SAP HCM vs UKG comparison

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SAP HCM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

SAP HCM and UKG are major players in the human capital management industry. SAP HCM stands out for its integration capabilities with enterprise systems, while UKG offers a superior user experience, particularly in employee onboarding and scheduling.

Features: SAP HCM's key features include comprehensive integration across enterprise finance and supply chain, cloud functionality through SuccessFactors, and enhanced decision-making efficiency. UKG is recognized for its intuitive employee experience, robust onboarding process, and advanced fraud detection capabilities.

Room for Improvement: SAP HCM needs enhancements in usability, particularly in payroll complexities and interface modernization. Its talent management features also require improvement. UKG's configuration and integration features are complex, and users seek more flexibility and clarity in navigation.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP HCM offers both on-premises and cloud deployment options but receives mixed reviews on support. UKG provides hybrid and cloud models with generally high customer service ratings, though some users report delays in response times.

Pricing and ROI: SAP HCM is often criticized for high pricing and complex licensing but delivers strong ROI through operational efficiencies. UKG's pricing is more transparent and competitive, providing solid ROI by streamlining processes and saving time despite perceived higher costs.

To learn more, read our detailed SAP HCM vs. UKG Report (Updated: January 2025).

SAP HCM vs. UKG

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Helped 832,138 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

SAP HCM

Ranking in Benefits Administration

3rd

Ranking in Talent Management

3rd

Ranking in Cloud HCM

3rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

UKG

Ranking in Benefits Administration

5th

Ranking in Talent Management

6th

Ranking in Cloud HCM

5th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

124

Ranking in other categories

Employee Scheduling Software (1st), Employee Time Tracking Software (2nd), HR Analytics Software (1st), Talent Acquisition (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Cloud HCM category, the mindshare of SAP HCM is 15.0%, down from 16.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of UKG is 5.0%, down from 5.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud HCM

Featured Reviews

Renelia Villanueva

Vice President & Group Head- People & Workplace Management at Alorica

Efficient payroll processing with comprehensive attendance management

I am currently heading the payroll benefits and HRIS team here in Manila. We are using SAP HCM on-premises, and we implemented SuccessFactors focusing on Employee Central and GMPM SAP HCM has helped a lot due to the always changing government regulations pertaining to taxation, social security…

Read full review

Lonnie Fluck

Senior HR/ Talent Acquisition Leader at FitzDrake Search

Helps us establish system front-end and back-end connectivity, but the recruiting features need improvement

I used UKG to track applicants and create job descriptions. We built the electronic onboarding system to be used nationwide and created a path to integrate with the backend The product's most valuable feature is the ability to establish connectivity between the front and the back end,…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"They provide the most stable and powerful technology in the areas of human resources, information systems, and ERP."

"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."

"It's very suitable for large, multi-geography companies but also very suitable for medium companies with multi-geography operations."

"It has the best data management features."

"The integration provided by SAP between different modules is very good."

"All of the core processes are very valuable aspects of the solution. These include personnel, administration, organizational structure, and payroll."

"The payroll function in SAP HCM has been most beneficial for managing global workforces. We plan to use goal management and KPI features to link to payroll through the SAP SuccessFactors module."

"The stability of the solution is good."

More SAP HCM pros

"The most valuable feature is being able to get time management reports which break out reclassified jobs and departments to separate areas of the company. This allows for better tracking of hours spent in certain jobs and where more hours may be needed."

"The product's most valuable feature is the ability to establish connectivity between the front and the back end, particularly the single point of data entry, to minimize mistakes."

"The solution has improved our organization by helping us cut hours and lessen our labor force. It saved us probably over $100,000 in just the last couple of years."

"We use the tool for various functions, including payroll, HR, recruiting, onboarding, and workforce management. We've implemented all these modules across all the clients I've worked with."

"I like UKG's integration."

"The solution's employee experience is pretty good."

"The setup process is straightforward."

"The fact that I can see the whole HR information in a single point is valuable. There is a unified view of everything, which is good. Previously, we had many different systems for each part of the information. Now, it is all centralized. It is very good."

More UKG pros

Cons

"This solution needs to be more configurable and user-friendly."

"It takes a long time to apply an update patch to the system."

"The talent modules are lacking in HCM, so I would recommend switching to SuccessFactors for talent management, but HCM excels at time management and payroll."

"The setup comes with a set of challenges as well."

"There are already success factors for the cloud solution which cannot be integrated into S/4 HANA."

"In my experience, SAP HCM and similar products are very good, but the focus now should be on providing features to encourage employee adoption. For example, accessing pay slips is a task that naturally drives adoption. However, AI tools that can prompt employees at the right time through the right application are needed for actions such as conducting surveys or gathering performance feedback."

"SAP HCM has helped a lot due to the always changing government regulations pertaining to taxation, social security service, and local regulations that change frequently."

"The product's license is very expensive."

More SAP HCM cons

"The tool needs improvement on the configuration side."

"The product's integration features need improvement."

"I would like to see more functionality in the next release to be able to get hours and dollars per calendar month rather than just by payroll in the Business Intelligence reports."

"Reporting is always a hurdle for any user just because it is so extensive. They provide a lot of out-of-the-box reports, but it is something that you always need to work on because you need more advanced writing of reports."

"Since UKG is a SaaS software, other parts of the application or add-on solutions are not the best in class or very configurable."

"The platform's features need enhancement while being used as a recruiting tool."

"The solution could use better reporting with standard reports. We use the Cognos platform in BI for a lot of our reporting. However, they need to have more robust standard reporting available to their user base."

"I would like the capability to use UKG as a single platform without the need to alternate between systems."

More UKG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing depends upon the specific model and number of user accounts included in a bundle."

"The terms on which you buy licenses might change due to the way they license in a particular product."

"The pricing is around the middle, at a five out of ten. But it depends on the number of licenses. More licenses mean lower per-user costs. You need to understand how to play the volume game and the growth."

"The solution is a little expensive and we are charged per user for the license. The solution can be paid monthly or annually."

"In my view, this product is a waste of money for SMB because there are much better products available and licensing is an issue."

"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."

"I believe HCM is a little expensive, but I don't know the exact price because I'm involved with the sales team. However, I think the price must be reasonable because many organizations are migrating their current ERPs to SAP. It's excellent software, and the price is competitive."

"Licensing is pretty complex. SAP does not have a straight forward way of licensing, and it differs from client to client."

More SAP HCM pricing and cost advice

"The pricing depends on the number of licenses we buy."

"If you're going for the full suite, it can be fairly pricey."

"UKG's pricing and licensing model involves ongoing expenses based on the number of employees paid. The initial implementation cost is low when UKG implements it directly. However, when partners handle the implementation, it becomes more expensive since partners don't receive the monthly recurring fees."

"While I am unsure of the licensing cost itself, the total cost of implementation and licensing for a company with over 5000 employees would be around 6,00,000. So, there are additional costs beyond licensing."

"I wasn't involved in the pricing part. I'm a user, and I believe it is based on the user count. One thing that is nice about Ultimate is that you can learn how to use the system without additional fees. The learning aspect is the life of a product, and the training was a huge reason why we went with Ultimate. We did have some integration costs. They were a part of the implementation because of the integrations to other systems that we included in our implementation."

"The platform is not affordable but also not the most expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Educational Organization

90%

Computer Software Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about SAP HCM?

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

What do you like most about SAP HCM?

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.

What is better, SAP HCM or SAP SuccessFactors?

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...

What do you like most about UKG?

I like UKG's integration.

What needs improvement with UKG?

Our company is testing the UKG Ready Mobile App, but there are some glitches. I feel that in the system when you log on to Kronos, UKG Dimensions, and UKG Workforce Central, we have different modul...

What is your primary use case for UKG?

I worked with UKG globally, assisting with its implementation in 59 countries. In my company, we use it for the timekeeping aspect offered, payroll purposes, and other stuff like that. It is used f...

SAP SuccessFactors vs SAP HCM

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Compared 30% of the time

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Compared 19% of the time

PeopleSoft vs UKG

Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

ADP GlobalView Payroll vs UKG

Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

SAP HCM

Download SAP HCM product report

Download UKG product report

Also Known As

SAP Human Capital Management

UKG Pro, UKG Dimensons, UKG Ready

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."

SAP

At UKG, our purpose is people — real people with real challenges, and a simple request. Help me keep my employees productive, connected, and happy. So that’s what we did.

We’ve created an unmatched suite of HR and workforce management solutions, backed by our people who care about yours. Our solutions deliver global workforce experiences that truly reflect the connection between life and work today. That means insights are deeper. Work is easier. And interactions are more meaningful.

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.

Tesla, Marriott, Yamaha, Aramark, Feeding America, Samsung, Sony Music, Dave & Buster's, Revlon

SAP HCM vs. UKG