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Fachlul Infithar - PeerSpot reviewer
IT PMO at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 10
Jun 8, 2022
Ridiculously expensive and doesn't give any ROI
Pros and Cons
  • "SuccessFactors' most valuable feature is performance management."
  • "I don't think SuccessFactors is quite fit for use as an employee database."

What is our primary use case?

I mainly use SuccessFactors for employee and performance management.

What is most valuable?

SuccessFactors' most valuable feature is performance management.

What needs improvement?

The integration module is an area that could be improved. In addition, SAP needs to better manage the overlap between HANA, the ERP HR module, and SuccessFactors.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using SuccessFactors for over four years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We run SuccessFactors on the SAP cloud, so we have no problems other than those typical of cloud technology e.g. interconnection problems.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We use the cloud version of SuccessFactors, so there are no problems with scalability.

How are customer service and support?

There are some problems with SAP's technical support because they're not always very responsive.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Negative

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

Previously, we used SAP HR.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was quite complex, and implementation took a long time, about two years, because of the amount of customization we had to do.

What about the implementation team?

We used an in-house team.

What was our ROI?

I don't feel we get any ROI from SuccessFactors.

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

The pricing for SuccessFactors is ridiculously high, and there are costs in addition to the license fee for some features.

What other advice do I have?

I don't think SuccessFactors is quite fit for use as an employee database, and SAP HR may be more suitable. There seems to be some overlap between these two solutions, but neither one has all the capabilities of the other. I would rate SuccessFactors as three out of ten.

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.
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Alaba Ayotunde O. OLUWAYIMIKA - PeerSpot reviewer
It Asset Management Lead at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Apr 7, 2022
Useful for large enterprises for HR, performance management, and learning management
Pros and Cons
  • "There are a lot of features in SuccessFactors that HR can actually explore. We recently implemented a learning platform that employs the individual staff to actually manage their own learning."
  • "The price could be lower."

What is our primary use case?

We are using it for a lot of things: HR, performance management, and learning management. There are a lot of features embedded in SuccessFactors.

The solution was implemented on the old platform, and we cut it over to S/4HANA.

What is most valuable?

Under SuccessFactors, you have the HANA performance management, Headcount. You have Headcount by gender, employee Headcount by location, and employee Headcount by company code. There are personal profiles of the individual staff. They have their leave management, development plan, and learning activities. They can review their performance.

There are a lot of features in SuccessFactors that HR can actually explore. We recently implemented a learning platform that employs the individual staff to actually manage their own learning. They can subscribe to courses and then, when they renew to get approval from there, that's where they can seek and get approval through the course. They can do it at their own pace. SuccessFactors allows you to manage your team, have calibration for promotion, and you can generate reports and see how you're doing.

There is a pack called Fiori. It's user-friendly because the way it is laid out, you can easily see what you want to do. Once you use it frequently and interact with it, you get the feel of it.

What needs improvement?

The price could be lower.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for almost five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

So far, the stability has been good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is scalable. We can add more things, and it doesn't interfere with the solution. We do a test run and quality assurance before the production environment.

How are customer service and support?

We have in-house support. Calling technical support sometimes takes a while, but we have some people who have the experience. We already have them employed, so when we need anything, we go to them. If it is beyond them, then we escalate to SAP.

How was the initial setup?

The setup is a matter of planning. If you get your planning right, the deployment of SAP or any part of the module will look very easy. With the proper planning, you will have the right skills and the right SAP partner that can partner with you in the rollout, and you'll be able to deliver with little or no hitch.

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

For SAP, the product is pricey, both CAPEX and the OPEX. It's something that could be improved.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 8 out of 10. 

The product is stable, scalable, and addresses a lot of issues. You can add more modules onto various factors as you go along. But it is a pricey solution.

I would recommend this solution for large enterprises because of the cost. I would like to see them come up with products for small enterprises.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Buyer's Guide
SAP SuccessFactors
January 2026
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SAP Project Manager at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Apr 6, 2022
Great for HR business processes with helpful talent management tools and onboarding capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "HR and managers can use the onboarding tool to help new employees prepare for their first day on the job, which can help them acclimate to the company culture and reduce anxiety."
  • "The complete integration process between SuccessFactors modules is not at the level that all customers expect when it comes to complete HR user experience from all angles."

What is our primary use case?

We currently use SAP SuccessFactors for a variety of HR business processes. We have talent modules for performance and goal management to manage all of our performance HR processes. We also use SuccessFactors recruitment to manage all of our hiring processes and candidate searches, as well as complete candidate processes. We use employee central to manage all of our HR core master data and HR operation processes such as hiring, promotion, separation, transfer, and so on.

We use the product in various countries and business processes where we cover the construction, manufacturing, and building systems. We can always rely on SF in any business function.

How has it helped my organization?

A suite of SuccessFactors Talent Management tools helps us in managing the entire employee journey. HR may utilize the recruiting tool to match external and internal talent to job openings. Employees can also use the app to look for work within the organization.

HR and managers can use the onboarding tool to help new employees prepare for their first day on the job, which can help them acclimate to the company culture and reduce anxiety.

HR and managers can use the succession and development tool to create career paths and staff development plans. When combined with the learning tool, these development objectives can help employees gain the skills they need to advance their careers within the company.

What is most valuable?

The Continuous Performance Management (CPM) is a feature that allows managers and their employees to communicate in real-time about areas such as performance, goals, and activities. SuccessFactors CPM aims to ensure that work is aligned with objectives and that a live summary of accomplishments is available. It also allows for coaching. It's very useful to have.

The CPM application provides a platform for employees and managers to communicate about their activities, accomplishments, and other aspects of measuring and managing performance on an ongoing basis. It is designed to help managers define activities, discussion topics, and accomplishments, as well as coach and provide feedback - all of which are critical in motivating remote employees. Employees benefit from SuccessFactors CPM by receiving activity updates, discussing topics, recording accomplishments, and providing feedback.

What needs improvement?

The complete integration process between SuccessFactors modules is not at the level that all customers expect when it comes to complete HR user experience from all angles. For example, the new center capability still requires a lot of effort from SAP to have a complete integration business process and to allow customers to reap the full benefits of such an important feature.

Also, the EC payroll module is still dependent on the old SAP payroll on-premise system, and from a customer standpoint, Successfactors deserve to have better payroll runs that are easier when it comes to a customer's customized processes.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SAP successfactors for the last nine years (from 2013).

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Juzar Badami - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of SAP Center of Excellence at a consumer goods company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Mar 10, 2022
Good user experience, reliable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "The UX in SAP SuccessFactors is good."
  • "SAP SuccessFactors could improve the integration. It is not simple to integrate and it needs to be made easier."

What is our primary use case?

SAP SuccessFactors forms a key tool to our Employee Engagement pillar extensively leveraged by our HR function across the Group. Key processes around Employee Self Services, Learning and Development, Performance Goals and appraisals, Career Development, Succession Planning is run on SAP SF

What is most valuable?

UX, Intuitiveness of the System, Integration with SAP S/4HANA

What needs improvement?

SAP is heavily invested in bringing new features and functionalities in SAP SuccessFactors with every release. Integration with the core financial and HCM / Payroll systems is very critical. This is the area where SAP can leverage its own product portfolio like S/4HANA and provide a much seamless integration

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SAP SuccessFactors for approximately four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I have found SAP SuccessFactors to be stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

SAP SuccessFactors is a scalable solution.

We have 5,500+ employees using this solution in my organization.

How was the initial setup?

We have had large-scale implementations of SAP SuccessFactors. The implementation is neither easy nor very difficult. If it's done right it can be easy and seamless but there's quite a lot of effort that is required. You need experts to do it.

The implementation lifecycle can be further reduced.

What about the implementation team?

You require experts to be able to implement this solution.

An average 4-8 certified Consultants support with the Business as Usual activities

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

SAP SuccessFactors requires an annual subscription.

What other advice do I have?

I rate SAP SuccessFactors an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
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Andrea González - PeerSpot reviewer
Business Consultant at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Apr 25, 2023
Useful analytics, reliable, but could improve pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of SAP SuccessFactors is analytics."
  • "The price of the solution could improve, it is too high."

What is our primary use case?

I am using SAP SuccessFactors performance management for documentation.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of SAP SuccessFactors is analytics.

What needs improvement?

The price of the solution could improve, it is too high.

For how long have I used the solution?

I used SAP SuccessFactors within the last 12 months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SAP SuccessFactors is stable.

How are customer service and support?

I have not used the support from the vendor.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of SAP SuccessFactors is easy.

What was our ROI?

We have not seen a return on investment.

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

The price of the solution is highly expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the solution to others, but the price is too high.

I rate SAP SuccessFactors a six out of ten.

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.
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Digital Learning Specialist at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Jan 15, 2023
Robust but too complex and needs a nicer backend experience
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is stable."
  • "The back end for the administration and the front end is too overtly complex and it's not aligned with our operations and learning needs."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use it for end-users. It has compulsory courses they need to self-enroll in. Our LMS administrator manages the system in terms of learning hours, training, and recording of those entered. They manage the courses. They update user profiles and assign courses where needed. They're also performing all of the call administration management.

What is most valuable?

The solution is good for helping users with courses, and administrators can manage the process. 

The solution is stable. 

What needs improvement?

The back end for the administration and the front end is too overtly complex and it's not aligned with our operations and learning needs.

Its entire front-end user experience needs improvement. All back-end administration functionality needs to be simplified. The whole interface needs to be revamped. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We've used the solution for six years. We've used it since 2016.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable, robust solution. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. I'd rate it eight out of ten in terms of the stability I've witnessed. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 1,600 people using it in our company. We had one dedicated admin and seven people with access to the backend. 

How are customer service and support?

I don't generally reach out to technical support. It's not that the system doesn't work; it's just that we don't understand how to optimize it. That's the only trouble we have. 

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

We are currently looking into other solutions in order to change to something else as this product is too complex. We'll likely move to Docebo. 

I did use a different solution, however, that was when I was at a different company. 

How was the initial setup?

I was not involved in the initial setup, however, my understanding is it was likely complex. 

What was our ROI?

We've only seen a minimal ROI. It's likely 10% out of the entire project. 

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

The amount of value we are getting out of the solution is less than the price. We pay an annual subscription. I can't speak to the exact amount we currently pay.

What other advice do I have?

I'm a customer and end-user.

I'm not sure which version we are using. It's likely the latest version. 

The product is different for everyone. New users need to look at thier own business needs first. If your own business needs require a system of this feature set, then you need to probably determine whether or not it fits into your stack and also your architecture. 

It all comes down to your requirements and how you would like the learning experience to be delivered and how you would like your L&D operations to be performed in your organization. If SuccessFactors is aligned to that, it's the right product for you. If it's not aligned to that, then no. There are organizations where SuccessFactors is suitable. It really depends on what kind of organization you are and what kind of requirements you have.

I'd rate the solution three out of ten based on the user experience and the backend administration.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Rahmat Karyawan - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost Controller - Commercial Dept at a mining and metals company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Dec 3, 2022
HR management solution used to track employee information that could be improved by offering automated reports
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution can be used for reporting related to employee information and contacts"

    What is our primary use case?

    I use this solution for reporting related to employee information and contacts. 

    What needs improvement?

    This solution could be improved if it offered the ability to generate reports automatically.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for one year. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate this solution a five out of ten. 

    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
    ChristopherOrilogbon - PeerSpot reviewer
    Solution Consultant SAP MM/QM & HCM SuccessFactors at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
    Real User
    Leaderboard
    Dec 1, 2022
    There are several solutions built into it, like training and workforce analytics.
    Pros and Cons
    • "All of SuccessFactors' features are useful, but there are several modules within SuccessFactors that I find handy. You have Employee Central, which manages employee records within the system. It manages all the information about an employee, including names, addresses, account numbers, positions, org charts, etc. It also handles performance reviews and KPIs for employees within an organization. Then you have succession planning and development as well."

      What is our primary use case?

      SAP SuccessFactors is a cloud-based HR solution. It used to be called HCM, which means "Human Capital Management," but SAP has since changed it to HXM, which is Human Experience Management. SAP SuccessFactors manages the journey of an employee from start to finish. Everything is managed within a single suite.

      I have six clients using SuccessFactors: Happy Canyon, HSDS in Abuja, Manager Delta, Reinsurance, Reinsurance Capital, and ECOM, which is a cultural company. 

      What is most valuable?

      All of SuccessFactors' features are useful, but there are several modules within SuccessFactors that I find handy. You have Employee Central, which manages employee records within the system. It manages all the information about an employee, including names, addresses, account numbers, positions, org charts, etc. It also handles performance reviews and KPIs for employees within an organization. Then you have succession planning and development as well. 

      There are several solutions built into it, like training and workforce analytics. From my own experience, I find the recruiting module to be fascinating because I've worked with it a lot. My company has deployed the recruiting module for a couple of organizations. For example, the African Union uses Human Capital and SuccessFactors. We deployed Employee Central and recruitment management for them. People can apply for a job, and you can track the applicant's progress within the same system, but you can't implement recruiting module as a standalone solution. You need to have Employee Central as part of the system as well. 

      What needs improvement?

      I have raised change requests for some modules within SuccessFactors. For example, when you're using Recruiting Management, there's a feature called Interview Central you can use to reach the candidates you're interviewing. I wanted to add a writing assessment when I select the competency on that platform. It varies from consultant to consultant, depending on what module they use.

      The tool that SAP uses to integrate SuccessFactors into other applications is quite expensive. When I deployed the solution for the African Union, we used the cloud platform integration tool. They're now using a tool now called BCP, but you also have the CPI inside it, too. The integration is seamless, but there are other ways to perform the integration.  You want to use web services for integration and all of that. So regardless, you can always integrate into it. It's very easy to actually do that as well.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I first used SuccessFactors in 2017, so it has been five years. 

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      SuccessFactors is a highly stable solution.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      SuccessFactors is scalable because they have different data centers across the world. As your data grows, the instance also grows. There's no failure on the platform. At most, you'll have a few hours of downtime on the weekend as they upgrade the system. 

      How are customer service and support?

      I rate SAP support 10 out of 10. They have different levels of support. The first is the customer, the second is partner support, and the third is SAP. Inside SAP SuccessFactors you have a lot of built-in support that you can leverage without calling anyone. A system admin can log into the system and chat with SAP directly if they are facing any challenges. Real-time support is available within the system. 

      How was the initial setup?

      Generally speaking, setting up SuccessFactors is straightforward, but some clients have complicated requirements. The standard SAP configuration is easy for consultants because they have a rapid implementation tool to deploy the baseline solution, so a client can have the system running in days. It depends on the client's requirements, but it is much easier for the end user than the consultant.

      The total deployment time also varies depending on the modules. Let's say, you want to implement Employee Central plus the performance assessment and recruiting modules. This might be tricky depending on the size of the organization. Implementing this solution for a large organization requires a lot of data work to gather employee information. If you have all the employee records in place, you can deploy the solution in three months. When you don't have the data, you need to gather it and create templates. It can take much longer to deploy.

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

      SuccessFactors is expensive but it could be cheaper depending on the customer. My company is a large value-added reseller. We buy from SAP and sell to other clients. We also have the power to give clients discounts depending on the size of their budgets and how eager we are to win their business. 

      What other advice do I have?

      I rate SAP SuccessFactors nine out of 10 because the improvements are underway. They also have a Customer Influence platform where customers suggest ideas about ways to improve the system. They release new features every quarter.

      Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
      PeerSpot user
      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free SAP SuccessFactors Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
      Updated: January 2026
      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free SAP SuccessFactors Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.