SuccessConnect 2024: My insights
As someone who has spent two decades working with SAP SuccessFactors, I have witnessed firsthand the evolution of HR technology and its impact on workforce management. Today, I am excited to share insights on SAP's latest advancements, which were announced at SuccessConnect, SAP’s annual human resources customer event held from October 28-30 in Lisbon, Portugal. These innovations are set to revolutionise the way organisations manage skills and career development.
Addressing the Skills Gap with Enhanced Talent Intelligence
Skills remain a critical concern for business leaders. According to Gartner, only 8% of organisations have reliable data on the skills their workforce currently possesses and those that significantly impact business success. This gap in skills data can hinder strategic workforce planning and career development.
SAP's recent enhancements to the talent intelligence hub aim to bridge this gap. By providing a centralised system for skills, organisations can now aggregate and harmonise data from third-party solutions, ensuring a single, comprehensive view of skills for each employee and the organisation as a whole. The integration with partners such as Beamery, Degreed, IMOCHA INC, Korn Ferry, Lightcast, Phenom, TalenTeam, and TechWolf marks a significant step towards creating an open skills ecosystem.
Empowering Employees with Career and Talent Development
SAP has also launched the SAP SuccessFactors Career and Talent Development solution, which combines the robust features of the SAP SuccessFactors Succession & Development solution with the SAP SuccessFactors Opportunity Marketplace solution. Powered by skills data from the talent intelligence hub, this integrated offering empowers employees to set career growth goals aligned with their personal aspirations and organisational needs.
Through career path exploration, employees can map their skills to current and target roles, enhancing their readiness for future opportunities. This approach not only supports individual career growth but also aligns employee development with the strategic goals of the organisation.
Leveraging AI to Enhance the Employee Experience
The integration of generative AI capabilities across the talent lifecycle is another game-changer. AI-assisted 360-degree reviews provide employees with actionable insights and feedback summaries, highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement. SAP’s AI copilot, Joule, guides employees through the onboarding process, recommending meetings and nudging them to complete necessary tasks such as data review, forms, and e-signatures.
By embedding AI throughout its core HR and payroll solutions, SAP is enhancing the employee experience while freeing up HR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks. For example, in the first half of 2025, employees will be able to ask Joule complex questions about their pay slips and receive contextually relevant information. Additionally, the enhanced Payroll Control Center capabilities in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll will help manage payroll process activities and improve budgeting and control, particularly for public sector customers.
Accelerating Time to Value for Customers
In a significant move to enhance digital adoption, SAP recently acquired WalkMe Ltd., the leading digital adoption platform company. At SuccessConnect, SAP announced its intent to integrate pre-built WalkMe content into SAP SuccessFactors solutions, which will be commercially available in the first half of 2025. This integration aims to improve employee experience and adoption across common workflows, ensuring that users can navigate and utilise the system more effectively.
Personal Reflections
Having worked with SAP SuccessFactors for 20 years, I am particularly excited about these developments. The focus on creating an open skills ecosystem and leveraging AI to enhance the employee experience represents a significant leap forward. These advancements will undoubtedly help organisations navigate the complexities of modern workforce management, ensuring that they remain agile and competitive in an ever-changing business landscape.
As we move forward, it is crucial for HR leaders to embrace these technologies and integrate them into their strategic planning. By doing so, they can unlock the full potential of their workforce, driving both individual and organisational success.
