Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
SAP Logo
5,283 views|4,136 comparisons
Workday Logo
12,392 views|7,820 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Oct 30, 2022

We performed a comparison between SAP HCM and Workday based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: For the most part, users of both solutions feel their installation and deployment is simple and straightforward.
  • Features: SAP HCM offers users a great Organizational Management (OM) feature in addition to intuitive talent, recruitment, and learning features. The employee self-service feature is a PeerSpot user favorite. Many users feel the solution could be more flexible, offer better performance, and should offer more integrations.

    Users say Workday provides a seamless business process framework that is very easy to use and customize. Their out-of-the-box reporting framework is also really powerful and provides many value-added features. Many users feel that having backend access would help the technical teams better handle issues on their own. Additionally, many users feel a mobile version would be a great option.
  • Pricing: Users feel pricing for both solutions is expensive.
  • Service and Support: Overall, users of both solutions are satisfied with their service and support.

Comparison Results: Workday comes out on top in this comparison. Users say it offers robust security features, is very easy to use, and has excellent compliance features. The tool enables companies to save time and help with financials, payroll, and even recruiting. Many users feel SAP HCM can be a bit bulky and slow, and there can also be a steep learning curve to getting the solution up to speed.

To learn more, read our detailed SAP HCM vs. Workday Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: Which HCM solution is better for a healthcare organization: SAP HCM, Appian, or Workday?
Answer: Hi Michael, My top reasons to consider SAP SuccessFactors would be: 1. Robustness of the Core Employee Central. 2. GDPR Compliance and Audit tracking capability for transactions given the healthcare industry regulations. 3. Scalability of the solution, especially if your organization is spread over multiple geographical locations. 4. Vast support ecosystem and string tech capabilities. 5. Lastly, leverage SAP S/4HANA.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The integration between the different models like personnel administration, work management, payroll, and time management are the most valuable and key features.""It is a scalable solution. There are three administrators maintaining the solution: an HR person, a payroll person, and one backup.""The user interface is the solution's most valuable feature. It makes it easy for us to use.""The technical support is quite good.""It's very suitable for large, multi-geography companies but also very suitable for medium companies with multi-geography operations.""The master data where most of the reports were run from was the most valuable. We were quite satisfied with this module.""The most valuable feature is Organizational Management (OM).""Customers can create custom infotypes to store any custom data points."

More SAP HCM Pros →

"We have fewer systems, less manual data entry, and less processing.""The solution is stable.""The product is useful for storing employee records.""There is a lot to like about it. I really enjoy the business process framework. It's something that's really seamless. It allows you to have people within the flow. They get assigned a task to complete something to approve, etc. That's a really good piece of functionality that Workday offers. Their out-of-the-box reporting framework is also really powerful in terms of what it provides. These would be two things that I would highlight.""Workday is a holistic HR solution.""I like that it's easy to use and flexible.""We like the fact that this solution is very user-friendly, with a straightforward user interface.""We use the platform for tasks, including applying for leaves, communication, and adhering to our organization's policies through efficient goal setting and reviews."

More Workday Pros →

Cons
"The implementation of the solution can be a bit difficult. They should make it easier. If it could be as simple as the SuccessFactors implementation that would be ideal.""I would like it to move more towards a single data space, a single data source. SAP as a platform relies on multiple data sources because traditionally, it's been bolted together by the acquisition of other products rather than a single database. That's why there are lots of points of failure and lots of required points of integration. They need a single integration point.""SAP now does the most innovation for the cloud solution and less innovation for the on-premises client.""On the personnel administration side, it's very difficult to do custom development.""SAP HCM has many different channels for communication with the consultants which makes it complex. There are delays when there is a problem.""It takes a long time to apply an update patch to the system.""It would be very helpful for our company if a new version was released with the ability to contain all of the things that we have newly introduced in our company.""The product's learning and development features could be better, including new exclusive LMS tools."

More SAP HCM Cons →

"The solution has some features missing when you put them in the test studio or Confluence Studio. I would like the tool’s coding to be easier to understand and automated. Most of the coding these days is automated. Any query given can pull the answer directly which can make the solution easier to understand.""The solution can be improved by speeding up the load time when pulling up information.""The user interface can be enhanced.""The user interface could be better. Everything else was fine.""It is good that much of the development is based on community input but often that can lead to details being ignored and small, nagging issues are ignored.""The user interface could be modernized somehow.""My opinion is that this solution can improve the overall integrations and add more automation. I think anything that could be on a self-serve basis would work quite well.""It is very unique as compared to other tools in terms of the employee master data and how it is organized. That's why sometimes the information needs to sit in two different systems because, in Workday, it is organized differently. This issue is not related to benefits. It is more or so related to how you categorize employees. I don't think this is a problem that could be solved. Workday is aware of this. It is one of those kinds of situations that you just got to live with."

More Workday Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Licensing is pretty complex. SAP does not have a straight forward way of licensing, and it differs from client to client."
  • "The terms on which you buy licenses might change due to the way they license in a particular product."
  • "For implementation, SAP offers little support unless you buy SAP Safeguarding from SAP Consulting."
  • "Be careful and guard against future changes in licensing."
  • "In my view, this product is a waste of money for SMB because there are much better products available and licensing is an issue."
  • "You pay per license. There not any costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."
  • "SAP is extremely expensive. The integration costs and customization costs are also a lot."
  • "SAP is expensive, but if you're using the product, then the expensive product becomes inexpensive. Considering its performance and features, I find it quite reasonable."
  • More SAP HCM Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "With a bigger budget, I would recommend SAP."
  • "Workday is an expensive solution."
  • "You have the license fee per module, and then you have a kind of annual training fee, which is a kind of add-on. I wouldn't say it is exhaustive; it is minor. Licensing is pretty transparent for most of the part."
  • "The pricing is good from an HR perspective, although management gets upset after spending $500,000 a year, every year."
  • "Its price is pretty high. It is more expensive than what is offered by other competitors in the market."
  • "It has an annual subscription rate, but I'm not sure how it will work."
  • "The pricing for this solution is fairly high. It is not affordable for small and mid-sized companies."
  • "By and large, Workday is expensive. It is based on the headcount. I'd probably rate it a three or four out of five in terms of pricing. It'd be like buying a Mercedes or a high-end car. It's expensive, but there's a specific value that you're getting with additional features and things of that nature. Using that metaphor, Workday probably tends to be more of a luxury. There are others like ADP that can do your payroll, your time off, and other things, but they don't do it as well."
  • More Workday Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Benefits Administration solutions are best for your needs.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Answers from the Community
    Michael Kellenbenz
    Ashwin Bhadouria - PeerSpot reviewerAshwin Bhadouria
    Real User

    Hi, is HCM the only requirement with the organization, or are other solutions also required? As far as HCM is concerned, SAP is comprehensive and can be tailored as per requirements. Thanks - Ashwin

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:SAP HCM is the one of the best ERP for an organization with a small to large scale business. It has the most efficient payroll functionality. Regards : SAP HR classes in pune
    Top Answer:HCM is a very important module that each organization should want to use. It will help any organization to calculate and control the cost of their human resources.
    Top Answer:When it comes to user experience, SuccessFactors is unquestionably superior, as it provides end users with a new experience and an advanced user interface. Additionally, the entire concept of SF is to… more »
    Top Answer:Differences between Workday, Oracle Cloud,w and SAP SuccessFactors:w Oracle: "simple interface and deep customization to suit the purpose." SAP: Multiple functionalities that increase process… more »
    Top Answer:We use the platform for tasks, including applying for leaves, communication, and adhering to our organization's policies through efficient goal setting and reviews.
    Ranking
    4th
    Views
    5,283
    Comparisons
    4,136
    Reviews
    17
    Average Words per Review
    405
    Rating
    8.1
    1st
    Views
    12,392
    Comparisons
    7,820
    Reviews
    26
    Average Words per Review
    398
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    SAP Human Capital Management
    Learn More
    Overview

    SAP HCM is a benefits administration solution that has a comprehensive set of tools and features for managing and optimizing all aspects of human resources. SAP HCM covers various HR functions including payroll, time and attendance management, talent management, succession planning, and employee performance evaluation.

    The goal of SAP HCM is to help organizations streamline HR processes, improve workforce productivity and efficiency, and support strategic HR decision-making. With SAP HCM, HR departments can manage employee data, track and analyze key HR metrics, and automate various HR processes to save time and resources. It is widely used by large organizations across various industries.

    SAP HCM Features

    SAP HCM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Personnel administration: With SAP HCM, users can manage employee master data, such as personal details, employment contracts, and job information.
    • Payroll: The solution provides automation of payroll processes, including tax calculation, payment generation, and reporting.
    • Time and attendance management: Automated tracking and management of employee time and attendance help users streamline HR processes. 
    • Talent management: SAP HCM includes tools for recruiting, onboarding, training, and development of employees.
    • Succession planning: With this feature, users can plan and manage employee career development and succession within the organization.
    • Performance and goal management: SAP HCM is designed with performance evaluation, goal setting, and development planning for employees.
    • Compliance management: SAP HCM offers management of legal and regulatory requirements related to HR processes.
    • Reporting and analytics: Generation of reports and analysis of key HR metrics help support decision-making.
    • Integrations: The solution has integration with other SAP modules, such as SAP Finance and SAP Supply Chain, that provide a comprehensive solution for HR management.


    SAP HCM Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing SAP HCM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Improved HR processes: The solution’s automation of HR processes, helps reduce manual effort and increases efficiency.
    • Better data management: SAP HCM provides centralized management of employee data, improving data accuracy and reducing the risk of errors.
    • Increased productivity: Because the solution streamlines HR processes, it frees up HR staff to focus on other strategic tasks.
    • Improved compliance: SAP HCM helps businesses reduce the risk of non-compliance by making legal and regulatory requirements related to HR processes easy and manageable. 
    • Better decision-making: Access to real-time HR data and analytics enables data-driven decision-making.
    • Increased transparency: SAP HCM improves visibility into HR processes, enabling HR departments to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.
    • Better employee engagement: The solution’s provision of self-service options for employees improves employee satisfaction and engagement.
    • Cost control: SAP HCM’s automation of HR processes reduces costs associated with manual HR processes.
    • Talent management: The solution’s tools for attracting, retaining, and developing employees increase overall workforce productivity and effectiveness.


    Reviews from Real Users

    SAP HCM is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it has good payroll and personnel administration, it’s a powerful tool for maintaining company data, and has valuable SuccessFactors talent modules. 

    According to Dave D., Project Manager at Telecom Namibia, “[SAP HCM] allows us to do all of our HR management processes, including payroll and personnel administration.” He also adds, “Technical support is excellent."

    “I think that it's a very powerful tool for maintaining your company data. When you maintain your data in SAP, you can generate any kind of HR report with one click,” says Sameer Y., Team Leader at Fauji Meat Limited.

    Another PeerSpot reviewer, Arsala A., SAP HCM / SF Consultant at a computer software company, explains what she likes most about SAP HCM: "Payroll processing is my favorite HCM feature, and I like all the SuccessFactors talent modules also. SAP is making good progress on enhancements to the features in the SF modules."

    Workday is a cloud-based software solution that specializes in developing applications for capital and finance management applications. The system is built to work in global workforces and is adaptable. The global system ensures that users are up to date and can manage internal career-related information, and everyday business problems like timesheets, payrolls, and time off.

    “A Pioneer in Software-as-a-Service”

    Workday Human Capital Management tool is designed to simplify and streamline your work. It leverages machine learning to adapt capital management to a changing environment.

    The Workday model is based on delivering a single system that uses a single source of data and a single security model to deliver a unique user experience. The system is user-friendly and ensures that employees and management can use it from any and all devices. Workday HCM integrates into a central system that includes financial management, payroll, recruiting, learning, and planning. Managers and employees can provide feedback to one another, too.

    Workday’s features include:

    • Flexible framework that lets you organize your staff according to different criteria. You can group employees by function, hierarchy, or department.
    • Personalized career guidance: Knowledge management and career guidance that can be easily customized for each staff member and also done at scale.
    • Augmented reporting and analytics: Configure, change, update, and publish reports, scorecards, and dashboards. The system centralizes the transactional and analytical data so you can act on the data from anywhere.
    • Compensation tools: Compensatio, payroll, and time tracking are automated and simplified.
    • Workforce planning allows you to uncover and address talent gaps and get visibility of your staff.
    • Mobile-first ensign approach: Users can access all resources from any device, and they are always in sync.
    • Machine learning capabilities enable personalized enterprise experiences and faster business processes.

    Workday smart platform consists of the following modules:

    • Human resource management
    • Business process management
    • Reporting and analytics
    • Benefits administration
    • Compensation management
    • Talent management
    • Survey framework
    • Employee and management self-service

    Reviews from Real Users

    Many organizations choose Workday because it provides an all-in-one modular solution for human capital and finance management. Our users say they like the ease of use for time-off requests, career and development segments, and overall HR management. The records and reporting capabilities are another popular feature.

    "The solution was very good at reconfiguration and customization of their software. It helped us to meet federal regulations," said one user. Another said that the best feature is the optimization of the work day experience with a unified platform that can be applied across different business units. “You will never find a use case that cannot be covered," said a third.

    Sample Customers
    City of Cape Town, ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd., TransAlta Corporation, Keolis, PT XL Axiata Tbk, National Football League (NFL), Plan International, Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company, China Talent Group (CTG TMO), Umicore S.A., Butterfield Bank, Skrill Group Ltd.
    AAA, Allied Global, Avago Technologies Limited, Aviva, Cardinal Health, CareFusion, Chiquita Brands International, Equifax, Flextronics, HP, Life Time Fitness, McKee Foods, MGM Resorts International, Sanofi, ServiceSource International, Symantec, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Energy/Utilities Company18%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Healthcare Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Retailer6%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm29%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Hospitality Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization26%
    Computer Software Company9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise64%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise63%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise65%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business14%
    Midsize Enterprise32%
    Large Enterprise54%
    Buyer's Guide
    SAP HCM vs. Workday
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about SAP HCM vs. Workday and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    SAP HCM is ranked 4th in Benefits Administration with 19 reviews while Workday is ranked 1st in Benefits Administration with 27 reviews. SAP HCM is rated 7.6, while Workday is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of SAP HCM writes "A highly scalable tool used for payroll management and HR-related activities ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Workday writes "Offers good business process framework and out-of-the-box reporting, and brings operational efficiencies". SAP HCM is most compared with SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, PeopleSoft, ADP GlobalView Payroll and UKG, whereas Workday is most compared with SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, PeopleSoft, UKG and Cornerstone Learning. See our SAP HCM vs. Workday report.

    See our list of best Benefits Administration vendors, best Talent Management vendors, and best Cloud HCM vendors.

    We monitor all Benefits Administration reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.