ADP Workforce Now vs SAP HCM vs UKG comparison

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89% willing to recommend

ADP Workforce Now

SAP HCM

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between ADP Workforce Now, SAP HCM, and UKG based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Workday, SAP, Oracle and others in Cloud HCM.

To learn more, read our detailed Cloud HCM Report (Updated: August 2025).

Cloud HCM

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Helped 865,670 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Cloud HCM category, the mindshare of ADP Workforce Now is 1.4%, down from 1.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP HCM is 10.2%, down from 17.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of UKG is 5.6%, up from 5.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud HCM

Featured Reviews

Vineeth John

Director, People & Culture at a agriculture with 201-500 employees

Custom reporting tool with field grabber, easy modules for recruitment and provides numerous options for integration

The complexity is the key challenge with a tool like ADP because it has all the bells and whistles and all the key features you can possibly think of. If it isn't there, there's always a third-party vendor you can integrate that way. But the only issue is that because it's complex, there needs to be some sort of system, at least on the back end, for the admins to understand what leads to what. We expect AI to improve multiple things with HR processes. The most obvious and common one would be the self-service function for employees, like a chatbot to help with FAQs. We are also building an AI tool that can possibly help managers make better talent management decisions. This tool will pull from the performance management tool, the talent profile, and the reports that we generally have to score employees across all different dimensions.

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Renelia Villanueva

Vice President & Group Head- People & Workplace Management at Alorica

Efficient payroll processing with comprehensive attendance management

I am currently heading the payroll benefits and HRIS team here in Manila. We are using SAP HCM on-premises, and we implemented SuccessFactors focusing on Employee Central and GMPM SAP HCM has helped a lot due to the always changing government regulations pertaining to taxation, social security…

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Talia Jean Paul

Global HR UKG Specialist at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

Affordable but needs to improve its stability

Our company is testing the UKG Ready Mobile App, but there are some glitches. I feel that in the system when you log on to Kronos, UKG Dimensions, and UKG Workforce Central, we have different modules in different versions. With regards to the newer version, I feel the older version, which was UKG Workforce Central, was more user-friendly for the end user as opposed to the newer version, which looks a bit more complicated. When training someone who wants implementations to be done, it would be easier if you could hover above certain things, and it shows you or tells you exactly what it is. There are certain SAP modules that can be audible. If you click on it if someone is being a bit slow with regards to training, the tool will tell you what needs to be done and what needs not to be done by you, but for us, it is fine because we are in the back end with configuration and the administrators. I am talking about the need for improvements in the tool for the benefit of the end users. The explanation on UKG's community consists of training manuals and some of the other stuff that we use, and we send to our supervisors at the site. With the tool in place, catching onto white-collared employees is quicker. The tool is not quick to catch onto certain blue-collared employees in the plant or supervisors who are actually working with machinery and stuff because they are not as computer-centric as white-collared employees. If I could scan the tool across the globe with our site supervisors, there are a few loopholes in the tool. There are some issues with the tool's stability. For me, I would like someone who is building the system in the back end to know if a front-end user can manipulate the system. I am not going to rate the tool's scalability to be high. I would rate the tool's scalability to be at a mediocre level or at something like 50 percent, so there is a lot of room for improvement.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The way that ADP helped us improve our organization is by making the payroll process clean and efficient because if you make a mistake there, you're in big trouble."

"The most interesting feature for me on ADP is the custom reporting tool. It's got something called a field grabber, which makes it so much easier to generate your own custom reports simply by pulling tabs from any feature."

"It is a scalable solution."

"In my day-to-day work, attendance tracking would be most important. That's because I have a really diverse group of employees, and I have a subset of younger folks who are struggling with their attendance. So, that's the thing that I'm most involved with currently."

"The most valuable features are the reporting and benefits piece."

"The most valuable feature to me is performance management because we just started using that."

"The platform is on a private cloud that is fully secure with no way for hacker penetration."

"When you maintain your data in SAP, you can generate any kind of HR report with one click."

"It has the best data management features."

"The payroll and time management features are useful."

"Sometimes, employees may have pending requests that need approval, so you should check those and clear any errors to ensure smooth processing."

"The functions are really important in the product in ReadyNodes."

"The feature I like most in SAP HCM is its effectiveness for talent management."

"The tool's most valuable features for our HR operations include easy reporting capabilities, which allow us to generate reports for management meetings and auditing purposes. Additionally, it supports appointment preparation and processing benefits."

"HCM is a very important module that each organization should want to use. It will help any organization to calculate and control the cost of their human resources."

More SAP HCM pros

"It enables us to manage the system ourselves. We don't need an additional team to do a lot of maintenance and add the things that we want."

"We use the tool for various functions, including payroll, HR, recruiting, onboarding, and workforce management. We've implemented all these modules across all the clients I've worked with."

"The tool improved employee onboarding efficiency, especially in healthcare, where timely onboarding is crucial. This change directly impacted retention rates positively. It was a massive project that involved various teams working together. It took about a year to revamp the entire process and ensure compliance. However, once implemented, it improved employee satisfaction by saving them two whole days in the onboarding process."

"The setup process is straightforward."

"UKG allows us to customize our home screen so that we can easily monitor important items on a daily basis."

"The solution has improved our organization by helping us cut hours and lessen our labor force. It saved us probably over $100,000 in just the last couple of years."

"The fact that I can see the whole HR information in a single point is valuable. There is a unified view of everything, which is good. Previously, we had many different systems for each part of the information. Now, it is all centralized. It is very good."

"The solution's UI is good. Also, it is very easy to use."

More UKG pros

Cons

"Its benefits portal could be user-friendly."

"When I'm not working with the implementation team and I'm just talking to customer service or something, they're just not a lot of help. They don't understand how it works. They'll tell you to do something that I know would affect something else. So, it's less about the software and more about just training their folks to a higher level."

"The complexity is the key challenge with a tool like ADP ."

"I would like to see the payroll side improved and there are a few kinks that need to be worked out."

"The report functionality is not as good as competitive products."

"The ease of developing and creating reports could definitely use some improvement."

"The customer support from SAP is reasonable, yet I would rate it five out of ten."

"The limitation of HCM compared to new-era human capital management solutions is the cost."

"SAP is not ready to sell the license on time and delays the progress of projects. It's better to work with a competitor like Oracle. Those that are selling the product just go through powerpoints and don't have the knowledge necessary to sell. They can't answer any questions."

"The organizational structure visualization could be improved in future releases. The solution has a very poor interface."

"It takes a long time to apply an update patch to the system."

"The breadth of functionality offered by SAP HCM comes at a cost."

"Its reporting feature could have customization options."

"I would like it to move more towards a single data space, a single data source. SAP as a platform relies on multiple data sources because traditionally, it's been bolted together by the acquisition of other products rather than a single database. That's why there are lots of points of failure and lots of required points of integration. They need a single integration point."

More SAP HCM cons

"Reporting is always a hurdle for any user just because it is so extensive. They provide a lot of out-of-the-box reports, but it is something that you always need to work on because you need more advanced writing of reports."

"The solution could improve by simplifying it even more core reports, such as more sample reports, more generic reports that you can edit and improve on yourself."

"I would like to see more functionality in the next release to be able to get hours and dollars per calendar month rather than just by payroll in the Business Intelligence reports."

"The platform's features need enhancement while being used as a recruiting tool."

"The system is slow sometimes."

"The product's integration features need improvement."

"The solution could use better reporting with standard reports. We use the Cognos platform in BI for a lot of our reporting. However, they need to have more robust standard reporting available to their user base."

"Certainly, the time and attendance and the payroll integration need a lot of work. They are disjointed pieces, and they don't work smoothly together. That's the main drawback."

More UKG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I give the pricing a seven out of ten."

"It is expensive."

"I know some of what we're currently paying. Most customers would say it's too high, but I don't have a comparison to know that."

"The pricing is expensive and I would say it is below average for the value it provides based on the high cost."

"The solution is expensive."

"The solution is expensive and everyone complains about the price."

"We have an annual license for this solution, and the price depends on the number of users."

"The pricing depends upon the specific model and number of user accounts included in a bundle."

"HCM is cheaper than SuccessFactors."

"The pricing is really high."

"The cost of SAP HCM is high, the license should be reduced. SAP HCM has a lot of hidden costs."

"The cost depends on the size of the organization. Compared to others, I'd say Oracle is number one, followed by Workday and SAP HCM."

"Licensing is pretty complex. SAP does not have a straight forward way of licensing, and it differs from client to client."

"For implementation, SAP offers little support unless you buy SAP Safeguarding from SAP Consulting."

More SAP HCM pricing and cost advice

"I wasn't involved in the pricing part. I'm a user, and I believe it is based on the user count. One thing that is nice about Ultimate is that you can learn how to use the system without additional fees. The learning aspect is the life of a product, and the training was a huge reason why we went with Ultimate. We did have some integration costs. They were a part of the implementation because of the integrations to other systems that we included in our implementation."

"UKG's pricing and licensing model involves ongoing expenses based on the number of employees paid. The initial implementation cost is low when UKG implements it directly. However, when partners handle the implementation, it becomes more expensive since partners don't receive the monthly recurring fees."

"The platform is not affordable but also not the most expensive."

"The pricing depends on the number of licenses we buy."

"If you're going for the full suite, it can be fairly pricey."

"While I am unsure of the licensing cost itself, the total cost of implementation and licensing for a company with over 5000 employees would be around 6,00,000. So, there are additional costs beyond licensing."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ADP Workforce Now?

The licensing is on the pricer side, given that there aren't a lot of other tools out there that are applicable, we j...

What needs improvement with ADP Workforce Now?

The complexity is the key challenge with a tool like ADP because it has all the bells and whistles and all the key fe...

What advice do you have for others considering ADP Workforce Now?

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. It's got a lot of features. The reason I'm not giving it a fu...

What do you like most about SAP HCM?

SAP HCM is the one of the best ERP for an organization with a small to large scale business. It has the most efficien...

What do you like most about SAP HCM?

HCM is a very important module that each organization should want to use. It will help any organization to calculate ...

What is better, SAP HCM or SAP SuccessFactors?

When it comes to user experience, SuccessFactors is unquestionably superior, as it provides end users with a new expe...

What needs improvement with UKG?

UKG needs more publicity. It is a productive ERP ( /categories/erp ) application, but many people in the IT market ar...

What is your primary use case for UKG?

I worked for a healthcare organization and a university. Most organizations use UKG ( /products/ukg-reviews ) to trac...

What advice do you have for others considering UKG?

Publicity is very important for any software. If people aren't aware of UKG, despite its productivity, they won't use...

Workday vs ADP Workforce Now

Comparisons

Compared 16% of the time

ADP GlobalView Payroll vs ADP Workforce Now

Compared 13% of the time

PeopleSoft vs ADP Workforce Now

Compared 12% of the time

ADP TotalSource vs ADP Workforce Now

Compared 11% of the time

Oracle HCM Cloud vs ADP Workforce Now

Compared 7% of the time

More ADP Workforce Now Competitors

SAP SuccessFactors vs SAP HCM

Compared 33% of the time

Workday vs SAP HCM

Compared 19% of the time

Oracle HCM Cloud vs SAP HCM

Compared 14% of the time

ADP GlobalView Payroll vs SAP HCM

Compared 11% of the time

P&I LogaHR vs SAP HCM

Compared 5% of the time

More SAP HCM Competitors

Workday vs UKG

Compared 24% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs UKG

Compared 15% of the time

Dayforce HCM vs UKG

Compared 9% of the time

PeopleSoft vs UKG

Compared 6% of the time

Atlas vs UKG

Compared 3% of the time

More UKG Competitors

Product Reports

ADP Workforce Now

Download ADP Workforce Now product report

SAP HCM

Download SAP HCM product report

Download UKG product report

Also Known As

No data available

SAP Human Capital Management

UKG Pro, UKG Dimensons, UKG Ready

Overview

ADP Workforce Now is a web-based, complete HR suite that integrates the essential payroll and human resource management procedures into a single database-driven platform. This safe and simple solution gives you everything you need to maximize your workforce and communicate with your staff.

ADP Workforce Now is designed specifically for your company's needs. As a result, the menus and menu selections you see will differ depending on your function and the services your firm uses. As a portal administrator, you customize the site and control what employees can view and do. You can design your site's theme, set approval and notification processes, and manage security groups.

ADP Workforce Now includes these useful capabilities:

Payroll computation and tax filing
Performance regulation
Compensation handling
Talent acquisition
Time and labor logistics
Benefits governance
Analytics
Total management of human resources

ADP Workforce Now Features

ADP Workforce Now has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Single dashboard, single database: Manage your whole workforce from a single dashboard, which is powered by a single database, ensuring that the relevant data is always available when you need it.
- Get a complete HR suite that includes payroll, time, HR, talent, and benefits all in one place.
- Enter data once and it will function across all workflows
- With proactive error detection and can't-miss alerts, you can cut down on mistakes.
- Protect your business with enterprise-grade data security privacy procedures and extensive compliance experience.

Powerful analytics and reporting: With a single database that connects your entire firm, you can access all of your data in one location.
- Create better reports in less time, without ever leaving the page you're on.
- Make use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to help you make confident decisions based on personalized information.

Robust management of HR: Spend less time on paperwork and more time on managing and improving your employees.
- Workflows can be customized, and documents can be stored online.
- Self-service functionalities enable employees and supervisors to be more productive and collaborative.
Customized service and implementation: ADP Workforce Now offers community and chat support and a dedicated implementation team.

In-house implementation by a team of professionals who understand how to optimize the solution for your industry.
For all your questions, ADP Workforce Now offers quick response support, training, and in-product resources.
Client-service specialists with years of experience offer deep knowledge and skills to assist, secure, and support your business.
Flexible service choices can assist your company in navigating strategic and tactical changes, as well as continual system optimization.

ADP

SAP HCM is a benefits administration solution that has a comprehensive set of tools and features for managing and optimizing all aspects of human resources. SAP HCM covers various HR functions including payroll, time and attendance management, talent management, succession planning, and employee performance evaluation.

The goal of SAP HCM is to help organizations streamline HR processes, improve workforce productivity and efficiency, and support strategic HR decision-making. With SAP HCM, HR departments can manage employee data, track and analyze key HR metrics, and automate various HR processes to save time and resources. It is widely used by large organizations across various industries.

SAP HCM Features

SAP HCM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Personnel administration: With SAP HCM, users can manage employee master data, such as personal details, employment contracts, and job information.

Payroll: The solution provides automation of payroll processes, including tax calculation, payment generation, and reporting.

Time and attendance management: Automated tracking and management of employee time and attendance help users streamline HR processes.

Talent management: SAP HCM includes tools for recruiting, onboarding, training, and development of employees.

Succession planning: With this feature, users can plan and manage employee career development and succession within the organization.

Performance and goal management: SAP HCM is designed with performance evaluation, goal setting, and development planning for employees.

Compliance management: SAP HCM offers management of legal and regulatory requirements related to HR processes.

Reporting and analytics: Generation of reports and analysis of key HR metrics help support decision-making.

Integrations: The solution has integration with other SAP modules, such as SAP Finance and SAP Supply Chain, that provide a comprehensive solution for HR management.

SAP HCM Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing SAP HCM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Improved HR processes: The solution’s automation of HR processes, helps reduce manual effort and increases efficiency.

Better data management: SAP HCM provides centralized management of employee data, improving data accuracy and reducing the risk of errors.

Increased productivity: Because the solution streamlines HR processes, it frees up HR staff to focus on other strategic tasks.

Improved compliance: SAP HCM helps businesses reduce the risk of non-compliance by making legal and regulatory requirements related to HR processes easy and manageable.

Better decision-making: Access to real-time HR data and analytics enables data-driven decision-making.

Increased transparency: SAP HCM improves visibility into HR processes, enabling HR departments to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.

Better employee engagement: The solution’s provision of self-service options for employees improves employee satisfaction and engagement.

Cost control: SAP HCM’s automation of HR processes reduces costs associated with manual HR processes.

Talent management: The solution’s tools for attracting, retaining, and developing employees increase overall workforce productivity and effectiveness.

Reviews from Real Users

SAP HCM is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it has good payroll and personnel administration, it’s a powerful tool for maintaining company data, and has valuable SuccessFactors talent modules.

According to Dave D., Project Manager at Telecom Namibia, “[SAP HCM] allows us to do all of our HR management processes, including payroll and personnel administration.” He also adds, “Technical support is excellent."

“I think that it's a very powerful tool for maintaining your company data. When you maintain your data in SAP, you can generate any kind of HR report with one click,” says Sameer Y., Team Leader at Fauji Meat Limited.

Another PeerSpot reviewer, Arsala A., SAP HCM / SF Consultant at a computer software company, explains what she likes most about SAP HCM: "Payroll processing is my favorite HCM feature, and I like all the SuccessFactors talent modules also. SAP is making good progress on enhancements to the features in the SF modules."

SAP

At UKG, our purpose is people — real people with real challenges, and a simple request. Help me keep my employees productive, connected, and happy. So that’s what we did.

We’ve created an unmatched suite of HR and workforce management solutions, backed by our people who care about yours. Our solutions deliver global workforce experiences that truly reflect the connection between life and work today. That means insights are deeper. Work is easier. And interactions are more meaningful.