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NontokozoKunene - PeerSpot reviewer
Professional Officer at The National Research Foundation of South Africa
Real User
Top 20
Enables us to understand the employee processes from hiring to departure
Pros and Cons
  • "Sometimes, employees may have pending requests that need approval, so you should check those and clear any errors to ensure smooth processing."

    What is our primary use case?

    I learned SAP through a structured program, which laid the foundation for deeper engagement with Android development. SAP HCM is a vast platform offering ample opportunities for exploration and learning. It is easy to use and easy to learn.

    How has it helped my organization?

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

    What is most valuable?

    It's highly flexible, allowing you to understand the employee processes from hiring to departure. Additionally, you can access comprehensive information. It essentially structures the employees and their data to achieve organizational goals efficiently.

    What needs improvement?

    If SAP could streamline the onboarding process directly, it would be more efficient.

    Buyer's Guide
    SAP HCM
    May 2025
    Learn what your peers think about SAP HCM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
    857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using SAP HCM for three years. I'm working under the HR system checking employee and personal data for employees.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    200 people are using this solution.

    I rate the solution’s scalability a ten out of ten.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    SAP HCM isn't always a standalone solution for recruitment. I also utilize Workday, which serves us well. When we hire someone using a platform different from ours, it integrates into SAP HCM. Then, we manage the data and verify if the employee was hired correctly, including personal data, background checks, and bank details. It doesn't facilitate much employee engagement. We are assigned to manage the data equipment via FedEx.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is easy and takes a day to complete. It was done in-house.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The solution is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    You can use SAP HCM to streamline your organization's payroll processes. Integration is complicated if you want to integrate it with different teams.

    I recommend the solution.
    Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Andrews Raj - PeerSpot reviewer
    Vice President at Chain-Sys Corporation
    Real User
    Top 10
    A stable solution that provides good reporting and can be used for payroll and core HR
    Pros and Cons
    • "We are satisfied with the reporting by SAP HCM."
    • "We find some challenges in the integration between SAP HCM and SAP SuccessFactors."

    What is our primary use case?

    SAP HCM is used for payroll and core HR.

    What is most valuable?

    We are satisfied with the reporting by SAP HCM.

    What needs improvement?

    We find some challenges in the integration between SAP HCM and SAP SuccessFactors.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using SAP HCM for nine years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    SAP HCM is a stable solution.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    SAP HCM has very good scalability. Our clients for SAP HCM are enterprise businesses.

    I rate the solution an eight out of ten for scalability.

    How are customer service and support?

    Sometimes, we get fast responses from the solution's technical support. However, the technical support team's response time is sometimes very slow.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Neutral

    How was the initial setup?

    Implementing the solution in core HR and payroll for managed services and employee-managed services is not straightforward.

    On a scale from one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy, I rate the solution's initial setup a four out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate SAP HCM an eight to nine out of ten for its user experience and ease of use when navigating HCM modules.

    Overall, I rate SAP HCM an eight out of ten.

    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: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    SAP HCM
    May 2025
    Learn what your peers think about SAP HCM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
    857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    reviewer1338723 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Head of Sales and Marketing at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Efficient payroll functionality
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is a scalable solution. There are three administrators maintaining the solution: an HR person, a payroll person, and one backup."
    • "The breadth of functionality offered by SAP HCM comes at a cost."

    What is our primary use case?

    Our primary need is for payroll processing, which is why we rely heavily on SAP HCM.

    What is most valuable?


    What needs improvement?

    One area that could be improved is the time-tracking and attendance system. We currently have an external system that uploads the data into SAP HCM.

    We recently launched the system on a mobile app, and people have become accustomed to it. It's been easy for them, so we don't want to ask them to change to something else. We don't want to make too many changes too often.

    Other than that, I find SAP HCM quite convenient and easy to use. The only issue so far is with the pricing.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for ten years. I am currently using the Hana version and HCM module. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a stable solution. I would rate it a nine out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is a scalable solution. There are three administrators maintaining the solution: an HR person, a payroll person, and one backup.

    How are customer service and support?

    The customer service and support was good. There were very helpful.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We were thinking of switching to a SuccessFactors solution. Due to some cloud issues there, we are sticking to the on-premise model for HCM

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup for SAP HCM was straightforward for the most part. The entire deployment process took more than six months. The payroll setup was done quite well.

    What about the implementation team?

    We took help from an IBM consultant for the HCM module, they were quite helpful. The deployment process had a blueprint that we followed. We checked the blueprint against some scenarios. Once everything looked good, we went ahead and launched the deployment.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price of SAP HCM is really high, which is why many people choose not to use it. The licensing cost and other associated expenses can be a deterrent. It is an area that needs to be looked at.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We have been interested in using SAP HCM from the beginning because they have their own software. Currently, we have a separate appraisal system and recruitment system. We are exploring how we can integrate them with the SAP HCM platform.

    However, we have encountered issues with cost and cloud compatibility. We might just use it for payroll and continue using different modules for other HR functions.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice for those looking to implement SAP HCM is to create a detailed blueprint beforehand, and this will make the process much smoother. It's critical to communicate clearly with your consultant and provide specific details about your required reports and outputs.

    Overall, I would rate SAP HCM an eight out of ten. However, it would be even better if the solution were more cost-effective so people could also test other modules. Users should be allowed more uploads and ease of use, and users should be able to adapt to SAP HCM quickly.

    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.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1466862 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Manager Finance at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Stable and scalable but is fairly expensive
    Pros and Cons
    • "We've found that the solution has the capability to scale."
    • "The solution is rather expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    We primarily use the solution for automating HR processes.

    What is most valuable?

    The product has been very stable overall.

    We've found that the solution has the capability to scale. 

    What needs improvement?

    The solution is rather expensive.

    I'd like to see the solution offer even more stability in future releases.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been on the solution for many years. We started using it originally in 2013. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability of the solution is pretty good overall. It's reliable and the performance is good. It doesn't crash or freeze. There are no bugs or glitches. It's good.

    That said, stability is an area that can be constantly improved upon.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability of the solution is okay. It's possible to expand it. that's not a problem.

    We have about 20 to 30 people using the product within our organization.

    We do not plan to increase usage. We are not planning to continue to use it at all. We are moving away from it entirely.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I've never been in touch with technical support at all. I have no idea if they respond quickly or if they are knowledgeable enough about the product. I can't give any insights due to my lack of experience dealing with them directly.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    While we are currently using SAP HCM, we are in the process of scrapping it and moving over to SAP SuccessFactors.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I do not have very good knowledge of the pricing itself. It's not an aspect of the solution I directly deal with. However, it's my understanding that the cost is quite high.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate the solution at a six out of ten. 

    We're actually moving away from it currently, and are in the process of doing so right now.

    I would not necessarily recommend the solution to other users or organizations. There are other options on the market that may be more suitable.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Applications Specialist at Bidvest Tank Terminals
    Real User
    Good personnel administration features, but the setup is complex and it should be more user-friendly
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is the Personnel Administration."
    • "The speed of technical support can be improved."

    What is our primary use case?

    The primary use case is as an HR and payroll system that is used to manage our organization.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature is the Personnel Administration.

    What needs improvement?

    The Time Management feature is not very user-friendly.

    The speed of technical support can be improved.

    The configuration requires somebody with technical know-how, and it would be better if it were easier to do.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using SAP HCM for two years, since 2018.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    This is a stable product.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    SAP HCM is scalable.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I wouldn't say that the technical support is the greatest. They take quite a long time to respond to issues.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is complex. The deployment took between six and eight months. It is not an instant process.

    What about the implementation team?

    We used consultants to assist with the deployment.

    What other advice do I have?

    This is a product that I can recommend. 

    I would rate this solution a seven 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.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1406562 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Owner & Founder at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
    Real User
    Provides talent, recruitment, and learning features, but needs a single integration point and modern architecture
    Pros and Cons
    • "I like the talent, recruitment, and learning features the most."
    • "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."

    What is most valuable?

    I like the talent, recruitment, and learning features the most.

    What needs improvement?

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

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We are using SAP SuccessFactors. I know of and have been exposed to SAP for about 10 years.

    I work with companies to determine whether SAP needs to be replaced or not. I do transformation programs. These transformation programs determine whether the existing system is SAP, whether it's fit for the purpose, and whether it should be changed to something like Workday because of the features Workday has. I don't physically use the product.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I wouldn't say so. We, as a company, experience regular problems with it.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is scalable.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I have not personally dealt with them.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    SAP is extremely expensive. The integration costs and customization costs are also a lot.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend a more modern version of it. My experience of SAP is with earlier versions. SAP is an aging system, so it doesn't stack up against tools like Workday.

    I would rate SAP HCM a seven out of ten, but it really depends on the use cases. It depends on why and for what a company is implementing SAP. There are many elements of SAP.

    I don't think it would ever get to a ten in my view because there are other products that are better than this and work in a much easier, simpler fashion. As a product, SAP is very complicated and complex to use. The only thing to do is to move towards a more modern architecture for SAP. I don't think that's ever going to happen, so I wouldn't ever give it a 10.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Executive Manager & CO. Founder at Phoenix Consulting
    Vendor
    Some capabilities are self-service for the employees which cuts down on administrative time
    Pros and Cons
    • "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."
    • "SAP now does the most innovation for the cloud solution and less innovation for the on-premises client."

    What is our primary use case?

    I'm an SAP consultant and I have companies in Egypt and France that do SAP consultancy. We are specialists in SAP activities, SAP implementation, network building for HCM finance controlling, warehouse management, SAP retail plus migration of projects, BI, and strategic management. We have all these capabilities in our company and use them to help clients make the most of their SAP HCM implementations.  

    Human Capital Management is a powerful tool for organization management. It helps to define the organizational structure and support the company. It helps with the administration of things like maintaining employee information, tracking education and learning, administering insurance and healthcare, and all other facets of human resources. It helps monitor a lot of things that would otherwise take a lot of time and effort to make them not just easier, but automated.  

    One of the most powerful tools in SAP is its integration with finance and other modules. Some of the capabilities are self-service for the employees which cut down on administrative time. For example, scheduling vacation leaves is done by the employee directly and the notification process and approval are all automated.  

    The most interesting change to SAP is that it is now all available on the cloud. Before it was only on-premises. Cloud offers a lot more opportunity as well as potential cost reduction.  

    My partners in the company were already leading HR consultants in the market in the Middle East when we formed our company. They were working with HCM locally in the Gulf and the Middle East. Our company has around six to seven permanently employed HR consultants. We sometimes use freelancers depending on the volume of our work and commitments.  

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable features have to do with finance and payroll. Some organizations — like banking, insurance, and the government — are regulated and can not or do not want to host their critical financial data and employee data on the cloud. What we are doing right now for clients of this sort is we split the implementation to their advantage. We put financial and personal information management on-premises and the other information which is not critical — like learning, performance and setting goals — goes on cloud and we integrate those solutions. We use the cloud when data is not critical for security purposes and when it is not confidential. This can save the client money.  

    What needs improvement?

    This product has a lot of features that are much improved and more advanced than other solutions. In our area of the Gulf region and the Middle East, a lot of organizations depend on it because it meets with regulation compliance and security concerns. So government and banking depend on the SAP HCM solution for administration on-premises.  

    SAP had developed new screens for the latest release of SAP HANA for HR on the cloud. They are doing the most innovation for HR on the cloud. So, there are some screens right now for both on-premises and cloud but the company is focused mostly on cloud development. A lot of the clients who deal with regulations must currently stay with on-premises solutions for critical data. SAP needs to continue trying from time-to-time to develop and release some new screens and new tools for HR on-premise that facilitate the working and interaction with the interface. They should do this in parallel with the cloud. Instead, they are leaving the on-premises customers behind.  

    For the next release of HCM, I would like to see more interactive screens and parallel development for on-prem and cloud. SAP now does the most innovation for the cloud solution and less innovation for the on-premises client. In our experience and with our clients almost all customers depend on the on-premises solution for sensitive data — either by choice or regulation. It would be nice to see a mobile interface as well.  

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using the solution collectively since before we opened our HR company in 2015. One of my partners started working in HR in 2003 and the other one started in 2006. We are all experienced in SAP HCM.  

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    We have never had any issues with the stability. We have no complaints as users and I have never heard any complaints from my customers.  

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It seems to me that it should be obvious that this product is very scalable just because it is made by SAP.  

    How are customer service and technical support?

    It is easy to contact technical support and get help. Within the license model, you are paying 22% of your license fees per year to SAP for their support. There is a marketplace for SAP that you will have access to. You will go to that marketplace with any issue to open your tickets. You can set the severity and urgency of the issue by selecting it on the form. Then you submit the ticket to SAP and according to the severity, SAP will contact you and try to solve the issue with you.  

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is not just the installation. It is also the business process configuration. This is what will take more time. An expert is required to set up many things properly. Someone who expert in HR and knows the business of HR and the business processes, but also has to know the region. If the person doing the configuration knows the laws and how to perfect configuration for the user group, it will be easy for him and better for the company after implementation. But if the person doing the configuration is not an expert, does not know the laws and how the HR process works, it will be difficult for him, it will take longer, and the customer will not be happy with the results.  

    To deploy HCM, getting the setup right depends on the organization and attention to detail. If it is an organization with 500 employees and the solution will be used for payroll, personal administration and organization management, it could take something like four months to install this and configure it properly. This is if the guys doing the installation are experts in HR and the configuration of SAP.  

    What about the implementation team?

    We are the people who do the implementation and consultation and that is because we have worked a long time in the field and have become experts. Almost every customer who is coming to this product without knowing it well and what the capabilities are needs to seek the help of an integrator or consultant.  

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The cost may differ from region to region, but here in the Middle East, you pay per license. There not any costs in addition to the standard licensing fees. 

    SAP HCM is on-prem. SAP has another solution which is called SuccessFactors. It is on the cloud and by subscription only. So SAP has two solutions, the one on cloud is SuccessFactors and HCM on-prem. SAP is pushing for clients to go to SuccessFactors right now. The cloud solution may save some people money.  

    What other advice do I have?

    At this time in the competitive business world, 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. Human capital management allows control of when you want employees to work when you don't want them to work and keeps you aware of when they will be on leave so that their responsibilities will be covered by someone else. Businesses have to plan for things like this. A lot of things affect human capital and that can affect the course of an organization.  

    On a scale from one to ten where one is the worst and ten is the best, I would rate HCM around nine out of ten. It is not a ten because of the issues with the interface development.  

    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: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer772467 - PeerSpot reviewer
    SAP Consultant at a educational organization with 11-50 employees
    Consultant
    A good user interface and an overall good solution but the implementation can be difficult
    Pros and Cons
    • "The user interface is the solution's most valuable feature. It makes it easy for us to use."
    • "The implementation of the solution can be a bit difficult. They should make it easier. If it could be as simple as the SuccessFactors implementation that would be ideal."

    What is our primary use case?

    We primarily use the solution for company payroll, evaluations, and assessments.

    What is most valuable?

    The user interface is the solution's most valuable feature. It makes it easy for us to use.

    What needs improvement?

    The implementation of the solution can be a bit difficult. They should make it easier. If it could be as simple as the SuccessFactors implementation that would be ideal.

    There should be integration with iOS products. It would be nice if we could integrate it into the field currently, but it's not active.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for about 2.5 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution isn't too stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We have about 300 people on the solution currently.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support could be more helpful.

    What other advice do I have?

    We use the on-premises deployment model. We will switch to SuccessFactors and it should be on the cloud. I'm a certified SAP consultant.

    I'd recommend the product. It's a good solution. If I was comparing it to SuccessFactors, I'd rate it seven out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user