- AI-Assisted Skills Validation for Job Requisitions
Using AI, this feature extracts and categorises essentional skills from job descriptions. Recruiters are able to add, remove, categorise and refine skills into primary and secondary groups for improved candidate matching. This update will significantly improve the quality and efficiency of candidate matching by highlighting key skill gaps and making requisition updates more efficient.
- Historical Results on Candidate Assessments and Screening Information
The redesigned Applicant Management tool now allows recruiters to access historical results related to candidate assessments and screening information directly within the Detail View. This will help in providing a comprehensive view of the candidate’s results from other applied jobs.
- Initiate Onboarding Summary in the Redesigned Applicant Management Tool
The Redesigned Applicant Management tool now provides real-time eligibility information for candidates whose onboarding has been initiated. This update enables recruiters to make informed decisions based on real-time data, streamlining the onboarding process and reducing errors.
Image – Initiate Onboarding Summary in the Redesigned Applicant Management Tool
SuccessFactors Onboarding
The 2H 2024 updates to SAP SuccessFactors’ Onboarding module will streamline processes and enhance efficiency during onboarding. Here are a few of the key features:
- Extension Points Now Available in Onboarding
Administrators can now enable extension points in Onboarding to incorporate third-party tasks. These extensions can be added to the New Hire Data Review or Personal Data Collection in the Process Variant Manager, pausing sequential tasks until the assigned background task completes. This update will give administrators greater flexibility and control when including third parties in the onboarding process.
- Enhance Internal Hire Process with New Features
The internal hire process will now benefit from streamlined workflows, cross-entity rules, and position updates. With these new features, workflows can be designed to handle changes for internal hires whose onboarding is starting from Recruiting.
- New Version of Onboarding in Process Variant Manager
Administrators will now be able to manage custom tasks in the onboarding process by linking to updated Primary or Secondary New Hire Task steps, which determine where tasks like data collection, compliance, and e-signatures appear.
Image – New Version of Onboarding in Process Variant Manager
SuccessFactors Compensation and Variable Pay
The 2H 2024 release brings numerous enhancements to Compensation and Variable Pay, with several standout features designed to streamline processes and enhance user experience. These key updates offer a glimpse into the broader improvements focused on empowering administrators and enhancing transparency in compensation management:
- Enhancements to Compensation Statement Editor
This enhancement now enables users to export compensation statements in XML format, alongside XSL. This improves usability by allowing users to continue editing within the instance where the template was originally imported.
Image – Enhancements to Compensation Statement Editor
- Executive Review Based on Route Map Step
This update introduces a map-based Executive Review that can be routed based on permission roles and route map steps. This enhancement allows administrators to configure permissions for viewing or editing data in the Executive Review, depending on the role and the specific step in the route map.
SuccessFactors Performance & Goals Management
The 2H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release brings significant updates to Performance & Goals Management, enhancing user experience and streamlining goal-related processes. These improvements provide users with greater control and visibility over feedback requests and goal management. Key updates include:
- Link and Unalign Goals
This new feature allows users to link their performance goals with another user’s goals or unalign them as needed. Once goals are linked, an alignment relationship is established and displayed in the goal alignment chart. This feature will goal visibility and promotes collaboration by interconnecting goals, making it simpler to track and manage aligned objectives across users.
- Delegation for Performance Reviews
Managers can now delegate their performance review tasks to others for a specified period. This feature is designed to ensure an uninterrupted and efficient performance review cycle, even when a user is absent or unable to complete tasks. Users will now have more flexibility and safer access control.
Image – Delegation for Performance Reviews
SuccessFactors Succession & Career Development Planning
The latest release introduces significant enhancements to the SuccessFactors Succession & Career Development Planning module. These updates are designed to improve user experience, provide better guidance, and empower users to manage their career development more efficiently:
- Simplified Experience of Nominating Talent Pool Members to a Position
Succession planners can now add successors directly from the talent pool sections on the position card in the Succession Org Chart or the Position Tile view. This streamlines the process by eliminating the need to navigate to the employee’s talent card and start the nomination from scratch.
Image – Simplified Experience of Nominating Talent Pool Members to a Position
- Temporary Holiday Calendar for Business Trips
Previously, only employees could initiate these forms for their target roles. With this update, roles such as managers and HR can now also launch role readiness forms for employees. This is configured through the Career Worksheet template, where permissions can be set to allow these roles to see the “Evaluate Readiness” link.
SuccessFactors Learning Management System
The 2H 2024 release has brought enhancements for SAP SuccessFactors Learning Management System (LMS) which will optimise learning experiences and empower administrators. Here are the standout updates:
- New Team View for SuccessFactors Learning
The entire Team View has been redesigned to better align with the new learning experience and enhance the way managers and HR professionals manage and review learning assignments for their teams. Accessing team view, viewing based on roles, managing assignments and prioritising overdue items are some of the features that have been streamlined in this redesign.
Image – New Team View for SuccessFactors Learning
- Custom Pages on the New Learning Home Page
This update introduces the ability to create custom pages on the new Learning home page. This update aims to enhance the learning experience by providing more tailored and accessible content for learners.
SuccessFactors Time Management System
The 2H 2024 release brings a host of enhancements to the Learning Management System (LMS) within SAP SuccessFactors, aimed at optimizing the learning experience and empowering administrators. Here are the key updates:
- Temporary Holiday Calendar for Business Trips
Employees can now make temporary changes to their holiday calendar based on business requirements.
Image – Temporary Holiday Calendar for Business Trips
Opportunity Marketplace
The updates made to Opportunity Marketplace in the 2H 2024 release offer users a more intuitive and streamlined approach to managing career opportunities. Here are some important highlights among the multitude of enhancements rolled out in this release:
- Create Assignments Using AI
In Opportunity Marketplace, assignment owners and co-owners can now efficiently create and edit assignments with the help of the generative AI. By entering high level objective information, users will automatically receive a tailored assignment, simplifying the creation process.
Image – Create Assignments Using AI
- Updating Opportunity Marketplace Applications
As an assignment applicant, if you are not satisfied with your initial application to an Opportunity Marketplace assignment, with this release update you can update your application.
SuccessFactors Analytics
The 2H 2024 release of SAP SuccessFactors includes several significant updates to People Analytics, enhancing the capabilities and user experience. Here are some of the key highlights:
- Availability of SAP SF Learning Live Connection from SAP SF to SAP Analytics Cloud
This feature allows real-time data integration between SAP SuccessFactors Learning and SAP Analytics Cloud. It enables users to create live data models and stories in SAC using data from SuccessFactors Learning. This will act as a significant enhancement to the overall learning and reporting experience.
Image – Availability of SAP SF Learning Live Connection from SAP SF to SAP Analytics Cloud
- Pay Scale Details for Country/Region-Specific Job Information Reportable Using Story Reports
With this release, it will now be possible to include detailed country/region pay-scale information in Story Reports. Previously, these were only reportable using table reports. This new feature will allow users to better manage and analyse compensation data.
Exclusive eBook: Your essential guide to SAP SuccessFactors 2H 2024 release in HCM
The SAP SuccessFactors 2H 2024 release marks a transformative step forward in Human Capital Management, introducing innovative, forward-thinking solutions. With each update, SAP SuccessFactors strengthens its commitment to empowering organisations to navigate the complexities of workforce management with greater agility and confidence.
Know more on the topic
Our global team of SuccessFactors experts have thoroughly analysed the latest features and enhancements of this release which span the entire HCM suite. This analysis has culminated in a comprehensive eBook offering valuable insights into each module’s updates and their practical applications
This eBook is designed as a comprehensive resource, guiding you through the pivotal changes introduced in the 2H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release, with actionable recommendations for effective utilisation.
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