1st part of the series: Integration SuccessFactors to SAP HCM
Many customers face the challenge of integrating their existing SAP HCM system to third-party systems such as SuccessFactors. If the third-party system is the "in-house" SuccessFactors (SF) system, you can use the "Prepackaged Integration Solutions" of the
SAP benefit. In this article and the following articles in the series, we deal in detail with the topic of integration SuccessFactors to SAP HCM and show you how you can benefit from it.
Depending on the scope of integration, SAP provides various standard solutions. Currently
the following integration packages are available:
• Employee master data and organizational assignment
• Objects from organization management
• Attendances/absences or time off and time sheet
• Cost Centers
On the one hand there is the Point-to-Point (PtP) integration, on the other hand the Business Integration Builder (BiB) integration. The integration approaches differ in their objective and scope of functions.
The PtP integration offers a rudimentary range of functions. It is in this
Case around a completely predefined interface of the SAP, where the field mapping
between SAP HCM and SF Employee Central (EC) is fully predefined. This
Mapping is an integral part of the implementation of the interface. One
Depending on the infotype, customer-specific adaptation is only possible to a limited extent. The PtP
Integration aims to integrate with SF EC Payroll so that payroll-related
information can be replicated. In general, this approach should only be chosen
if the SAP HCM system is very much based on the standard.
In contrast, the BiB integration offers a significantly expanded range of functions.
As the complexity of the integration increases, so does the implementation effort.
It must be weighed up which data should be integrated and which only in the
respective source system. With the BiB integration
map customer-specific needs and complex integration scenarios. As a general rule
we choose this path together with our customers.
First, with the BiB, SAP supplies a tool that is intended to
to implement integration scenarios. With the help of the BiB it is possible to access all data
access, which are provided via the SF web service "Compound Employee".
The connection or affiliation of the fields is made known via the BiB.
In addition, it is defined whether and which value conversion is carried out
got to. For example, it often happens that the SF system is used globally and that
SAP HCM system locally. This can result in certain information such as
For example, the cost center in the SuccessFactors system have a prefix "DEU_",
which is not readily available in infotype 1 "Organizational Assignment"
can be passed on.
In this case, rules can be stored in the BiB, which can be omitted from the "cost-center" field
remove the prefix from the SuccessFactors and the SAP HCM field cost center (techn.
assign KOSTL). The PiP integration can therefore be understood more as a framework,
which opens up the possibilities, the integration flexible and on the customer-specific
adapt systems. In summary, the "Prepackaged Integration" includes the
technical aspects of an interface, such as communication between the
systems, data exchange or generically programmed processing
Mapping assignment and value conversion. This can with little
Programming effort can be achieved. Nevertheless, the BiB offers the possibility using BadI
(implementation extension point) to intervene in the programming to when necessary
logical connections or complicated facts between different or
individual information to be taken into account. For example, you can use BadI to check in
which wage group/level the employee is in. Based on that, it can be done
determine the next advance date, so that there is no separate field in the highest tariff level
"Advance Date" is required.
Customer-specific infotypes, country-specific
Field mapping and value conversions will be implemented later on
this series of articles will be addressed.
The next article in this series will give you an overview of the technical process
the interface and the interaction with the middleware.
Do you have any questions about the integration of SuccessFactors with SAP HCM or do you need further help? Contact us via the contact form and send us a message.
