End-to-end integration in CPG is emerging as the key enabler of growth. By connecting data, processes, and technologies across the organization, companies can gain real-time visibility, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities. 

A recent Oxford Economics survey of 175 CPG executives reveals that businesses prioritizing integration are outperforming their peers—and preparing for a tech-driven future. 

Top Business Priorities for Midsize CPG Companies 

According to the survey: 

• 88% of CPG executives reported revenue growth over the past three years. 

• The top five business priorities for the next two years are: 

• Increasing market share (40%) 

• Innovating products and services (39%) 

• Attracting new customers (37%) 

• Growing revenue (33%) 

• Expanding into new markets (31%) 

These goals signal a clear need for speed, scale, and differentiation. But achieving them requires tackling persistent supply chain fragility and operational inefficiencies head-on. 

The Role of End-to-End Integration in CPG Growth 

End-to-end integration in CPG connects critical functions—from supply chain and manufacturing to marketing and sales—into one seamless digital ecosystem. This connectivity enables: 

• Real-time insights for faster decision-making 

• Early identification of risks and disruptions 

• Increased agility across the value chain 

Surveyed executives say the top business areas that would benefit from improved data visibility are: 

• Logistics and transportation 

• Manufacturing and supply chain 

• Channel and retail partner operations 

As one CFO explained: 

“We are entering new areas where we can increase our customer base.” 

That level of expansion requires integrated tools that ensure products are delivered on time, data flows freely, and decisions are backed by evidence. 

Digital Technologies Powering CPG Transformation 

To succeed, CPG companies are investing in technologies that support integration and transformation: 

• Supply chain and demand planning solutions 

• Digital commerce platforms 

• Sustainability tracking software 

• Cloud ERP systems 

Cloud ERP, in particular, supports agility and integration by offering: 

• Optimized operations 

• Enhanced customer experiences 

• Improved process innovation 

73% of surveyed companies have adopted cloud technologies—and many are preparing for the next big leap: AI. 

Why AI and End-to-End Integration Go Hand-in-Hand 

Artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape the CPG landscape. While only 13% of companies have deployed AI, nearly 46% plan to invest within the next year. 

AI’s expected benefits in CPG include: 

• More personalized products and services (81%) 

• Smarter marketing and sales strategies (71%) 

• Reduced manual tasks through automation 

But to maximize AI’s impact, end-to-end integration in CPG is essential. Integrated systems enable AI tools to access the clean, connected data they need to generate value. 

One Chief Sustainability Officer noted: 

“We are personalizing the purchasing experience with data analytics and artificial intelligence.” 

Sustainability: A Strategic Priority, Not a Side Project 

While only 11% of companies cited sustainability as a top short-term priority, more than 50% plan to adopt sustainability software within the next 12 months. 

Current and planned initiatives include: 

• ESG data collection and reporting 

• End-to-end supply chain transparency 

• Emissions tracking 

• Circular economy product design 

Companies that lead on sustainability can differentiate themselves and better comply with rising global regulations. 

As one procurement leader said: 

“We will embrace sustainable manufacturing practices to meet growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products.” 

3 Strategic Steps for Future-Ready CPG Companies 

To stay competitive, midsize CPG businesses should take the following steps: 

1. Invest in End-to-End Integration in CPG

Break down data silos and unify processes across departments to gain real-time visibility and make faster, smarter decisions. 

2. Prepare for AI-Driven Innovation

Modernize IT infrastructure to support AI capabilities that drive personalization, automation, and predictive insights. 

3. Reprioritize Sustainability

Embed sustainability into core operations to meet consumer expectations, comply with regulations, and create long-term value. 

Conclusion: Integration Is the Engine of CPG Growth 

Growth in today’s CPG sector isn’t about doing more—it’s about working smarter. By embracing end-to-end integration in CPG, companies can unlock operational efficiency, enable innovation, and build a future-ready foundation. 

Cloud technologies, AI, and sustainability are reshaping the industry—and integrated companies will be the ones to lead it. 

Ready to take the next step? Contact your SAP partner today to learn how digital integration can fuel your business strategy. 

The post How End-to-End Integration in CPG Drives Growth, Innovation, and Sustainability appeared first on Altivate.

“Is your HR function future-ready?” 

At Altivate, we partner with leading organizations in Saudi Arabia and across the region to modernize HR operations through SAP SuccessFactors—an intelligent, cloud-based solution designed for today’s workforce realities. 

This blog post outlines seven critical questions to assess your readiness—and how AI-powered HR can help you deliver strategic outcomes, not just processes. 

1. Are You Keeping Up With Legal and Regulatory Changes?

Global compliance is a moving target. 

• Automated updates 

• Localized best practices 

With laws changing region by region, HR must remain both flexible and compliant. 

SAP SuccessFactors automates updates and embeds localized best practices, so your HR operations adapt in real time—no need to chase legislation manually. 

Regulatory Change Manager: 

This application provides a centralized platform for accessing and managing information about legal changes, allowing users to filter by country, product, and other criteria to identify relevant updates. It also offers impact analysis, timelines, and actionable data to help with planning and implementation.  

Globalization and Localization Services: 

SAP’s Globalization Services team works with customers and partners to provide solutions for a wide range of regulatory changes, including those related to payroll, HR, visa and permits, and document control.  

2. Are You Delivering Personalized, Engaging Experiences?

Today’s employees expect more than policies—they want meaningful, consumer-grade experiences. 

By enabling AI-driven self-service, intelligent workflows, and seamless interactions, SAP SuccessFactors reduces transaction fatigue and empowers every team member with tools designed around their needs. 

3. Can You Guarantee Accurate, On-Time Payroll—Globally?

Late or incorrect payroll damages trust. With continuous auditing, automated checks, and global scalability, SAP’s payroll capabilities ensure you never miss a beat—no matter how complex your operations. 

4. Is Your Benefits Experience Consistent Across Borders?

Employees across locations expect parity in care, flexibility, and value. 

SAP provides a global benefits framework that allows you to standardize policies while customizing for local compliance—delivering a consistent, equitable employee experience. 

5. Are You Using Smart Technology to Streamline Core HR?

Here’s the truth: AI is no longer optional

SAP SuccessFactors enables intelligent automation across HR, from talent acquisition to workforce analytics—freeing HR leaders to focus on transformation, not transactions. 

However, many organizations still struggle with AI adoption. According to SAP’s research: 

• Only 6% have an AI governance model specific to HR. 

• 78% have no dedicated budget for AI in HR. 

• Psychological resistance and legal uncertainty remain top barriers. 

To fully unlock AI’s value, HR leaders must take charge—not just of tools, but of AI strategy, literacy, and governance. 

6. Are Your Business Decisions Backed by Real-Time Data?

Gut feel isn’t enough anymore.
SAP provides real-time dashboards, predictive analytics, and automated insights that empower leaders to act on facts—faster. 

Whether it’s reorganizing teams or identifying attrition risks, HR becomes a strategic decision-maker, not just a support function. 

7. Are Your Employees Empowered to Manage Their HR Data?

Employees don’t want to wait for approvals—they want control. 

AI-enabled self-service platforms give your people direct access to their information—from leave requests to payroll queries—reducing delays and boosting satisfaction. 

AI Adoption Starts with HR 

AI is not just a technology issue—it’s a human one. 

SAP’s latest research found that employees are more likely to embrace AI if they: 

• Understand how it works and its impact 

• Can try it before committing 

• Feel ownership over the data involved 

• Are supported by clear AI ethics and usage policies 

At Altivate, we guide our clients through every stage of this journey—from governance and change management to user adoption and value realization. 

The post 7 Critical Questions to Future-Proof Your HR Operations appeared first on Altivate.

From Cost Center to Growth Engine

The traditional perception of procurement as solely a cost-reduction specialist is a relic of the past. Today, procurement executives are pivotal agents of process transformation, directly influencing an organization’s ability to attract new customers, grow revenue, and improve profitability. This shift is driven by the need to operate on thin timelines, improve margins, and gain real-time visibility across complex supply chains.

Key Priorities for Modern Procurement Leaders

So, what’s at the top of procurement executives’ agendas?

Attracting new customers, growing revenue, and improving margins/profitability are cited as top organizational goals for the next two years.

Embracing category management is a leading tactic to navigate business risks such as macroeconomic issues, changing government regulations, and increasing domestic competition. Other common approaches include inventory management, demand management, and multi-sourcing to mitigate risk.

The Indispensable Role of Data and Technology

Digital solutions are not just a nice-to-have; they are essential for balancing resilience and efficiency in procurement. Procurement functions have a significant need for improved digital solutions in areas like spend analysis (54%), invoice management (47%), and contract management (46%).

Data integration is a cornerstone of this digital shift, with procurement executives recognizing its power to ensure data accuracy, foster innovative business models, and accelerate projects. While some hesitation exists due to cybersecurity concerns with cloud adoption, those who have embraced cloud solutions are seeing optimized processes, cost reductions, and improved agility.

Looking ahead, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize procurement. Nearly one-third of procurement respondents are already using AI, with an additional 49% planning to adopt it within the next year. The impact of AI on the procurement function is widely acknowledged, with 70% of procurement executives believing it will have a significant effect.

Addressing the Skills Gap and Fostering Collaboration

The rapid digitization of procurement is creating a skills gap. Many traditional procurement professionals lack the necessary digital expertise, while digital experts may not fully grasp manual procurement systems. To bridge this, organizations are acquiring digital talent from other departments and focusing on skill development.

Furthermore, strong internal and external relationships are vital. Procurement needs unimpeded visibility into resource utilization across the business to prevent critical shortages. They are more focused than other functions on the importance of transparency, especially regarding supply chain and manufacturing capacity. Robust forecasting capabilities are also critical for building strong, long-lasting supplier relationships, which in turn reduce risk and costs.

Paving the Path Forward

To successfully navigate digital transformation, procurement leaders should focus on:

Aligning business goals with industry-specific needs: Invest in technologies that address multiple challenges simultaneously to drive long-term growth.

Automating key procurement processes: Leverage tools for automated purchase orders, digitized sourcing, and spend analytics to enhance efficiency, adapt to supply chain fluctuations, and secure optimal resources.

Creating clear lines of visibility: Increase transparency into both internal and external partnerships to improve forecasting, optimize data flows, foster innovation, and achieve bottom-line growth.

By embracing these strategies, procurement executives can not only meet ambitious growth benchmarks but also become more resilient and agile in an ever-changing global landscape.

The post Procurement’s New Frontier: Driving Growth Through Digital Transformation appeared first on Altivate.

This is where SAP LeanIX comes in. Trusted by global leaders like Adidas, Bosch, Haworth, McKesson, and Pfizer, SAP LeanIX provides the enterprise architecture (EA) foundation companies need to transform with confidence.

The Transformation Challenge

ERP transformations are inherently complex. A recent LeanIX/SAP survey of 100+ organizations revealed:

• 66% struggle to align IT, business, and project teams

• 53% find it difficult to define a clear target architecture and roadmap

• 47% are unable to identify interdependencies between ERP and non-ERP systems

These challenges aren’t just roadblocks—they’re risks that can lead to overspending, project delays, and missed strategic goals. Without full visibility into your IT environment and a way to unify stakeholders around a shared vision, your transformation is operating on guesswork.

Why Enterprise Architecture is the Missing Link

Enterprise Architecture helps cut through the chaos by offering a holistic view of your technology landscape. It connects the dots between systems, processes, and business capabilities—turning complex transformation initiatives into actionable, data-driven roadmaps.

With SAP LeanIX Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM), you gain the clarity and tools to:

• Evaluate your current application landscape

• Identify areas for rationalization and modernization

• Align IT and business leaders

• Model transformation scenarios

• Track progress at every stage

How SAP LeanIX Powers SAP Transformations

SAP LeanIX delivers everything you need to execute a successful, risk-managed SAP S/4HANA transformation. Here’s how:

1. Full Visibility Across Your Landscape

Gain deep insight into both SAP and non-SAP systems and uncover hidden interdependencies. This enables informed decision-making and a comprehensive understanding of your IT ecosystem.

2. Transformation Roadmaps You Can Trust

Visualize every phase of your journey—from As-Is to To-Be. SAP LeanIX helps you model future-state architectures, track major milestones, and flag potential conflicts before they escalate.

3. Strategic Application Rationalization

Identify redundant or outdated applications using pre-defined reports that analyze cost, value, technical fit, and lifecycle. Reduce complexity and free up budget for innovation.

4. Cross-Team Collaboration

Foster alignment between IT, business, and project stakeholders. As Krzysztof Kwiatek, Enterprise Architect at Reckitt, puts it:

“SAP LeanIX is our collaborative platform where different departments can work together to build the full EA picture, better understand our business capabilities, and get information about IT systems in order to mitigate risks.”

5. SAP Signavio Integration for Process Mapping

Decide which processes to keep or redesign using SAP Signavio Process Manager—ensuring your transformation efforts are backed by process intelligence.

6. Scenario Planning & SAP Activate Alignment

Model and compare transformation scenarios and seamlessly align with the SAP Activate methodology—from Discover to Run—ensuring your roadmap supports agile execution.

The Business Impact

With SAP LeanIX, organizations achieve:

• Faster, smarter decisions on technology strategy

• Reduced transformation risk and improved governance

• Stronger collaboration between IT and business

• More efficient budgeting through rationalization and modernization

• Support for AI adoption, IT sustainability, and cloud migration

SAP LeanIX enables you to confidently plan, execute, and manage change—not just for your ERP transformation, but for your broader digital future.

Key Product Capabilities at a Glance

• Easily collect and manage application data

• Filter and assess applications by lifecycle, fit, and business value

• Create transformation roadmaps with clear timelines and dependencies

• Evaluate and rationalize with built-in reporting

• Track progress with dashboards and KPIs

Conclusion: Ready to Transform with Confidence?

ERP transformation isn’t just a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic business evolution. With SAP LeanIX, CIOs, CTOs, and Enterprise Architects finally have the visibility, structure, and collaboration tools to execute with confidence and precision.

Don’t let complexity stall your SAP journey. Harness the power of enterprise architecture and modern EA tools to transform smarter and faster. Contact Altivate to kick-start your transformation journey today.

The post Confidently Navigating SAP S/4HANA Transformations with SAP LeanIX appeared first on Altivate.

SAP SuccessFactors: Built for the Intelligent Enterprise

SAP SuccessFactors is redefining how enterprises manage, engage, and develop their people. Supporting over 10,000 organizations and 290 million users globally​, SAP SuccessFactors is more than just an HCM solution — it is the foundation for the Intelligent Enterprise. Unlike competitors that focus narrowly on HR transactions, SAP SuccessFactors is purpose-built to deliver end-to-end, personalized employee experiences — spanning onboarding, skills development, career growth, and continuous learning.

Powered by SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and infused with SAP Business AI, SuccessFactors seamlessly integrates HR with finance, procurement, and sales, creating one cohesive experience across business functions​. SAP’s global capabilities are unmatched: localizations in 104 countries, payroll native support in 50+ countries, and continuous compliance monitoring with over 2,000 legislative updates annually​.

Critically, SAP’s AI capabilities are already live today. Joule, SAP’s AI copilot, is embedded across SAP applications, offering 30+ production-grade use cases within SAP SuccessFactors alone​. This contrasts sharply with competitors like Workday, whose newly launched Illuminate platform is still in early stages, and Oracle, whose AI capabilities remain fragmented across modules.

In short, SAP SuccessFactors isn’t just keeping up with the demands of modern HR — it’s setting a new standard for what an HCM platform should deliver: relevant, reliable, and responsible innovation on a truly global scale.

Why SAP SuccessFactors Wins

1. Employee Experience First, Not an Afterthought

In today’s competitive talent landscape, employee experience is no longer optional — it’s a strategic imperative. SAP SuccessFactors leads the way by embedding individualized, flexible, and intelligent experiences across the entire employee lifecycle​.

Where competitors like Workday focus heavily on polished demos for simple use cases​, SAP SuccessFactors delivers real, scalable experiences that address the complexities of a modern, global workforce. The platform’s Horizon UX prioritizes usability, accessibility, and intuitive design, offering a consistent experience across devices and locations​.

Key proof points:

• Joule, SAP’s AI copilot, empowers employees with natural-language interactions across recruiting, onboarding, learning, and career development​.
• SAP SuccessFactors supports employee engagement initiatives globally, with native capabilities across 45 languages, including Arabic and Hebrew​.
• SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone enhances collaboration and engagement by connecting HR services with productivity tools, learning, and communication hubs​.

Meanwhile, Workday’s “People Experience” (PEX) platform — announced in 2019 — took over two years to reach basic general availability​. Oracle’s HCM tools offer good workflow management but fall short of delivering a cohesive, personalized employee journey​.

The result? SAP SuccessFactors isn’t just building beautiful screens — it’s enabling organizations to deliver experiences that attract, retain, and empower their people.

2. AI Innovation: Mature, Responsible, and Relevant

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing Human Capital Management — but not all AI strategies are created equal. SAP SuccessFactors stands far ahead of Workday and Oracle by offering mature, trustworthy, and production-ready AI capabilities.

SAP SuccessFactors’ AI advantage includes:

• 30+ live AI use cases embedded across HCM processes, including recruiting, learning, succession planning, and skills development​.
• Joule, SAP’s cross-suite AI copilot, which enables natural language interaction across SAP SuccessFactors and other SAP applications — making it easier for employees and managers to complete tasks, find insights, and automate HR processes​.
• A responsible AI framework ensuring transparent, ethical, and bias-minimized outputs — critical for trust in HR decision-making​.
• New strategic partnerships, such as with Mistral AI, to lead innovation in Large Language Models (LLMs)​.

By contrast, Workday’s Illuminate platform — announced in 2024 — is still early in rollout, with most capabilities like AI agents for recruiting and expenses not yet fully available​. Workday’s approach heavily relies on acquisitions (e.g., HiredScore, Evisort) to fill AI gaps rather than building an integrated AI strategy​. Meanwhile, Oracle has introduced AI features for dynamic skills and personalized recommendations but struggles with consistent deployment across its cloud modules​.

Moreover, Workday charges an “Innovation Tax” adding up to 5% extra on renewal contracts to access advanced AI features​. In contrast, SAP delivers innovation without hidden costs, reinforcing trust and future-proofing investments.

Bottom line: SAP SuccessFactors is delivering relevant, reliable, and responsible AI today, while competitors are still promising what they hope to deliver tomorrow

3. Global Reach: Localizations That Matter

In an increasingly interconnected world, managing a global workforce demands an HCM platform that seamlessly adapts to regional regulations, languages, and compliance standards—a decisive advantage held by SAP SuccessFactors over Workday and Oracle.

Key localization strengths for SAP SuccessFactors:

• 104 countries supported with deep localization for core HR​.
• 50+ countries supported with native payroll solutions​ — the widest coverage among top-tier vendors.
• 45 languages supported across the platform, including full mobile access​.
• Over 2,000 regulatory updates delivered annually, ensuring customers stay compliant with evolving global, regional, and industry-specific regulations​.
• A dedicated network of 200+ HR and legal experts monitoring local laws and updates in real time​.

In contrast:

• Workday offers native payroll in only five countries (US, Canada, UK, France, and Australia)​.
• For broader payroll needs, Workday customers must rely on third-party partnerships under its Global Payroll Connect initiative, often resulting in higher total cost of ownership and integration complexity​.
• Oracle Cloud HCM has broader payroll support than Workday but lags behind SAP in terms of depth, local compliance expertise, and customer references for country-specific implementations​.

SAP’s commitment to globalization isn’t just about languages and currencies — it’s about building trust. With robust GDPR compliance, data residency options via SAP’s owned and operated data centers, and in-region deployment models, SAP helps companies operate globally with confidence.

4. Superior Extensibility and Open Ecosystem

Today’s enterprises need flexibility, not locked-down, closed platforms. SAP SuccessFactors leads the market with a truly open, extensible, and enterprise-grade ecosystem, giving customers the power to innovate at their pace.

Key SAP extensibility highlights:

• SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) enables secure, scalable customizations — from simple extensions to full-blown applications​.
• 360+ ecosystem apps integrated with SAP SuccessFactors​, backed by 300+ global partners.
• 1,670+ apps available across SAP’s broader cloud ecosystem, built to SAP’s security and compliance standards​.
• SAP BTP is a Leader in Gartner’s 2023 Multiexperience Development Platforms (MXDP) Magic Quadrant, recognizing its low-code and pro-code capabilities​.

Meanwhile:

• Workday Extend — launched only in 2020 — still has an immature partner ecosystem, with around 1,000 apps built primarily for internal customer use​.
• Workday’s new AI Marketplace focuses narrowly on AI/ML apps and lacks the breadth and maturity of SAP’s cross-line-of-business ecosystem​.
• Oracle Cloud HCM requires heavy customization through Oracle Integration Cloud and third-party tools, making extensibility costly and complex​.

Critically, SAP’s extensibility approach ensures:

• Built-in version control
• Seamless lifecycle management
• Full support for API-driven integrations
• Cross-SAP product interoperability, enabling integrated innovation across HR, Finance, Supply Chain, and beyond​.

5. Integration Leadership

In a cloud-first world, seamless integration isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. SAP SuccessFactors leads the industry with robust, secure, and intelligent integration across systems, processes, and data landscapes.

SAP’s integration advantages include:

• SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) Integration Suite: Enables real-time, secure, and scalable integration across SAP and non-SAP applications​.
• SAP Integration Center: Allows business users (not just IT experts) to build and maintain integrations easily, covering about 80% of standard use cases without coding​.
• Intelligent Services: Pre-built, event-driven integrations that span HR events like onboarding, job changes, and promotions — automatically triggering updates across connected systems​.
• API-rich ecosystem: SAP SuccessFactors provides an extensive library of open APIs and event connectors, allowing maximum flexibility for custom or third-party integrations​.

By comparison:

• Workday integration is notoriously challenging:
  • Requires multiple point-to-point connections with Workday Studio or Integration Cloud​.
  • No built-in version control for integrations — making updates and maintenance risky​.
  • Complex debugging process that even Workday’s own documentation admits is difficult​.
  • Integration success often depends heavily on expensive third-party consultants​.
• Oracle Cloud HCM also struggles with seamless integration, especially between its different acquired cloud products (ERP, SCM, HCM), leading to siloed experiences​.

Moreover, SAP SuccessFactors owns and maintains standard integrations — no hidden maintenance costs, no complex patchwork needed​.
Workday, meanwhile, often shifts the burden of support and version updates to customers or partners, increasing long-term cost and risk​.

Competitor Snapshots

Workday: Polished Demos, Underwhelming Delivery

Workday often positions itself as the sleek, modern HCM choice. While its user interface performs well in basic scenarios, customers frequently discover that the platform lacks the depth, scalability, and global capability they need.

Key Weaknesses:

• Payroll localization: Only supports native payroll in 5 countries (US, UK, Canada, France, Australia), compared to SAP’s 50+ countries​.
• Integration challenges: Complex, costly integrations via Workday Studio and third parties. No version control or seamless API management​.
• Skills and Talent: Skills Cloud was introduced in 2018 but lacks cohesion with competencies and shows limited validation. SAP’s Whole Self Model and Talent Intelligence Hub offer a complete and more structured approach​.
• AI gaps: Many AI features (like agents in “Illuminate”) are newly announced or not yet released. Joule, SAP’s AI copilot, has 30+ use cases in production across HCM today​.
• High Total Cost of Ownership: Gartner notes Workday is one of the most expensive options on the market, and renewal often includes a 5% “Innovation Index” uplift, essentially an AI tax​.
• Service and support: Workday relies heavily on partners for global deployments, localization, and support. SAP provides dedicated global support teams and over 200 compliance experts​.

Despite strong marketing and polished pitch decks, Workday’s gaps in localization, extensibility, payroll, and integration continue to limit its scalability for global enterprises. The product shines in narrow use cases — but falters when complexity and scale matter.

Oracle Cloud HCM: Unified Pitch, Fragmented Reality

Oracle markets its Cloud HCM as a unified suite, but customers’ reality is often far more fragmented. While Oracle offers a strong ERP and finance backbone, its HCM offering lags behind in experience, flexibility, and global readiness.

Key Weaknesses:

• Fragmented user experience: Oracle’s cloud applications are unified in branding, but not always in execution. The integration between HCM, Finance, and SCM modules remains complex and inconsistent, especially for hybrid or legacy customers​.
• Limited HCM-first innovation: Oracle’s focus on finance-led transformation often sidelines deep HCM functionality and innovation. Unlike SAP SuccessFactors — which was built around employee experience — Oracle treats HR as an add-on to its ERP core.
• AI capabilities are emerging, not established: While Oracle has introduced AI-based suggestions and analytics, it lacks the mature, role-based AI copilot functionality of SAP Joule or the cross-platform ambition of SAP’s Business AI strategy​.
• Localization depth: Oracle provides decent payroll and compliance in core markets but doesn’t match SAP’s 104-country localization or 50-country payroll support, which are maintained by dedicated teams of in-house legal and HR experts​.
• Customer flexibility and extensibility: Oracle Integration Cloud often requires specialized technical expertise. Unlike SAP BTP, it does not offer low-code tooling or an open partner ecosystem with the same scale and maturity​.
• Upgrade and change management complexity: Oracle’s customers report that updates can introduce risk or require significant effort for regression testing — something SAP SuccessFactors manages with in-built lifecycle and integration management​.

Oracle may appeal to existing Oracle ERP customers looking for single-vendor convenience. But for companies prioritizing scalability, extensibility, and employee experience, SAP SuccessFactors offers a purpose-built solution that doesn’t compromise on functionality or vision.

Analyst Recognition: SAP at the Top

Analyst Recognition: SAP at the Top

Independent analyst firms consistently rank SAP SuccessFactors as a top performer in the HCM market — and the reasons are clear: global capability, innovation maturity, and unmatched extensibility.

Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites (2024)

SAP SuccessFactors is recognized as a Leader among HCM vendors for enterprises with 1,000+ employees. According to Gartner, SAP:

• Improved its position due to advances in SuccessFactors Work Zone, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), and Joule, the AI copilot​.
• Offers the strongest localization capabilities, with 50+ countries covered by payroll and 104 with native HR compliance — leading the pack in global compliance readiness​.
• Is seen as making faster innovation progress than Oracle and Workday in recent updates​.

Fosway 9-Grid for Cloud HCM (2023)

Fosway positions SAP SuccessFactors as the top-performing Cloud HR solution, ahead of both Workday and Oracle in current performance. Oracle and Workday were positioned as having “more potential,” but lower current execution​.

Raven Intelligence (2024)

Based on implementation project feedback, SAP SuccessFactors:

• Ranked #1 in customer satisfaction, on-time delivery, and on-budget execution.
• Outperformed Workday in end-user adoption and post-go-live support — key indicators of long-term success​.

TrustRadius Awards

In 2024, SAP SuccessFactors won 12 TrustRadius Top Rated Awards, covering core HR, talent management, learning, payroll, and more, based on verified user reviews, not just analyst opinion

In today’s evolving world of work, companies need more than just HR software — they need a platform that empowers their people, adapts to complexity, and delivers innovation without compromise. SAP SuccessFactors has proven time and again that it’s not just keeping pace with industry demands — it’s setting the standard.

With unmatched global capabilities, production-ready AI through Joule, deep localization, proven integration, and trusted analyst validation, SAP SuccessFactors stands ahead of both Workday and Oracle Cloud HCM. Whether you’re a multinational enterprise navigating compliance in 50+ countries or a fast-scaling business investing in employee experience, SAP gives you the tools to lead, not just manage, your workforce.

Ready to transform the way your organization attracts, engages, and develops talent?

Let Altivate show you what’s possible.

The post How SAP SuccessFactors Outpaces the Competition: Winning Against Workday and Oracle in 2025 appeared first on Altivate.

This significant milestone reaffirms Altivate’s dedication to integrating ethical principles and risk management practices into its AI-driven solutions, ensuring accountability, transparency, and societal benefit in every deployment.

“AI has the potential to profoundly transform industries—but only if implemented responsibly,” said Ali Abuhassan, CEO of Altivate. “This certification is a testament to our commitment to building AI systems that are not only innovative and intelligent, but also ethical, secure, and trustworthy. We’re proud to lead the way in the region and set a new benchmark for responsible AI.”

The ISO/IEC 23894:2023 standard outlines a framework for organizations to manage AI-specific risks throughout the lifecycle of AI systems. Achieving this certification positions Altivate at the forefront of AI governance and risk management in the Middle East.

Altivate’s strategic collaboration with SAP continues to serve as a foundation for delivering cutting-edge enterprise solutions that empower clients to accelerate digital transformation with confidence and compliance.

This certification complements Altivate’s suite of ISO accreditations and reinforces its unwavering dedication to global standards, innovation, and sustainable value creation.

About Altivate
Altivate is a digital transformation enabler and SAP Gold Partner based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With deep industry expertise and a strong commitment to innovation, Altivate empowers organizations across the region to elevate performance through intelligent technologies, data-driven strategies, and future-ready enterprise solutions.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

www.altivate.com

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The numbers speak for themselves:

• 78% of customers will return to a business that consistently delivers good service.
• Companies that focus on their customers generate 60% more revenue than those that don’t.
• Returning customers spend 67% more than new ones, making retention a crucial factor for sustained success.
• A one-point increase in customer satisfaction scores is historically associated with a rise in shareholder value by more than 1%.

However, delivering high-quality customer service on a scale is no easy task. Business leaders must embrace three key levers to unlock transformational growth:

1. Building a customer-centric culture that permeates every function of the organization.
2. Implementing scalable and adaptable service operations that can evolve with customer needs.
3. Leveraging AI and advanced technologies to enhance service efficiency and personalization.

By mastering these levers, businesses can transform customer service from a cost center into a growth engine, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Building a Customer-Centric Culture

Culture Comes First

Customer centricity is the foundation of long-term business success. Companies that prioritize customer needs across all functions not only improve satisfaction but also drive retention and revenue growth. However, embedding a customer-first mindset into an organization is often easier said than done. Many businesses struggle to implement systematic changes due to day-to-day operational pressures. In fact, 54% of leaders cite routine tasks as the biggest barrier to improving customer service operations.

For a customer-centric culture to thrive, leadership commitment is crucial. Executives must lead by example, ensuring that customer priorities are embedded across all departments—from sales and marketing to product development and operations. They must also provide employees with the right tools, training, and support to deliver superior customer experiences. Without this top-down commitment, efforts to enhance customer service often fall short.

Leveraging Data to Reinforce Customer Centricity

The adage “what gets measured gets managed” holds true when building a customer-first culture. Businesses need integrated systems that consolidate customer data, allowing them to proactively address issues and improve service. Despite the importance of data-driven decision-making, only 27% of companies provide their customer service agents with a unified customer profile, highlighting a major gap in customer understanding.

Executives must work to democratize customer insights, ensuring that all employees—regardless of how their work impacts customer satisfaction. When employees see the direct connection between their actions and business outcomes, they become more motivated to uphold a customer-first culture. As Vishal Gupta, Senior Vice President at Lexmark International, puts it:

“Executives need to explain how they’ve made decisions based on the data.”

Case Study: T-Mobile’s Customer-Centric Transformation – source Economist Impact report

A prime example of customer-centric leadership is T-Mobile’s transformation of its customer service operations. The company adopted an agile approach, integrating cross-functional teams and weekly upskilling sessions to enhance service quality. These changes led to:

• A 14% increase in first-call resolution, ensuring customers’ issues were resolved faster.
• A 70% reduction in customer transfers, leading to smoother service interactions.
• A 40% decrease in employee attrition, as engagement and job satisfaction improved.

By prioritizing customer experience and empowering employees with the right strategies, T-Mobile significantly enhanced both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Key Takeaways

To successfully build a customer-centric culture, businesses must:

• Make customer service a leadership priority, embedding it across all functions.
• Utilize data-driven insights to measure and reinforce customer-first strategies.
• Empower employees with training and tools to enhance customer experience.
• Learn from industry leaders, adopting best practices that drive measurable impact.

With these strategies in place, businesses can turn customer service into a powerful growth engine, fostering stronger relationships and long-term success.

Creating Scalable and Adaptable Customer Service Operations

Businesses must make sure their customer service operations are flexible, scalable, and adaptable to keep up with the rapidly changing expectations of their customers. Companies that can adapt to changing market demands and integrate new technologies with ease in a competitive edge that boosts productivity and customer satisfaction.

The Need for Flexibility in Customer Service

The traditional customer service models frequently find it difficult to adapt to the changing needs of their clients. It is challenging to implement new solutions in a rigid infrastructure without interfering with business operations or necessitating a significant amount of retraining. Businesses are responding to this by adopting “composability”—a modular strategy that enables them to choose and incorporate the best solutions for their unique requirements.

Moreover, only 27% of organizations provide their customer service agents with a single view of the customer, creating inefficiencies that impact service quality. Collating and analyzing data from multiple sources—such as customer feedback, CRM, and ERP systems—ensures that employees have the information they need to make informed, real-time decisions.

To provide truly scalable and adaptable customer service, companies must integrate critical business systems like ERP and CRM. These integrations allow businesses to:

• Unify customer data for a seamless service experience.
• Enhance operational efficiency by automating workflows and reducing manual processes.
• Enable real-time decision-making, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

By integrating customer service insights with business operations, AI-driven ERP systems, for instance, enhance information management, control, and productivity. When paired with external data, like customer feedback and purchase history, corporations can modify operations in response to real-time demand patterns.

T-Mobile successfully transformed its customer service operations by integrating agile methodologies and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency. By adopting a flexible workforce strategy and interdisciplinary teams, the company achieved:

• Q14% increase in first-call resolution, ensuring faster problem-solving.
• 70% reduction in customer transfers, leading to smoother service interactions.
• 40% decrease in employee attrition, as improved processes boosted morale.

This approach not only enhanced customer satisfaction but also improved operational efficiency, reducing costs while delivering a better service experience.

AI-Driven Analytics: The Future of Scalable Customer Service

• AI is playing an increasingly critical role in optimizing customer service operations. Companies leveraging AI-powered analytics can:
  Predict customer demand and scale resources accordingly.
• Optimize service call volume to improve forecast accuracy and efficiency.
• Use AI-driven coaching tools to train and support customer service agents.

For example, one company used machine learning to improve call volume forecasting, leading to a 7% increase in accuracy and a 5% reduction in staffing costs. Another global enterprise used AI to analyze customer interactions, allowing teams to respond faster and more effectively to service requests.

Leveraging AI to Drive Customer Service Innovation

AI is transforming customer service by providing businesses with previously unheard-of levels of cost savings, efficiency, and personalisation. Businesses are using AI-powered solutions to improve service quality, automate tedious tasks, and seize new growth prospects. By harnessing AI, organizations can reduce response times, improve accuracy, and elevate customer experiences—all while optimizing operational costs.

AI-Powered Tools Transforming Customer Service

Businesses are increasingly integrating AI into their customer service ecosystems, leveraging tools such as:

• Chatbots & Virtual Assistants – Automate responses to common inquiries, reducing wait times and freeing up human agents for more complex issues.
• Generative AI for Customer Interactions – Helps draft personalized email responses, provide contextual recommendations, and enhance chatbot conversations.
• AI-driven analytics & Predictive Insights – Identify customer needs before they arise, optimizing staffing levels and improving service delivery.

Overcoming AI Adoption Challenges

Despite AI’s vast potential, many companies face obstacles in implementation. These include:

• Technical challenges – Deploying and scaling AI solutions requires robust IT infrastructure.
• Data security concerns – Businesses must ensure AI tools adhere to compliance and privacy regulations.
• Workforce adaptation – Employees may resist AI adoption due to job security fears.

To successfully integrate AI, companies should:

• Establish a robust data infrastructure to ensure smooth AI implementation and seamless integration with existing business systems.
• Leverage AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, human expertise, empowering customer service teams with intelligent insights that enable faster, more effective problem-solving.
• Invest in ongoing training and upskilling programs, equipping employees with the knowledge and confidence to maximize AI’s potential in their daily workflows.
• Partner with experienced technology enablers like Altivate to accelerate AI adoption, streamline integration with ERP and CRM systems, and unlock data-driven insights for improved customer engagement.

As an SAP Gold Partner, Altivate provides end-to-end digital transformation solutions, helping businesses seamlessly integrate AI-powered customer service tools with their existing enterprise infrastructure. From automating workflows and optimizing data management to enhancing decision-making with predictive analytics, Altivate ensures that AI adoption is strategic, scalable, and aligned with business objectives. By collaborating with a trusted technology partner, organizations can navigate AI implementation with confidence, ensuring a smoother transition, higher ROI, and superior customer experience.

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What This Means for Our Clients and Partners

Achieving ISO 37001:2016 demonstrates that Altivate:

• Implements robust anti-bribery controls – Ensuring transparency and ethical conduct across all business activities.
• Strengthens compliance and risk management – Aligning with global anti-corruption regulations and best practices.
• Enhances trust with clients and stakeholders – Reinforcing our commitment to ethical partnerships and fair business dealings.
• Promotes a culture of integrity – Establishing policies, processes, and training programs to prevent bribery and unethical behavior.

At Altivate, we believe that strong governance and ethical business practices are key to sustainable growth and long-term success. This certification is a testament to our unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest levels of compliance, accountability, and corporate responsibility.

“Earning the ISO 37001:2016 certification reaffirms our commitment to ethical business conduct and integrity in all our dealings. We remain dedicated to upholding global best practices, ensuring a transparent and compliant business environment for our clients and partners,” said Ali Abuhassan, Altivate CEO.

We extend our gratitude to our team, clients, and partners for their continued trust and support as we drive responsible, compliant, and ethical business operations.

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What This Means for Our Clients

Achieving ISO 42001:2023 demonstrates that Altivate:

• Implements AI responsibly – Ensuring AI systems are ethical, transparent, and aligned with global standards.
• Enhances AI security & risk management – Protecting data integrity, privacy, and compliance.
• Optimizes AI-driven business solutions – Helping clients leverage AI for improved decision-making, automation, and efficiency.
• Drives innovation with trust – Providing AI-powered ERP, cloud, and digital transformation services with the highest standards of quality and governance.

As a trusted SAP and cloud solutions provider, Altivate continues to lead the way in AI-driven digital transformation, ensuring our clients benefit from cutting-edge technology that is secure, compliant, and future-ready.

“AI is reshaping the future of business, and at Altivate, we are committed to delivering AI solutions that are not only innovative but also responsible and aligned with global best practices,” said Ali Abuhassan, Altivate CEO

We thank our clients, partners, and team for their dedication and trust as we continue our journey to build intelligent, ethical, and high-performing AI solutions.

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