Hybrid Implementation: Integrating SAP ECC with SuccessFactors
Stephen Sequeira 
In today’s evolving HR landscape, organizations often find themselves managing both on-premise and cloud solutions to meet their business needs.
A hybrid implementation between SAP ECC (SAP ERP Central Component) and SAP SuccessFactors allows companies to leverage the best of both worlds—retaining core HR functionalities on ECC while utilizing the advanced talent management and employee experience capabilities of SuccessFactors.
Why Hybrid?
Many enterprises still rely on SAP ECC for core HR (SAP HCM) due to its robust payroll, benefits, and time management functions. However, with SAP’s push towards SuccessFactors, businesses must gradually transition to the cloud while maintaining seamless HR operations. A hybrid approach ensures:
✔ Minimal Disruption – Keep existing HR and payroll processes intact while adopting cloud-based innovations.
✔ Data Consistency – Real-time integration ensures that employee data remains synchronized between ECC and SuccessFactors.
✔ Scalability & Future Readiness – Organizations can progressively move to a full-cloud model at their own pace.
Key Integrations in a Hybrid SAP Model
A successful hybrid model requires seamless data flow between SAP ECC and SuccessFactors. The major integration touchpoints include:
✅ Employee Master Data – Sync employee records from SuccessFactors Employee Central to SAP ECC for payroll processing.
✅ Payroll Integration – Employee data flows from SuccessFactors to ECC for payroll calculations. Post-payroll results are then pushed back to SuccessFactors.
✅ Time Management – Sync time-off and attendance data to ensure accurate payroll processing.
✅ Organizational Structure – Maintain consistent job positions, cost centers, and departments across systems.
✅ Compensation & Benefits – Ensure alignment between payroll calculations in ECC and benefits structures in SuccessFactors.
Integration Technologies & Tools
SAP provides multiple integration options to ensure smooth connectivity between ECC and SuccessFactors:
🔹 SAP Integration Suite – A middleware solution to facilitate real-time and batch data exchange.
🔹 Business Integration Builder (BIB) – A standard framework for data replication from SuccessFactors Employee Central to SAP ECC.
🔹 SAP Process Orchestration (PO) – For custom integration scenarios requiring additional business logic.
🔹 SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI) – The preferred cloud middleware for modern hybrid implementations.
🔹 IDoc & Web Services – For legacy integrations when working with non-SAP systems.
Challenges & Best Practices
While hybrid integration offers flexibility, it comes with challenges such as data inconsistency, latency, and security concerns. Here are some best practices:
✔ Standardize Data Models – Ensure uniform data definitions across both systems to avoid inconsistencies.
✔ Automate Data Sync – Use scheduled jobs or real-time triggers to reduce manual intervention.
✔ Monitor & Audit – Implement error-handling mechanisms to track failed integrations and fix issues proactively.
✔ Plan for Future Migration – While maintaining ECC, ensure your design is adaptable for a full SuccessFactors transition.
Final Thoughts
A hybrid SAP ECC and SuccessFactors implementation provides a structured path for organizations transitioning to the cloud. By integrating core HR functions with advanced cloud-based talent solutions, businesses can enhance efficiency, improve employee experiences, and future-proof their HR operations.
If you're planning an SAP hybrid implementation and need expert guidance, reach out to us today!
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