In increasingly complex day-to-day business, speed alone is no longer enough. What matters is the connection between personnel, processes, data and decisions.

With the Release 1H 2026 With SAP SuccessFactors, we optimize this networking throughout the HR lifecycle. At the heart of the release are four fundamental priorities: Connected, comprehensive AI across the suite, a unified user experience that adapts to the way your organization works, processes designed for transparency, precision and compliance, and a better foundation for skills and long-term growth. With the help of all these innovations, companies can anticipate needs earlier, optimize daily workflows and make targeted progress.

Connected AI for the entire HCM

AI in HR realizes its greatest potential when it is used continuously throughout the entire HR process – not in individual functions, but as a network of functions with shared context and information exchange.

The 1H 2026 release brings Agentic AI into the entire suite of all SAP SuccessFactors solutions. This allows employees to receive clearer answers, act faster and further develop work tasks across roles and responsibilities. Networked with each other AI agents now support areas such as recruiting, human resources, payroll, training, performance management and talent development – and work together behind the scenes to prepare the next steps and provide appropriate assistance.

With this release comes a growing one Knowledge network for the workforce introduced, which integrates reliable external expertise and analysis directly into the workflow via Joule. Teams can now access expert guidance on global labor laws and research insights without leaving their workflows for faster, more informed decisions.

For optimal training within the workflow, employees can now access information via intelligent questions and answers in SAP SuccessFactors Learning easier to find. AI can provide instant, context-sensitive answers that come directly from an organization’s learning content. Relevant links and resources are also provided so employees can get answers quickly without having to search through courses or documentation.

Uniform user experience adapted to the way you work

With the increased integration of HR-related tasks into daily workflows, an intuitive, connected and responsive user experience is essential for all tasks. With Release 1H 2026, the user experience of SAP SuccessFactors solutions will be further standardized across the entire suite, so that it is tailored to the needs of employees, managers and HR teams.

• Connected recruiting and onboarding: Through the native integration between SmartRecruiters-solutions, SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP SuccessFactors onboarding AI-powered recruiting, core HR functions and onboarding are brought together into a unified user experience. This means that hiring teams can move forward more quickly and ensure consistency from application to hire.

• Tailor-made, available faster: The new one Extensibility Wizard takes you step-by-step through the creation of custom extensions directly in SAP SuccessFactors solutions SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). This makes it easier to tailor the user experience to individual business needs while ensuring governance.
• Easier and clearer for employees: A redesigned, configurable employee experience for the US 401(k) retirement plan SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Global Benefits for U.S. employees simplifies eligibility and administration by clearly explaining employer contributions and providing assistance with contribution rates and beneficiary designation so employees can feel confident making informed decisions.

Processes designed for transparency, precision and compliance

The 1H 2026 release introduces new SAP SuccessFactors features that help companies make their compensation models more transparent and precise.

With the findings on pay transparency in the People Intelligence package in SAP Business Data Cloud Companies can analyze compensation patterns and potential compensation differences and support transparent, data-based compensation models in line with new legal requirements, including in the EU.

Competence governance for sustainable growth

Preparing for the future requires reliable, consistent knowledge and skills data that companies can rely on for workforce, talent and workforce planning.

The 1H 2026 release offers an optimized Talent Intelligence Hub with an improved Competency governance and thus a central interface for competence management, the application of governance standards and the coordination between SAP SuccessFactors solutions and partner applications. This allows companies to improve the quality of knowledge and skills data, ensure comprehensive consistency and make informed, skills-based decisions.

A networked basis for the future

This release shows that SAP continues to focus on an intelligent, connected HCM foundation. It is designed to evolve with your company and support informed decisions at every stage of your work. By connecting data, AI and user experience across the HR lifecycle, these extensions enable companies to optimize operations today while laying the foundation for tomorrow.

Information about the scope of this release can be found in the Brochure for the 1H 2026 release of SAP SuccessFactors or in Overview video.

Bianka Woelke is Group Vice President and Head of Application Product Management for SAP SuccessFactors.