Last week, Lisbon welcomed thousands of eager HR leaders, technology innovators, and SAP SuccessFactors enthusiasts at the highly anticipated SuccessConnect 2024 event. With groundbreaking product announcements and expert insights on best practices, this year’s event showcased how HR is evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing workforce. Zalaris had the pleasure of connecting – and sharing a Portuguese tart – with customers, industry leaders, and HR professionals throughout the event – here are our key insights and why they’re pivotal for the future of HR.
Market Leader: Leveraging the Power of SAP to Meet Any Customer Need
From the onset of SuccessConnect 2024, SAP’s continued dominance as a market leader was evident. Now, in the face of transformative AI innovations and release updates, the combined power of SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, Payroll and Time, and AI enables organisations to scale efficiently and meet diverse customer needs. Let’s take a deeper look into these transformative AI innovations.
AI-Powered Innovations at SuccessConnect 2024
The SuccessConnect 2024 event was a remarkable showcase of SAP’s commitment to innovation, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence. This year, SAP unveiled an impressive suite of 30 new AI capabilities aimed at enhancing user experience and optimizing business processes.
Among the highlights is the new AI integration for Employee Central Payroll (ECP), which allows users to interactively query their payslips and receive instant, intelligent responses. Furthermore, the revamped homepage now features AI functionality, providing a more personalised and efficient user interface.
Other significant advancements include the Talent Intelligence Hub, which serves as an AI-driven engine for managing an organisation’s learning and talent strategies, and AI-assisted job recommendations that align candidates’ skills with open positions, thereby reducing hiring time and improving quality.
Additionally, SAP’s AI copilot, Joule, has been upgraded to facilitate onboarding, support AI-enhanced 360-degree reviews, and offer personalised career insights. These innovations highlight SAP’s strategic focus on leveraging AI to propel digital transformation and enhance operational efficiency. As automation continues to evolve, it’s clear that these tools will be essential for creating a responsive, agile HR function.
Personalised Employee Experiences Take Centre Stage
This year, employee experience was a top priority, with sessions focusing on creating tailored experiences for diverse needs. SAP SuccessFactors introduced tools to gather real-time feedback and build a personalised workplace. Keynote speakers emphasised that personalisation in HR is now a strategic imperative, impacting engagement, retention, and productivity. By using analytics to understand employee needs, organisations can create experiences that drive loyalty and satisfaction.
SAP’s new Career and Talent Development solution (formerly known as Succession & Development) exemplifies this approach, offering AI-driven insights for career growth and development. Enhanced target role suggestions, career exploration from the growth portfolio, and AI-assisted assignment creation are just a few of the features designed to empower employees and encourage organisational agility.
Together, these innovations position SAP at the forefront of transforming the employee experience through intelligent, data-driven solutions.
Prioritising Data-Driven Decision-Making
Another central theme of SuccessConnect 2024 was the growing reliance on data analytics to inform HR strategy. The latest integration of AI across the SAP SuccessFactors HCM suite updates allows for a more holistic view of workforce data, with insights into employee performance, engagement trends, and potential risks.
With access to real-time data, HR leaders can make more informed decisions that align with their organisational goals. This shift towards data-driven decision-making empowers HR teams to proactively address issues, optimise resources, and drive positive business outcomes.
Embracing Flexibility and Hybrid Work Models
With remote and hybrid work models now firmly entrenched in the corporate landscape, SuccessConnect 2024 addressed the need for flexible HR solutions that support diverse working arrangements. New features within SAP SuccessFactors focus on managing remote teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring equitable access to growth opportunities, regardless of location.
Speakers emphasised that a flexible workplace goes beyond simply allowing remote work; it’s about building a supportive, adaptable culture where employees can thrive, regardless of where they work. This emphasis on flexibility reflects a broader trend towards inclusivity and adaptability in HR practices.
Looking Ahead: Building on SuccessConnect 2024’s Momentum and Strategic Acquisition
SuccessConnect 2024 reinforced that the future of HR is more dynamic and responsive than ever before. With further advancements in automation, personalisation, and data analytics set for release in 2025, HR leaders are poised to drive meaningful change.
The recent SuccessConnect event was a showcase of SAP’s commitment to innovation and customer success, highlighted by the strategic acquisition of WalkMe. This acquisition is particularly significant as it underscores SAP’s focus on enhancing user experience and driving digital adoption. WalkMe’s digital adoption platform, known for its ability to simplify user interactions with complex software, will integrate seamlessly with SAP’s suite of solutions. This integration promises to empower users with intuitive guidance and support, reducing the learning curve and boosting productivity. Overall, the synergy between SAP and WalkMe is poised to deliver substantial value to customers, making it easier for organisations to navigate their digital transformation journeys.
Among these exciting releases is the UI Payroll Control Centre, which will provide users with an enhanced payroll management experience. A new interface will consolidate payroll KPIs and workflows in a central dashboard, simplifying payroll administration. By embracing these innovations, organisations are well-positioned to attract, engage, and retain talent in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore these exciting developments and share more insights on leveraging SAP SuccessFactors to drive your HR strategy forward.
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