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In September 2025, SAP completed the acquisition of SmartRecruiters, a leading provider of AI-powered recruiting solutions. With this move, SAP is sending a clear signal: talent acquisition is set to become more modern, efficient, and highly automated. SmartRecruiters will initially remain an independent platform but will be gradually integrated into the SAP SuccessFactors suite.

Greater Efficiency and Transparency in Recruiting
The acquisition brings tangible benefits for customers. Integrating SmartRecruiters into SAP SuccessFactors opens up new opportunities:

• Intelligent candidate search: AI-powered matching functions help identify the best talent more quickly.
• Automated processes: From job posting to hiring, workflows are optimized, saving time and costs.
• Improved candidate experience: Applicants benefit from a smooth and transparent process.

Next Steps in the Integration Process
The acquisition was finalized in September 2025. A transition phase will now follow, expected to last three to five years. During this period, SAP plans to gradually integrate SmartRecruiters into the SuccessFactors suite. Details on migration paths, licensing models, and technical tools are expected to be published by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Companies can also look forward to initial demos of the integrated solution, announced for Q1 2026.

What Does This Mean for Existing Customers?
Existing customers do not need to prepare for an immediate switch. SAP guarantees support and maintenance for SuccessFactors Recruiting throughout the entire transition phase and will provide clear migration paths. Those who migrate early will benefit from SmartRecruiters’ expanded functionality and can modernize their recruiting strategy step by step.

As an implementation partner, we are happy to support you in transitioning to the new solution. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dipl.-Ing. Marc Kaiblinger
Managing Consultant
T: +43 1 236 4312
marc.kaiblinger@hcm-advice.com

The integration of SAP Joule and Microsoft 365 Copilot brings together what belongs together: Two powerful AI assistants connect to form a consistent, intelligent working environment. In future, employees can call information and processes from SAP SuccessFactors, S/4HANA or Concur directly in Microsoft Teams, Outlook or Word, without toggling between applications.

This integration is no longer a vision of the future. Users can already access SAP Joule via Microsoft Copilot and call SAP data directly in Microsoft 365. The enhanced variant – Microsoft Copilot in SAP Joule – is currently in the early adopter phase and is being rolled out more widely from the third quarter of 2025 onwards.

The bidirectional integration of SAP Joule and Microsoft Copilot means that routine tasks such as vacation requests, expense approvals or employee queries can be carried out directly in Microsoft 365. Joule supplies the relevant SAP data, while Copilot provides the familiar Microsoft interface. Conversely, users will also be able to access Copilot functions within SAP Joule, for example, to create e-mails or documents with AI support.

More Productivity in Recruiting
The potential of integration is particularly impressive in the HR area. In SuccessFactors Recruiting, Joule provides support in reviewing applications, recognizing relevant skills, and proposing suitable interview questions. The interviews themselves can be prepared, conducted, and evaluated, directly in Microsoft Teams, and the results are automatically returned to SAP SuccessFactors.

Joule therefore becomes a digital colleague in your everyday working life. In Microsoft Teams just a quick command such as “How many vacations days do I have left?“ or “Change my telephone numner in SAP SuccessFactors“ is enough and Joule carries out the desired action directly in the SAP system. Fast, secure, and without leaving your work station.

Outlook: AIs that really cooperate
SAP and Microsoft are continuously developing the integration further with one clear goal: A completely connected, AI-supported work environment that unburdens employees and makes companies more productive.
Companies that already use SAP SuccessFactors today, can use the integration of SAP Joule and Microsoft 365 Copilot to modernize their HR processes, automate workflows, and enhance the user experience in the long-term.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Dipl.-Ing. Joachim Kaiser
Managing Consultant
T: +43 1 236 4312
joachim.kaiser@hcm-advice.com

Being part of the SAP NOW AI Tour Vienna was a great pleasure. We were thrilled to share our expertise in Human Capital Management, digital transformation, and AI with so many inspiring people.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth!

With SAP Joule, working with SAP SuccessFactors becomes as easy as having a conversation. The powerful AI understands natural language, provides precise answers, and completes tasks within seconds, from vacation requests to team performance analyses to creating job postings.

Find out more on our website or contact us without obligation!

Our Company Alignment in St. Wolfgang was more than just another team event. It was a celebration of what makes our culture so unique: community, collaboration, and striving for excellence.

And that’s exactly what we experienced this weekend: From focused workshops to waterskiing, sailing, stand-up paddling, and hiking. Every shared challenge showed us that our culture is not just words, it’s something one can genuinely feel.

We return from this weekend with stronger bonds, renewed energy, and the reminder that our team is something we can truly be proud of.

How to achieve a streamlined, digital recruiting process that inspires applicants and unburdens managers?

Getzner Werkstoffe demonstrates how it’s done: The implementation of SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting and the SIMPLERIX quick*apply App simplified the overall application process considerably – Excel and e-mail make way for a central, transparent system with a clear structure and faster communication.

The results speak for themselves:

• Around 20% less effort in everyday recruiting tasks
• Applications in under one minute – without creating an account or entering a password
• More applications and a significantly better candidate experience

In the video, Getzner Werkstoffe reports on how the implementation went, and why HCM ADVICE was the ideal choice of implementation partner. Watch the full success story now.

Thank you to Getzner Werkstoffe for the excellent cooperation!

Last Friday, we opened our doors once again to celebrate not only our new office in Vienna and our 15th anniversary, but especially the people who are there for us every day: our families and friends. This exclusive get-together was our way of saying “thank you” – for their constant support, their patience, and for always having our backs.

From our CEO’s inspiring speech on how our unique company culture forms the foundation of our success and the interactive introductions of our various departments, to the fun quiz with a prize wheel and our digital team games – it was an afternoon full of connection, curiosity, and joy.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us – you made this day truly special and unforgettable.

Congratulations to our customer Belimo for winning the SAP Quality Award 2025 in the category SAP Business Transformation | Cloud! We are proud to have been part of this award-winning project as an implementation partner.

With the global rollout of SAP SuccessFactors, Belimo replaced numerous local systems and built a unified, scalable HR platform. The result: a fully digital and transparent HR lifecycle that provides employees with the best possible support at every stage of their journey.

We would like to thank Belimo for their trust and excellent cooperation.

We are proud and impressed by our CEO Michael Berthold, who has successfully reached the summit of Manaslu (8163m)! This remarkable achievement reflects the values that drive us at HCM ADVICE: Trust in oneself and the team, passion for what we do, the pursuit of excellence, the determination to always go the extra mile, and the power of friendliness, which fosters strong relationships and teamwork.

Whether on the mountain or in the office, these values push us forward every day and help us reach new heights together. We congratulate our CEO on this extraordinary accomplishment!

Want to rewatch the full expedition? Check out all the highlights and key moments in our Instagram Story Highlight “Expedition”.

The maintenance period for the SAP Business Suite 7 (ECC) and the previous SAP ERP HCM system as an On-Premise solution ends on 31.12.2027 (extended maintenance period until 31.12.2030 subject to corresponding fees). Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions in the Cloud, such as SAP SuccessFactors Suite, offer numerous advantages, such as reduced costs, greater flexibility, and an improved employee experience. But what about the customers who already use an SAP ERP Human Capital Management solution and wish to continue doing so, or who are not yet ready to completely move to the Cloud? Should they continue to invest in On-Premise solutions that have an expiration date, or should they plan long-term and switch to SAP SuccessFactors? Since the new release of SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA (H4S4) many customers are facing decisions concerning the direction of their future investments.

What is SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA?

SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA is a successor solution for SAP ERP HCM and has been available since Q4 2022. Customers can choose between two variants of the new SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA solution: On-Premise or Private Cloud Edition.

• On-Premise
  The On-Premise Edition supports the known solutions for human resource management, such as, for example, personnel administration, organizational management, employer benefits, corporate compensation management, personnel cost planning and simulation, MSS; solutions for talent management, such as, for example, SAP Learning Solution, SAP E-Recruiting, Talent Management, and Talent Development, solutions for time accounting, such as time management, shift planning, worktime entry (CATS), and public sector, such as, for example, budget planning and management, job management, and resource planning.
  However, some of the functions are no longer part of the solution, including: in the area of human resource management: Employee Interaction Center, Shared Service Framework for HCM Integration, HCM P&F with Adobe forms, Manager’s Desktop, Workforce Viewer, cPA-CM-CP); in the area of Talent Management: Recruiting, Compensation Management (PA-CM), evaluation systems, career and successor planning, development plans, training courses, and event management.
• Private Cloud Edition
  The Private Cloud Edition includes solutions for Personnel Management (incl. ESS/MSS), such as, for example, employee management, global task management, management of the organizational structure, job management, service management, work plan management, and absence management. Solutions for time entry (incl. ESS/MSS), such as:  Work plan management, absence ­management, time entry for employees, time accounting, personnel resource planning, as well as solutions for Wage and Salary Accounting (incl. ESS).

Talent Management incl. Learning and Recruiting is not included in the solution.

All SAP HCM functions that are not named here and were previously available in the On-Premise and Private Cloud Edition are alternatively available via SAP SuccessFactors.

Why is this such an important topic right now?

According to SAP, SAP ERP HCM Suite will only be maintained until 2027. After that, system maintenance can be extended for a maximum of three years (until 2030) for an additional charge. Furthermore, all customers who have already been using an S/4HANA Compatibility Pack (HCM) for some time should make the switch by the end of 2025, as the system will no longer be supported after that. Switching to the new On-Premise transitional solution or to the Cloud is therefore unavoidable.

Facts about SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA

• On price list / available since Q4 2022
• Maintenance until at least 31.12.2040
• Must be operated on an SAP HANA database
• Can be operated as an integrated SAP landscape with S/4HANA or as “H4S4“ stand-alone system
• Migration tools & services (ALE interface to SAP S/4HANA) are provided by SAP
• Functions from SAP ERP HCM will largely be retained (see above)
• License/contract conversion with SAP necessary

Options for your SAP HCM Landscape:

Currently, most customers are within one of the four scenarios displayed on the left. The time period beyond 01.01.2028 gives rise to a system landscape consisting of an S/4HANA system (for the ERP area), SAP HCM for S/4HANA (integrated / stand-alone) and potentially SAP SuccessFactors as an enhancement, for example for a talent hybrid or even a core hybrid approach. You must migrate to “H4S4“ between now and 31.12.2027.

If you are currently faced with making a decision on how your SAP HCM landscape should look in the future, and which solution would make the best economic sense for you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to discuss your current situation in a joint consultation and develop a made-to-measure solution approach together with you.

We look forward to you contacting us!

Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Hareter
Managing Consultant
T: +43 1 236 4312
bernd.hareter@hcm-advice.com