Packed with a plethora of updates and enhancements across various modules, this release is poised to revolutionise the way organisations approach workforce management, talent acquisition, learning and development, and more.
Image – Highlights Topics of the SAP SuccessFactors 1H 2024 Release
From fortifying the foundational elements to empowering users with advanced functionalities, the 1H 2024 release embodies SAP’s commitment to driving efficiency, enhancing user experience, and fostering organisational growth.
In this article we present to you the key highlights of this release, exploring how these updates will shape the future of Human Capital Management and empower organisations to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
SuccessFactors Foundation
In the 1H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release, significant updates have been implemented to strengthen the Foundation element of the platform. These updates have far-reaching implications, impacting not only the Foundation/Platform modules but also intersecting with various other modules within SuccessFactors. To delve deeper into these updates and their implications across different modules, download our exclusive eBook.
Some of the major updates impacting the Foundation/Platform elements include:
- Search Language Enhancement in Action Search
Users can now utilise English search terms for admin tools in the action search, even when logged in with a non-English language, facilitating quicker access to relevant terms given the predominance of English documentation.
- Instance Synchronisation Tool Removal from Upgrade Centre
The Instance Synchronisation Tool has been phased out from the Upgrade Centre in favour of the Configuration Transport Centre, aligning with SAP’s transition towards a more streamlined configuration transport mechanism.
- SAP SuccessFactors App in Microsoft Teams App Store
The SAP SuccessFactors App can now be directly installed from the Microsoft Teams App Store, offering a more convenient installation process and reducing administrative overhead.
Image – SAP SuccessFactors App in Microsoft Teams App Store
SuccessFactors Employee Central Cross Topics
In the 1H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors (SF) release, Employee Central Cross Topics introduces significant enhancements:
- Connect Multiple EC Instances to One SAP Client
Organisations can now integrate multiple Employee Central instances with a single client within their SAP S/4HANA system for employee integration.
- Identify Employees to Exclude from Integration
A new transaction, Identify to Exclude from Processing (ECPAO_IN_EE_EXCP), assists in identifying employees with exceptional errors during data replication from Employee Central.
Image – Identify employees to exclude from integration
SuccessFactors Employee Central Core
The 1H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors release brings noteworthy enhancements to the Employee Central Core module, aimed at improving usability and streamlining processes. These updates introduce new functionalities and refinements, addressing key areas such as search capabilities and user interaction. Let’s explore some of the many latest enhancements introduced in this release:
- Search Language Enhancement in Action Search
Users now have the ability to utilise English search terms for admin tools within the action search, even when logged in with a non-English language. This enhancement facilitates quicker access to tools and resources, particularly beneficial considering the prevalence of English documentation within SuccessFactors.
- Search Functionality Available in Configuration Transport Centre
The Configuration Transport Centre has been enhanced with search functionality, enabling users to search and filter configurations based on name, Last Modified By, and Last Modified Date. This enhancement simplifies navigation and improves efficiency in managing configurations.
- Use Commands to Interact with SAP SuccessFactors via Microsoft Teams
Users can now interact with SAP SuccessFactors via Microsoft Teams using specific commands within the bot chat. Although limited to English commands currently, this feature provides an alternative method to trigger quick actions within SuccessFactors, strengthening the integration between the two platforms.
Image – Use Commands to Interact with SAP SuccessFactors via Microsoft Teams
SuccessFactors Employee Central Time Management
SAP SuccessFactors has introduced several key updates to enhance Time Management functionalities in the 1H 2024 release. These updates represent some of the key enhancements out of the many that have been made:
- Time Off Enhancements in the New People Profile
The profile preview in the New People Profile has been adjusted to include a spotlight displaying absence information. This section provides visibility into current and upcoming absences, facilitating better planning and coordination within teams.
Image – Time Off Enhancements in the New People Profile
- Time Forms Employee Self-Service (ESS)
Employees now have the capability to generate time recording forms via self-service. These templates can be previewed, downloaded as PDFs, or sent by email, empowering employees to independently manage administrative tasks and promoting self-service efficiency.
- Time Management Post Processing Supported with Global Assignment
The trigger for creating time accounts and accruals now activates automatically when a Global Assignment is created or edited, eliminating the need for manual execution of the calendar job run. This enhancement reduces manual processes, enhances efficiency, and streamlines time management tasks.
SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
In the first half of 2024, SAP’s SuccessFactors release introduces several noteworthy updates to enhance the functionality of Employee Central Payroll, including:
- Integration Enhancements and Deprecations for Pay Statements
Integration enhancements and deprecations relating to pay statements have been implemented, including the integration with SAP’s chatbot, Joule, while also deprecating arrow-based pay statement integration for improved efficiency.
- Enhanced Mashup Functionality
Improvements have been made to open mashups in a new tab on the employee’s profile page, enhancing overall user experience and navigational convenience.
- Payroll Control Center Updates
Within the Payroll Control Center, auxiliary calculations are now organised in a separate tab, providing users with enhanced control and streamlined data verification capabilities throughout the payroll cycle.
Image – Payroll Control Center Updates
SuccessFactors Recruiting
The 1H release brings significant enhancements to SuccessFactors Recruiting, introducing new features and functionalities aimed at optimising applicant management and streamlining the hiring process, such as:
- Applicant Management Redesign
Redesigned Applicant Management tool with new features like Referred applicant type, Interview Result filtering, background check initiation, and Forward as Applicant action.
Image – Applicant Management Redesign
- Automatic Hiring from Recruiting to Employee Central
System now supports automatic hiring of applicants into Employee Central, reducing manual intervention for Regular Hire, Concurrent Employment, and Global Assignment processes.
- Search Results Visible in Google Maps on Career Site
Candidates can now view job locations on Google Maps directly from the career site, enhancing the candidate experience and providing geographical insights.
SuccessFactors Onboarding
The latest enhancements to SAP SuccessFactors’ Onboarding module in the first half of 2024 are designed to streamline processes and enhance efficiency for new hire integration. Here are a few noteworthy updates:
- New Page “Your Onboarding Checklist”
A revamped onboarding checklist page presents all tasks in a streamlined layout, allowing new hires to easily view and select tasks. Divided into four sections, including data collection, compliance tasks, additional onboarding tasks, and an onboarding guide, this page enhances navigation and reduces data entry, ultimately saving time and enhancing efficiency in completing new hire tasks.
Image – New page “Your Onboarding Checklist”
- Mass Completion Option for New Hire Activities
Hiring managers now have the ability to select up to 100 new hires and perform standard activities such as sending welcome messages or assigning buddies in bulk. This feature, accessible via the Onboarding Dashboard or directly on the homepage, boosts efficiency for high-volume hiring scenarios, allowing tasks to be completed simultaneously for multiple new hires.
- Automatically Hire Applicants into Employee Central
A new Automatic Hire feature enables the system to automatically onboard applicants from Onboarding (and Recruiting) into Employee Central without manual intervention. Applicants not successfully hired through this process are flagged for manual processing, with alert icons indicating issues and providing relevant information. This streamlines the hiring process, reducing manual steps and improving overall efficiency.
SuccessFactors Compensation and Variable Pay
Among the array of improvements introduced in Compensation and Variable Pay in the 1H 2024 release, several standout features promise to streamline processes and elevate user experience. These highlights offer a glimpse into the broader scope of updates aimed at empowering administrators and enhancing transparency in compensation management:
- Multiple Language Support for Statement
Users now have the capability to enable multiple languages for generating compensation statements, offering greater flexibility to cater to diverse linguistic preferences. Language-specific text fields and compensation template fields can be seamlessly integrated into the statement templates.
- Preview Edited Statement
A new preview feature allows users to visualise changes made to statement templates before finalising them. This functionality enhances accuracy and ensures that statements meet the desired specifications.
- Rich Text Editor (RTE) Options
Enhanced RTE options for text fields provide users with additional flexibility in text editing, including the ability to incorporate images or tables into the content. This enriches the visual presentation of statements, making them more engaging and informative.
- Bulk Print of Statements
Users now have the convenience of bulk-printing statements directly from the compensation worksheets, similar to the functionality available in the Executive Review. This streamlines the printing process and improves efficiency for administrators handling large volumes of statements.
Image – Enhancements in Compensation Statement
SuccessFactors Performance & Goals Management
The 1H 2024 SAP SuccessFactors (SF) release brings significant updates to Performance & Goals Management, aimed at enhancing user experience and streamlining goal-related processes. These updates introduce new features and improvements to SAP SF, empowering users with greater control and visibility over feedback requests and goal management. Here are a few key updates introduced in this release:
- Continuous Feedback Request Cards on the SAP SuccessFactors Home Page
Employees now receive feedback requests directly on the SAP SuccessFactors Home Page, streamlining the feedback process. They can promptly respond or decline invitations, ensuring timely feedback exchange.
Previously, feedback requests were only visible on the To-Do panel, leading to potential delays in response.
- Goal Weight Display in iOS and Android Mobile Apps
The SAP SuccessFactors Mobile apps for iOS and Android now display individual goal weights and total weight within goal plans. This feature enables users to track goal progress and weight distribution conveniently on their mobile devices.
- Goal Alignment Chart
The introduction of the goal alignment chart allows users to visualise the alignment of cascade goals. Users can access this feature from goal cards or the goal details view, facilitating better tracking of goal alignment and progress.
Previously, users could only configure the alignment chart for one goal plan template in each instance, limiting its usability.
Image – Goal Alignment Chart
SuccessFactors Succession & Career Development Planning
Significant enhancements have been introduced to SuccessFactors Succession & Career Development Planning module in this release. These updates aim to improve user experience, offer better guidance, and empower users to manage their career development more efficiently:
- Redesigned Goal Creation Options
Introduction of a new Goal Creation Options page, enhancing user context and navigation during goal creation.
Image – Redesigned Experience for Goal Creation Options
- Coaching Advisor Integration in Development Goals
Users can now select predefined content from Coaching Advisor for competency development, achieving feature parity with legacy Development Goals.
- Enhanced Career Worksheet
Redesigned Career Worksheet offers a more integrated platform for managing roles, skills, and aspirations, empowering users to track progress and explore career options efficiently.
SuccessFactors Learning Management System
The host of enhancements in 1H 2024 release to the Learning Management System (LMS) within SAP SuccessFactors is aimed at optimising the learning experience and empowering administrators. Here are the key updates among the many introduced:
- New Learning Home Page Displays Non-Required Assignments
Learners now have visibility into learning assignments designated as non-required items by administrators and managers. The revamped learning home page showcases a list of learning cards tailored to learners’ specific needs, allowing them to explore assignments, bookmark them, or complete them at their discretion. This enhancement improves the user interface, creates a clear distinction between required and non-required courses, and reduces the likelihood of users missing mandatory training.
Image – New Learning Home Page Displays Non-Required Assignments
- Custom Cards in the New Learning Experience
Administrators gain the ability to create custom cards displayed for users in a dedicated section of the new Learning home page. With the capacity to store up to 100 custom cards, administrators can tailor learning experiences to meet specific business needs. Learners, in turn, benefit from personalised learning content, with support for translations and alternative text for images enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.
Opportunity Marketplace
The updates made to Opportunity Marketplace in the 1H 2024 release signify a concerted effort to refine and elevate the platform, offering users a more intuitive and streamlined approach to managing career opportunities. Here are some key highlights among the multitude of enhancements rolled out in this release:
- Accepting Opportunity Marketplace Assignments
Applicants can now conveniently accept Opportunity Marketplace Assignments directly from the Home Page. Assignment offers appear as to-do tasks in the ‘For You Today’ section, offering easier access to assignment details and consistent navigation.
- New AI Recommendations Sections
The addition of two new AI-powered recommendation sections, ‘Ignite Your Role’ and ‘Reach Your Aspirations’, empowers users to discover opportunities aligned with their career growth and skill development goals. Leveraging AI technology, users can find opportunities tailored to their individual career aspirations.
Image – New AI Recommendations Sections
- Enhanced User Experience in Opportunity Marketplace
User experience enhancements include attribute and capability filters, streamlined access to bookmarks and in-progress opportunities, and improved navigation for assignment management. These updates reflect SAP’s commitment to optimising the employee experience based on user feedback.
SuccessFactors Analytics
In the 1H 2024 SAP SF release, SuccessFactors People Analytics introduces significant enhancements aimed at improving reporting capabilities and providing valuable insights to users, such as:
- Reporting of Planned Working Time with Story Reports
Users can now generate reports on Planned working time directly within Story Reports.This feature enables users to create reports on employees’ planned working time for specific periods, incorporating work schedule information, temporary time data, and holidays, enhancing workforce management and planning.
Report Image – Reporting of Planned Working Time with Story Reports
- Availability of New Reporting Usage Data Schema in Story Reports
Story Reports now support reporting on Table and Tile and Dashboard usage. This enhancement facilitates the transition from legacy reporting tools to Story reporting by providing access to new schemas.
Exclusive eBook: Your essential guide to SAP SuccessFactors 1H 2024 release in HCM
The SAP SuccessFactors 1H 2024 release heralds a new era in Human Capital Management, marked by innovation and forward-thinking solutions. With each update and enhancement, SAP SuccessFactors reaffirms its commitment to empowering organisations to navigate the complexities of workforce management with confidence and agility.
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