The HCM Platform Decision#
Workday and SAP SuccessFactors are the two leading cloud HCM platforms for large enterprises. This comparison helps NZ/AU organisations evaluate which platform better fits their needs.
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Platform Overview#
Workday#
Founded: 2005 by PeopleSoft veterans
Architecture: Unified cloud platform with HCM and Financials
Target Market: Large enterprises (500+ employees)
Strengths: User experience, unified platform, modern architecture
SAP SuccessFactors#
Founded: 2001, acquired by SAP in 2012
Architecture: Cloud HCM suite with SAP ERP integration
Target Market: Large enterprises, especially existing SAP customers
Strengths: Depth of HCM functionality, SAP integration, global reach
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Capability Comparison#
Core HR#
| Capability | Workday | SuccessFactors |
|---|---|---|
| Global Core | Excellent | Excellent |
| Org Management | Excellent | Excellent |
| Employee Central | Excellent | Excellent |
| Position Management | Excellent | Good |
Talent Management#
| Capability | Workday | SuccessFactors |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting | Excellent | Excellent |
| Performance | Excellent | Excellent |
| Learning | Good | Excellent |
| Compensation | Excellent | Excellent |
| Succession | Excellent | Excellent |
Time and Attendance#
| Capability | Workday | SuccessFactors |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Good | Good |
| Absence Management | Excellent | Good |
| Scheduling | Good | Good |
Analytics#
| Capability | Workday | SuccessFactors |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Reports | Excellent | Good |
| Ad-hoc Reporting | Excellent | Good |
| Dashboards | Excellent | Good |
| Predictive Analytics | Good | Good |
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NZ/AU Considerations#
Payroll#
Workday: Native Australian payroll; NZ requires integration.
SuccessFactors: Australian payroll via SAP; NZ requires integration.
Local Support#
Workday: Limited NZ presence; served from Australia.
SuccessFactors: Limited NZ presence; served from Australia.
Partner Ecosystem#
Workday: Fewer partners in NZ; strong Australian presence.
SuccessFactors: Access to SAP partner ecosystem.
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Integration Considerations#
Workday Integrations#
- Strong API-first architecture
- Cloud Connect for integrations
- Limited pre-built ERP integrations (Workday Financials preferred)
SuccessFactors Integrations#
- Native SAP ERP integration
- Pre-built integrations for common HR systems
- SAP Integration Suite for custom integrations
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Total Cost of Ownership#
Subscription Costs#
Workday: $150-300 per user per month
SuccessFactors: $100-200 per user per month (varies by module)
Implementation Costs#
Workday: $1-3M for mid-market
SuccessFactors: $800K-2.5M for mid-market
Ongoing Costs#
Workday: 18-22% of subscription annually
SuccessFactors: 17-20% of subscription annually
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Decision Framework#
Choose Workday When:#
- HCM is your primary focus
- You want unified HCM and financials
- User experience is a priority
- You have no existing SAP investment
- You prefer a single vendor for HCM and financials
Choose SuccessFactors When:#
- You already use SAP ERP
- You need deep talent management functionality
- You're a global organisation with complex requirements
- You want access to SAP's broader ecosystem
- Learning management is a priority
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Monday Morning Action Plan#
- Assess Your SAP Relationship: If you're an SAP shop, SuccessFactors has advantages.
- Evaluate Financials Need: If you need financials, Workday offers a unified solution.
- Check Partner Availability: For NZ, verify partner support for both platforms.
- Request Local References: Ask for NZ/AU references in your industry.
- Calculate TCO: Include subscription, implementation, and ongoing costs.