Currently, we use it for payroll and to maintain our master data. As I explained earlier, the retail portion is still on SAP, and then we have the administration staff, like HR, finance, etcetera, which are on SuccessFactors and EC. Plus, we use HCM because payroll is on-prem. So, we operate on an on-prem and hybrid cloud model.
SAP specialist at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
A highly scalable tool used for payroll management and HR-related activities
Pros and Cons
- "I think HCM was the most stable for me...It is a very scalable product."
- "Managing changes in applications can be challenging since it complicates testing and unit testing, resulting in longer testing phases. This time-consuming process often leaves little room for actual work."
What is our primary use case?
What needs improvement?
I think that with the cloud's introduction and because of the new changes, SAP HCM will become dormant. The talent components in SAP HCM are not really viable anymore. One thing that I know is that SAP HCM has no workforce planning. But in the olden days, we had personnel planning, which worked very well for finance or budgeting. So if there was something similar to it in the solution, I'm not too sure about it since I haven't had all the exposure to workforce planning to see how different it works from personnel planning.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with SAP HCM since 2012. I am a customer of SAP HCM.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I think HCM was the most stable for me, but it's because I had experience with it. If I do two or three more implementations and you have to ask me the same question regarding its stability, I would give a different answer.
Buyer's Guide
SAP HCM
December 2025
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a very scalable product.
How are customer service and support?
In all honesty, I must admit that I haven't had any direct interaction with SAP's technical team. The credit for the successful implementation of upgrades, notes, and overall planning goes to the data teams I worked with since the collaboration with these teams and the individuals involved was always very good.
How was the initial setup?
We completed the planning, blueprint planning, config addition, and testing for the initial setup. We also incorporated the USB and provided support. Throughout the process, we focused on various areas of HCM, such as personnel administration, org management, personnel planning, qualification catalog, and skills catalog. We developed different views using third-party products for the old structure view, which worked across all platforms and publishers. As we progressed into TalentHR, SuccessFactors acquired that component, leading to its discontinuation in SAP development.
While "onboarding" typically refers to straightforward hiring, SuccessFactors introduced a distinct definition for it. Consequently, a considerable amount of customization development was involved in personnel management and administration. Additionally, I created a solution for employee wellness, an area where SuccessFactors is not particularly strong. When it comes to disability management and health and safety, SuccessFactors lacks the necessary features. In certain cases, government regulations in South Africa require the employment of disabled individuals. However, the onboarding process may not adequately cater to disabled individuals, such as those who use wheelchairs. Addressing disabilities is a significant aspect, and SAP would greatly benefit from creating a dedicated module for it.
Managing changes in applications can be challenging since it complicates testing and unit testing, resulting in longer testing phases. This time-consuming process often leaves little room for actual work. These are crucial factors that SAP should consider when evaluating their product, including upgrade releases. While providing updates to clients is essential, SAP should take additional steps to ensure a smoother process, potentially by creating a dedicated partner to handle these tasks instead of relying solely on implementing partners. SAP should also focus on delivering more presentations and sharing valuable content directly rather than leaving it solely to implementing partners.
I recently attended a presentation that impressed me, and I would appreciate receiving a copy as promised. During the session, I asked if the presentation would be made available, and the speaker confirmed it would be accessible afterward. However, I have not received anything yet. This is an area where SAP needs to improve by taking ownership and not relying solely on implementing partners to fulfill such commitments. SAP should have a dedicated partner responsible for managing and delivering content, focusing on forthcoming changes. This could include webinars where participants worldwide can access different speakers discussing specific localizations. For instance, if I want to listen to a presentation about localization in South Africa, I should be able to select the corresponding audio and video content. The presentations could be pre-recorded for ease of access, and having an individual available to answer questions during the session would be beneficial.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
HCM is cheaper than SuccessFactors. The only thing is that SAP is now threatened and has to stop doing the development. I can tell you this since if I didn't, a lot of people would stay on-prem, as we call it.
What other advice do I have?
It is a different story regarding the implementing partners because one has to differentiate between them and the product. A lot of times, the product gets a bad reputation because of the implementation partners and the knowledge that they bring to the table. I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
SAP HCM / SF Consultant at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's a good solution for payroll processing and live support is always available
Pros and Cons
- "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."
- "The talent modules are lacking in HCM, so I would recommend switching to SuccessFactors for talent management, but HCM excels at time management and payroll."
What is our primary use case?
This is an ERP product organizations use for running their HR. I'm an SAP consultant for the HCM module implementing the product for multiple organizations. We use SAP SF modules for talent management, and I am currently using SuccessFactors for work performance and goal management.
What is most valuable?
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.
What needs improvement?
The talent modules are lacking in HCM, so I would recommend switching to SuccessFactors for talent management, but HCM excels at time management and payroll.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using for I think four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate SAP HCM 10 out of 10.
How are customer service and support?
I rate SAP technical support nine out of 10. They're always available via live expert chats whenever we get stuck.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
I rate SAP HCM eight out of 10 for ease of setup. Deploying SAP HCM is easy for us, and we have experience implementing it for multiple organizations. When we first implemented HCM, we needed to spend some time studying tutorials, manuals, and knowledge bases. Now we are experienced, and we can implement any SAP process an organization needs. It's easy to adjust the configurations as needed.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I believe HCM is a little expensive, but I don't know the exact price because I'm involved with the sales team. However, I think the price must be reasonable because many organizations are migrating their current ERPs to SAP. It's excellent software, and the price is competitive.
What other advice do I have?
I rate SAP HCM 10 out of 10 for the current processes we are using. It's a complete module, and we have already migrated the talent management functions to SuccessFactors.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner / Integrator
Buyer's Guide
SAP HCM
December 2025
Learn what your peers think about SAP HCM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,768 professionals have used our research since 2012.
SAP HCM Professional at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Provides valuable process automation features and has a straightforward setup process
Pros and Cons
- "SAP HCM is a powerful program that can greatly benefit organizations with its comprehensive features and integrations."
- "The product significantly improved our organization by automating many processes, which reduced paperwork and provided clearer, more accurate goals and competencies."
What is our primary use case?
My primary use case for the solution was managing employee data and handling all payroll-related operations. It included managing employees from their entry into the company until their exit and resolving any errors within the system.
How has it helped my organization?
The product significantly improved our organization by automating many processes, which reduced paperwork and provided clearer, more accurate goals and competencies.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the SAP HCM solution was its integration with SuccessFactors, particularly the Performance Management feature. This integration allowed for effective employee performance and payroll data management.
What needs improvement?
The product could be improved in terms of cost. Additionally, having a reliable support partner who thoroughly understands our needs and can promptly address issues would enhance the overall user experience.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have worked with the SAP HCM solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Our experience with customer service and support was moderate. While the support provided by the vendor was helpful to some extent, some areas required improvement in terms of understanding our specific needs and providing timely solutions.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are planning to switch to a local program due to financial constraints.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. We followed the guide and translated our company's needs into the system, making the process smooth and manageable.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the solution with the assistance of a vendor team.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
SAP HCM is a powerful program that can greatly benefit organizations with its comprehensive features and integrations. However, companies should be mindful of the costs and ensure they have the necessary support infrastructure.
I rate it a nine.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Has a user-friendly dashboard and a valuable talent management feature
Pros and Cons
- "The platform is simple to use and has a user-friendly dashboard and integration features."
- "The product's license is very expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We use SAP HCM for recruitment and payment modeling features.
How has it helped my organization?
It is a valuable product that helps our company organize payment structure, recruitment, and talent management.
What is most valuable?
The platform is simple to use and has a user-friendly dashboard and integration features.
What needs improvement?
The product's license is very expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with SAP HCM for seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable platform. I rate the stability an eight.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our organization has 300 SAP HCM users working from the finance, administration, HR, and engineering departments. I rate the scalability a seven or eight. It is a scalable product.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support team is responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also use SAP S/4HANA, a business suite product from SAP. It enables financial, controlling, and material management.
How was the initial setup?
I am a technical expert, and thus, it is very simple to install for me. They have documentation to refer to. However, configuring HR processes, including reporting and workflow features, can be challenging. The deployment depends on the number of employees. It takes around three to six months to complete the process. We have a team of three technical executives. One resource can maintain the product. SAP also provides support to each customer for maintaining the application. They release updates every year.
What was our ROI?
The product generates a return on investment with the capability to develop and manage the talent in the company. It helps with detecting talent, employee rotation, and managing resources. We can make a decision on employee retention using SAP HCM.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is an expensive platform. The pricing depends upon the specific model and number of user accounts included in a bundle. The licenses for 1000 users might be less expensive than licenses for 100 users. We have to pay around 20% of the license cost for maintenance and support services for two years.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend SAP HCM to others. It is a very useful application that can centralize the management system. We can integrate it with S/4HANA for financial features.
I rate it an eight out of ten. I would not rate it a nine as it requires specific change management and deployment training. It is a new application, and users need to familiarize themselves with the functionality.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
HR Intern at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
A scalable solution that can be used to manage employee data like performance and payroll
Pros and Cons
- "All our employee data, like performance and payroll, is managed through SAP HCM."
- "SAP HCM's long and tedious transactions can be improved."
How has it helped my organization?
With SAP HCM, decision-making is very helpful. Every data that's related to our employees is stored in the solution. We are an organization of over 2,000 employees, and the solution has helped to maintain a database for everyone.
What is most valuable?
All our employee data, like performance and payroll, is managed through SAP HCM.
What needs improvement?
SAP HCM's long and tedious transactions can be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with SAP HCM since 2004.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We have never faced any stability issues with SAP HCM. We have an on-premises system and never faced any server issues or technical glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
SAP HCM is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and support?
SAP HCM's technical support was on point. I appreciate that every data we wanted, every help, reconfiguration, or customization we wanted in the system, happened as soon as the request was made.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What other advice do I have?
The system is now becoming outdated because it involves all the transactions and is very detail-oriented. We want to move towards the cloud solution they're offering.
The solution's maintenance happens weekly for us because we have a lot of customizations done in the system. We're directly in contact with the SAP facilitation team, and they do it for us, the local partners in Pakistan.
Before choosing SAP HCM, users should consider the transaction time, how the data is being configured, and how the data or report generation comes out for them.
Overall, I rate SAP HCM an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
SAP Delivery Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
A feature-dense enterprise-level solution that you can modify to suit your needs
Pros and Cons
- "We have features such as ABKRS based on the client's requirement, tariff and TMSTA, and so on."
- "There are already success factors for the cloud solution which cannot be integrated into S/4 HANA."
What is our primary use case?
We have different structures dealing with the enterprise, starting with enterprise structure, employee structure, payroll structure, and other structures in SAP Human Capital Management. We make these structures in SAP HCM and deal with organizational management and other information related to personnel administration, management, payroll, and personal actions. HR deals with different master and permanent data aspects. The administration aspects, the different functionalities, and the processing features in the personnel administration are necessary to define default values and business authorizations like decision-making. Other use cases include personnel calculation rules and different schemas, sub-schemas, rules, recruitment, e-recruitment, and time management, including positive and negative time management. SAP HCM is also important for payroll processes, including country-specific payroll. Training for event management is also a sub-module to prepare candidates for training events and event management, booking events at the company's internal cost. SAP HCM also covers employee and manager services. Along with that, integration interfaces, and human resources are reporting.
What is most valuable?
We have features such as ABKRS based on the client's requirement, tariff and TMSTA, and so on.
What needs improvement?
What cannot be facilitated through the product's standard functions can be done through development. Success factors also come into the picture in the new cloud management aspect and integrations. For instance, S/4HANA. The two aspects are development, with reports, interfaces, conversion, enhancement, prompts, and smart forms. The reporting aspect covers employee and manager self-service, anything the employee can do. Then there are already success factors for the cloud solution which cannot be integrated into S/4 HANA.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have worked with SAP HCM for about ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution has chain management, so it is scalable and climbing up. Some of my clients are smaller and medium-sized businesses, while others are enterprises.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not difficult. The time we take to deploy the solution depends purely on the project's scope, size, and budget. On average, it could take one to two years, but sometimes it can take longer or less time.
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment. In the long run, I need to check the depreciation. After calculating the depreciation on the cost of this solution, I can count the return on investment. Based on what the client invested in the project, SAP HCM is stretching as per their business process while minimizing their wastage. And as per the decision-making, clients can save a lot of revenue.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is cheap. Suppose a client can afford to purchase their software and hardware on-premises, even if it's expensive. In that case, that's okay because they can afford their agenda, which is an on-premises installation for security. And some clients who cannot afford the same, but allocate it to a business expansion, can choose either a private cloud or public cloud, sometimes operating in a hybrid mode. Some clients can pay a subscription if they want to go for a certain route.
What other advice do I have?
Now and then, SAP changes as per the requirement. Earlier, it was ECC, and some clients still run on databases with limited aspect software. In 2012, they came up with S/4HANA. I'm comfortable with the previous one and the new one, S/4HANA, including on-prem and on the cloud.
I rate the solution a ten out of ten because clients have received a return on investment.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
SAP HCM Senior Consultant at a sports company with 10,001+ employees
The solution has powerful capabilities for managing small, medium, and large businesses, but we want to receive frequent updates as well
Pros and Cons
- "They provide the most stable and powerful technology in the areas of human resources, information systems, and ERP."
- "The setup comes with a set of challenges as well."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for organizational management, personal administration, time tracking, etc. It helps us integrate file management with payrolls and the payroll cycle.
What is most valuable?
The solution has powerful capabilities for managing small, medium, and large businesses. They provide the most stable and powerful technology in the areas of human resources, information systems, and ERP.
What needs improvement?
We aim to keep business and business scenarios updated and customized within the system. Thus, we want to receive frequent updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution since 2013.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
A survey within our corporation describes HCM as a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's support team always addresses our problems very well.
How was the initial setup?
We know that HCM serves a specific field of business and a specific corporation with particular needs. It comes with a set of challenges as well. The biggest challenge for us was re-engineering our business processes to match the standards of HCM in best practice. We eventually implemented most of our processes successfully.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution as a seven.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Service Delivery Project Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
High performance, high availability, but more resources needed
Pros and Cons
- "SAP HCM has a good performance."
- "SAP HCM could improve by having more resources and making it more user-friendly. It is complex."
What is our primary use case?
SAP HCM is used by our clients for all their business processes, such as HR, finance, procurement, and supply chains.
What is most valuable?
SAP HCM has a good performance.
What needs improvement?
SAP HCM could improve by having more resources and making it more user-friendly. It is complex.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SAP HCM for approximately 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of SAP HCM is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
SAP HCM is a scalable solution.
We have over 20 clients using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
The support services are not good for SAP HCM. It could be faster.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used other solutions, such as Oracle.
How was the initial setup?
The initial implementation of SAP HCM is complicated. It's complicated for users and for implementers. It took a lot of time to do the implementation. For example, to do the complete UK payroll implementation, can take approximately nine months.
What about the implementation team?
The amount of people we need to support the solution depends on the project, but per client support, you need approximately 10 people to support one client.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost of SAP HCM is high, the license should be reduced. SAP HCM has a lot of hidden costs.
What other advice do I have?
There are two people have to do before implementing SAP HCM. One is the license cost. SAP HCM has a lot of hidden costs. They charge per module, they should be aware of what exactly they are going to use. They have to be clear about whether SAP HCM is a good solution for them or possibly another one, such as Oracle.
I rate SAP HCM a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
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Updated: December 2025
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