SAP HR Software Review

SAP HR Software Capabilities

HR Analytics

In part due to its Business Objects analytics software, few HR software vendors can match the SAP HR business intelligence (BI) capabilities. BI functionality includes:

• SAP Crystal Reports: which allows connections among multiple data sources as well as the design and formatting of custom and interactive reports, and internal/external report communications.
• SAP BusinessObjects Analysis: (through the OLAP edition) this enables multi-dimensional data analysis via an OLAP tool specifically designed for financial and HR analysts. Further, the Microsoft edition of this solution allows for business warehouse data analysis via a client user interface embedded in Microsoft Office.
• SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence: this BI software component supports online and offline ad hoc queries across disparate data sources.
• SAP BusinessObjects Predictive Workbench: a BI solution for data mining in order to identify patterns as well as assess and predict future workforce trends.
• SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards: this BI capability allows for the creation of dynamic and interactive digital dashboards for complex data visualizations.
• SAP BusinessObjects Explorer: allows for targeted data searching and exploration for real-time analysis. Customers can leverage the accelerated version of this BI tool through SAP's in-memory analytics; a process that speeds up time to insight.

Business Objects also leverages a single platform (aptly named SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform) that uses a common semantic layer, security, and delivery mechanism for business insights. With SAP BusinessObjects Integration and SAP BusinessObjects Live Office, BI can be linked to other enterprise applications and integrated with Office applications. SAP HR software clearly stands apart from most HR software competitors in terms of business intelligence.

HR Mobility

The 2010 acquisition of Sybase accelerated the SAPs mantra to deliver information anywhere, anytime and on any device. Sybase gave SAP mobile capabilities on multiple platforms including Windows Mobile, Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Nokia Series 60 smartphones.

The company's mobile functionality is driven by the Sybase Unwired Platform (SUP) – a platform framework for developing mobile applications that SAP uses as both a development environment and a device management system. SAP mobility, and Sybase Mobile Workflow, are inherit throughout the SAP Business Suite and support mobile workers in receiving and managing SAP Universal Worklist notifications and alerts on their mobile device of choice. These mobile notifications may include pre-defined processes, such as requests and approvals for travel or leave. Additionally, clock-in/clock-out activities can be recorded directly into the SAP Business Suite system from a mobile device.

The SAP mobile business process solution pushes workflow items, including the associated workflow decision buttons for approval, to users on their mobile device and allows users to leverage the Universal Worklist Workflows, Alerts, and Notifications while away from the office. This solution enables users to process decision-based workflow items and receive Universal Worklist notifications and alerts on their mobile device, increasing the accessibility of information and enabling location independence.

Social Business

When it comes to social media technologies, few enterprise software vendors have been as on board as SAP. In fact, according to a Gartner research report, "SAP was the first mega-vendor to deliver a stand-alone purpose-built CDM (Collaborative Decision Making) platform". The platform referenced is SAP's StreamWork, an online decision making tool that has the capability of finding, selecting, and arranging a given project's workforce so as to facilitate the best collaboration. From a functionality perspective, StreamWorks is essentially a virtual meeting space where workers engaged in common tasks can virtually communicate with each other. It allows workers to integrate data and analytics from other SAP software applications (like ERP and CRM) in order to collectively brainstorm ideas and make business decisions—all while keeping a history of all interactions so management can easily review how a particular decision was made.

Incorporating a number of Facebook-like elements (including the ability to start discussions, make comments, and run quick polls), StreamWork is a social solution built for an environment that has SAP at its core—integrating with SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand, Crystal Reports/Dashboards, and other SAP applications like ERP, CRM, Strategy, and Product Lifecycle. Currently available in three editions (basic, professional, and enterprise), the enterprise edition is obviously the most robust—running Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating system and including a virtual appliance installed behind the firewall for administrative controls. SAP's roadmap also indicates that further integrations (e.g. Business Objects Intelligence Platform, Collaborative E-Care Management and SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Workspaces, etc.) are planned for the future. Further, with the SuccessFactors acquisition, social technologies are expected to be extended to performance management and recruitment (though SAP does currently have some limited social recruiting capabilities).

Global Support

SAP HR software supports multiple languages, multiple currencies, localized processes, and regulatory requirements for 48 countries. As such, country-specific solutions are available for companies looking for a global HR and Payroll software solution. As it pertains to languages, SAP supports Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Danish, German, English, Finnish, French, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Catalan, Korean, Croatian, Norwegian (Bokmal), Norwegian (Nynorsk), Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, and Czech.

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