Month: March 2014

Just yesterday, SAP announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Fieldglass, a “provider of cloud-based vendor and labor management services.”

As Business Cloud News noted, SAP “said the acquisition will help bolster the company’s enterprise resource management offerings amongst businesses that require strong contingency-based resource management capabilities.”

With the rise in popularity of the cloud, more and more businesses have been looking for HCM software that utilizes the flexibility and scalability that the cloud offers. And with SAP’s acquisition here, there’s a very good chance that we’ll continue to see more cloud integration from SAP HCM, something that’s bound to be a good move for businesses who need that flexibility and scalability we just mentioned.

Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe, co-CEOs and members of the executive board of SAP AG, mentioned that “SAP’s innovations in cloud, in-memory and mobile technology are transforming workforce management. We look forward to extending our leadership position, increasing our sales and delivery capacity and introducing our winning strategy to new markets.”

Although it remains to be seen what new features SAP will start including in their software with the acquisition of Fieldglass, we’re excited to see what the future holds for cloud-based HCM and HR services.

If you’ve been following our blog within the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably seen the many posts we’ve done recently on HR 2014.

And even if you haven’t been following our blog, if you’re involved in the SAP HCM space, you’re probably very familiar with the many HR and SAP HCM conferences that take place throughout the year.

Business conferences are a great time to learn and to network–but there is certainly a right and a wrong way to go about attending them.

Making the most of a business conference takes preparation, careful planning, and a bit of business know-how, but with proper preparation beforehand, nearly anybody can walk away from a business conference with new knowledge, some new connections, and even new insights into the business world.

Here are 4 of our favorite tips for making the most of a business conference:

1. Learn the schedule ahead of time: Most business conferences have an incredible amount of events and speakers–HR 2014 just two weeks ago had 120 sessions and almost 100 speakers. By learning the schedule ahead of time–and not just scrambling to go to events throughout the conference–you can make the most of your time and capitalize on the opportunity to see a handful of great speakers all in one place.
2. Look at the conference as a learning experience–not just a networking opportunity: All too often, business people see business conferences as an opportunity for selling, leaving them to forget about the learning that can occur (Ivan Misner of BNI recalled a time where he asked the audience who was hoping to sell–all 900 raised their hand–and who was going to buy–none raised their hand). While they are great networking opportunities, conferences are also absolutely great for learning, and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t view conferences as a learning experience as much as you do an opportunity to meet new people.
3. Distill every talk down to one key takeaway: Scott Belsky of Behance had a great tip about conferences: distill every talk down to one key takeaway. After each speaker at a conference, Belsky recommends asking yourself what struck you about that speaker–what did you learn, and what could you potentially even apply to your own work? By writing down these key takeaways, you make it much easier for yourself to get tangible value from the conference, and these takeaways are also great ways to keep everything organized in your head weeks and months after the conference.
4. Remember to always follow up: Finally, if you are using a business conference as a networking opportunity–as we certainly think you should–remember to follow up as soon as possible. If you put following up on the backburner and say that you’ll just “do it later,” chances are, you’ll lose track and potentially lose a connection. Don’t let the new people you meet slip through the cracks–follow up with them a day or two after the conference.

Although these tips aren’t the be-all-end-all for business conference planning and attendance, they’re certainly good things to keep in mind when attending any business conference, whether in the world of SAP HCM or beyond.

Keeping these tips in mind can help you get the most out of great conferences like HR 2014–which our founder and Managing Partner Mike Timm just attended–and lead you on the path to success.

Do you have any favorite tips or recommendations for making the most of a business conference? Let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn–we’d love to hear your thoughts!

As we mentioned in our last post about HR 2014, HR 2014 was truly a delight.

To wrap up our several-post series about HR 2014, have a look at the rest of my photos from this year’s excellent conference:

Want to learn more about how ICG’s SAP HCM solutions, or how we can help your entire business–HR included–run more efficiently? Let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn–we’d love to hear from you and would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

HR2014 was a delight, and the days went way too quickly to catch all the great content!

It was obvious from the start that SuccessFactors was going to take center stage, and all attending had the opportunity to learn in great detail. We learned from David Ludlow that SuccessFactors and SAP ECC has an ever-growing amount of new and stable virtual integration. If you missed the keynote, you can catch it on demand at SAPInsider.

I had great conversations throughout the days and evenings about when and where SF fits, and insights to pain points about functionality that isn’t quite where where it needs to be. The next couple of years will continue to be exciting as new functionality continues to roll out, and integration and stability make those rollouts less difficult.

Based on the discussions I had during the conference, many companies are waiting for SAP to work out the kinks and add functionality they view as missing, such as benefits and time management.

With much of the emphasis being on SuccessFactors before and during the conference, it was great to see significant turnout to my sessions about payroll, time management, and financials integration. The attendance at my sessions was also reflected in the SAPInsider whiteboard with ‘What do you want to see at HR2015?’

Many attendees are looking to maximize their existing SAP investment by identifying methods streamline processes, adding functionality, and reducing ongoing support costs. While some of the methods will change for companies moving to SuccessFactors, the majority will remain since the underlying technology of EC Payroll is SAP Payroll.

SAPInsider and Allison Martin put on another great conference, and I’m looking forward to HR2015!

Those of you who attended have access to all the session materials through the SAPInsider website. Setting aside time to look at sessions you could not attend is well worth the effort and the knowledge you will gain. The session materials will make great references  as a refresher or when you embark on something new.

You should also watch the SAPInsider HR channel because several focus sessions were video recorded and will be placed on the channel over the coming weeks. Steve Bogner, Brigid Sternberg, and I participated in a discussion about payroll and I think you’ll find it helpful and informative.

Want to do more recapping of HR 2014? Have a look at the articles below:

• HR 2014 Preview
• HR 2014 Photo Update: Day 1
• HR 2014 Photo Update: Day 2
• HR 2014 Review: Keynotes, Sessions, and Selfies

And if you’d like to learn more about how ICG’s SAP HCM solutions, or how we can help your entire business–HR included–run more efficiently, let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn–we’d love to hear from you and would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

A lot has happened at HR 2014 since my first update on Tuesday morning.

Of everything I’ve seen thus far, one of my favorite events was the panel discussion in Bay Lake between Sharon Newton (@sharonnewton) and Steve Bogner (@stevebogner), moderated by Brandon Toombs (@brandontoombs).

One of the best quotes–made in jest, of course–was that “you’ll have to fire everyone,” in response to an attendee asking what moving to the cloud would mean for their staff. It was obvious from the questions and answers that cloud and on-premises each have their pros and cons, and I took away that a hybrid model will provide companies with new functionality from the cloud, while continuing the stability from the many years that SAP ECC has been around.

Talking with others at the conference, confusion is still high about what route companies should being taking, and how quickly they should take it. The SAP Roadmap does not provide the guidance most people feel comfortable with in the short or long-term. Ripping out an on-premises investment is not likely to happen quickly (or soon) by companies. The cloud has a purpose, and SuccessFactors provides some great functionality that may be right for a company to incorporate, but I don’t see it as a foregone conclusion that it is the only way to go.

All-in-all, the conference continues to be educational, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of HR 2014 will hold.

Check out some more pictures from HR 2014 below:

Check back next week for some closing thoughts on HR 2014. And in the mean time, for more updates about the conference and ICG, check in with us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

If you’ve been keeping up with ICG on Twitter and Facebook, and if you read my HR 2014 preview from last Thursday, you’d know that through the rest of the week, I’ll be attending the HR 2014 Conference in Orlando, Florida.

I’ve yet to speak at HR 2014, but I have had the time to see some wonderful speakers and to take a look around at all of the great things happening at this year’s conference. I’ll have more photos later, but in the mean time, check out ICG’s photo updates from day 1 of HR 2014:

Check back later this week for more photos and updates from HR 2014. And in the mean time, for more updates about the conference and ICG, check in with us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

HR 2014, set for next week (March 11-14, 2014 at Swan and Dolphin, Orlando, Florida), is fast approaching, and it’s set to be very valuable and informative to those attending.

During HR 2013, SAP provided more details about integrating SAP and SuccessFactors along with what their intentions with SuccessFactors were for the road ahead. Customers and colleagues left understanding that a significant shift was taking place, and many left wondering exactly how it would fit within their existing IT structure.

SuccessFactors has garnered many more sessions at HR 2014, and those sessions are likely to be well-attended, thanks largely to the appetite of people still seeking a better understanding of what the SAP and SuccessFactors marriage means. Several customers I work with have expressed that they’ll move to a hybrid model with Core HR staying within SAP ECC, and would like more assurances from SAP that Core HR will continue to have new and improved functionality.

The Keynote Address, “Harnessing HCM technology in a rapidly changing world to drive strategic business outcomes,” by Shawn Price, President, SAP Global Cloud & Line of Business, SAP and David Ludlow, Group Vice President, SAP HCM Solutions, SAP, should shed some light on questions customers have and surely create new ones. I look forward to this keynote and the following conversations it will undoubtedly create.

Core HR will be represented well at HR2014 and will cover SAP and SuccessFactors components. Many of the Core HR areas remain untouched or have limited impact from SuccessFactors. The education sessions are valuable to companies because they will provide more depth of knowledge, as well as information on how to streamline processes, and newly available functionality:

• Payroll
• OM and PA
• Benefits
• Time management
• Employee Central
• Travel management

The conference provides great networking opportunities through luncheon roundtables, the evening reception, and Ask-the-Experts. Ask-the-Experts is a perfect way not only to meet experts to get answers to questions you have now, but also to familiarize yourself with someone you will be able to bounce ideas off in the future.

Don’t forget, you can interact and follow all the action on Twitter with hashtag #HR2014. The following experts are always active on Twitter, but will be especially active during the conference:

Steve Bogner, Martin Gillet, Venki Krishnamoorthy, Danielle Larocca, Luke Marson, Jeremy Masters, Jarret Pazahanick, Brigid Sternberg, Mike Timm, Brandon Toombs, and AJ Whalen.

This year, as with many previous years, I’ll be speaking. You can find more information about my involvement with the conference here, but I’ve also provided brief summaries to get a better idea of the speaking engagements at HR 2014:

• An up-to-date guide to troubleshooting the payroll process if and when you encounter an error
  This session will take an in-depth look at the components of the payroll process and how they integrate with other solutions.
• The fundamentals of customizing SAP time evaluation with table entries, schemas, functions, operations, and rules
  Develop an understanding of the SAP time evaluation component’s table entries, schemas, and rules including a definition of each object, a description of what they do, and best practices for maintaining them.
• Optimize data flow between SAP ERP HCM payroll and SAP ERP Financials: Proven strategies for a smooth integration
  Examine key integration points between SAP ERP HCM payroll and SAP ERP Financials and see how to exploit them to optimize data flows and troubleshoot common errors.

SAPInsider does a wonderful job organizing these conferences and making sure they always include high-quality content. A big thank you goes out to Allison Martin for what will undoubtedly be a wonderful and informative conference.

Be sure to take a look at our social media next week, when we’ll have photos and other information from HR 2014. And in the mean time, if you have any questions about ICG or about me Mike Timm, let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Omaha, Nebraska – March 5, 2014 – ICG is proud to announce that Mike Timm will be speaking at SAPinsider’s HR 2014 conference to offer proven advice to attendees. The event takes place at the Walt Disney World® Swan and Dolphin in Orlando, March 11-14, 2014. Attend to learn proven methods for continuously improving and transforming key HR processes.
If you’re able to attend the event, please be sure to catch Mike Timm educational sessions:

An up-to-date guide to troubleshooting the payroll process if and when you encounter an error
Mike Timm, ICG
Time: Tuesday, March 11 3:00 PM Eastern
Room: Southern Hemisphere III

The fundamentals of customizing SAP time evaluation with table entries, schemas, functions, operations, and rules
Mike Timm, ICG
Time: Wednesday, March 12 8:30 AM Eastern
Room: Southern Hemisphere I
Repeat Time: Friday, March 14 11:30 AM Eastern
Room: Southern Hemisphere V

Optimize data flow between SAP ERP HCM payroll and SAP ERP Financials: Proven strategies for a smooth integration
Mike Timm, ICG
Time: Wednesday, March 12 3:30 PM Eastern
Room: Australia 3

This conference provides comprehensive education and networking opportunities for professionals who use, evaluate, deploy, and support SAP® functionality for HR. You can get full details on the agenda by visiting www.hr2014.com or by calling +1-781-751-8700.
Contact:
Mike Timm
ICG
mtimm@integratedcg.com

About SAPinsider
SAPinsider, published by WIS Publishing, is the premier source of information on products, services, and strategic initiatives coming from SAP and its partners. More than 250,000 customers in 61 countries rely annually on education and training materials from WIS Publishing to optimize their investments in SAP solutions. WIS Publishing is the publisher of SAPinsider, insiderPROFILES, and the SAPexperts knowledgebases, and is the producer of SAPinsider conferences and seminars and the Insider Learning Network. For more information, visit www.wispubs.com.
SAP is a registered trademark of SAP AG in Germany and several other countries. WIS Publishing is not affiliated with SAP AG or any of the SAP AG group of companies.
Business Objects, BusinessObjects and the Business Objects logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects in the United States and/or other countries. Business Objects is an SAP company.
All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

About ICG
ICG’s solutions are designed to help companies of all sizes and in a broad range of industries address a diverse scope of business needs. Our team has led implementation projects in a variety of industries including professional services, manufacturing, media, high-tech, natural resources, and construction service sector.

Our team of professionals is experienced in all aspects of executing SAP HCM operational support. In addition to project planning and management, our services include project application design and execution. ICG’s expertise also includes process engineering and management, change management, support personnel coaching, and end-user training to minimize downtime and maximize productivity for SAP users.

For more information, please visit www.IntegratedCG.com or call +1-866-417-0071.

If you or your business is an SAP user, or specifically, an SAP HCM user, there are few ways for you to better use your time than attending an HR conference.

HR 2014–an annual SAP and SuccessFactors human resources conference–is a conference for SAP and SuccessFactors users looking to improve their knowledge base and drive HR excellence. HR 2014 features 98 speakers and 120 sessions, and is packed with great information for users in the space.

This year, as with many previous years, our own Mike Timm, managing partner here at ICG, is one of the speakers set to discuss SAP HCM at the event. You can find more information about Mike’s involvement with the conference here, but we’ve also provided brief summaries for our readers to get a better idea of Mike’s speaking engagements at HR 2014:

• An up-to-date guide to troubleshooting the payroll process if and when you encounter an error
  This session will take an in-depth look at the components of the payroll process and how they integrate with other solutions.
• The fundamentals of customizing SAP time evaluation with table entries, schemas, functions, operations, and rules
  Develop an understanding of the SAP time evaluation component’s table entries, schemas, and rules including a definition of each object, a description of what they do, and best practices for maintaining them.
• Ask-the-Experts
  Pull up a chair in the Ask-the-Experts area of the Exhibit Hall during our Tuesday and Wednesday evening receptions and spend one-on-one time with the top experts.
• Optimize data flow between SAP ERP HCM payroll and SAP ERP Financials: Proven strategies for a smooth integration
  Examine key integration points between SAP ERP HCM payroll and SAP ERP Financials and see how to exploit them to optimize data flows and troubleshoot common errors.

If you’d like to learn more about the HR 2014 conference, please see the website here. We encourage you to take a look and think about what this conference could do for you or your organization. And for everyone already registered, we look forward to seeing you there.

Be sure to take a look at our social media next week, when we’ll have photos and other information from HR 2014. And in the mean time, if you have any questions about ICG or Mike Timm, let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.