The latest SAP acquisition of SwoopTalent, a human resources (HR) technology platform that helps companies connect their talent systems and data, is intended to advance the German enterprise software giant’s strategy for Human Experience Management (HXM).
It can be noted that SAP began working on HXM around two years ago and has invested heavily in enhancing the SAP SuccessFactors HXM Suite with new capabilities. Since then, the enterprise software giant has released new solutions such as SAP Work Zone for HR, which allows employees to access a variety of tools, apps, and systems from a single, personalised digital workplace to make work more streamlined and manageable.
This year, SAP also launched the RISE with SAP for Human Experience Management to build a foundation for enhancing the employee experience. With new core HR functionalities and an employee system of record added on top of the company’s Qualtrics survey tool, the new module is a rebranding of SAP SuccessFactors, SAP’s existing cloud human capital management (HCM) platform.
Now, the tech giant has further bolstered its vision for HXM following an announcement that it has acquired the intellectual property of talent data intelligence leader SwoopTalent in an asset acquisition. According to SAP SuccessFactors Chief Product Officer Meg Bear, a “sophisticated, powerful data platform” that extends across multiple systems is needed to deliver individualisation at scale.
Integrating SwoopTalent’s data intelligence and machine learning (ML) technologies with SAP SuccessFactors solutions aims to improve organisational agility, provide individualised employee experiences and dynamic opportunities that will increase engagement, and accelerate business transformation. Expressing her delight at the latest SAP acquisition, Bear commented:
“By making workforce data more reliable and accessible, we can help our customers gain powerful insights about their people to effectively upskill, reskill and redeploy talent and future-proof their business. The founders of SwoopTalent are industry thought leaders with proven expertise using data, machine learning, and analytics to elevate HR and make organizations more competitive. We are thrilled to have them join SAP to further our HXM strategy.”
Reinforcing Vision for HXM with SAP Acquisition of SwoopTalent
Moreover, SwoopTalent has developed a platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that integrates, analyses, and trains data from disparate HR workflows and systems. Since its inception in 2012, it has leveraged people analytics or talent analytics systems for its platform that is utilised by company managers and executives to make more informed decisions about their workforce.
According to SAP, it intends to use the technology of the California-based company to strengthen its AI capabilities and offer customers a holistic and constantly updated view of their people. Stacy Chapman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SwoopTalent, said:
“With HXM, SAP has the right vision and strategy to deliver technology that enables individuals to upskill and create a career that aligns to their interests and skills. SAP and SwoopTalent are a great cultural fit and share the same values. We are excited to continue advancing HXM together.”
On the other hand, SAP stated that in addition to acquiring SwoopTalent’s intellectual property, the company’s employees would enter the SuccessFactors team. Amy Wilson, Senior Vice President of Products and Design for SAP SuccessFactors, shared that co-founders Chapman and Satish Sallakonda will be joining SAP along with the engineering team. She further explained:
“With SwoopTalent’s talent and machine learning algorithms, we will strengthen our adaptable, dynamic talent profile to gather information from different sources — keeping in mind local regulations and the employee’s consent and preferences about the information they’d like to share — to continuously shape and refine a digital picture of an employee’s whole self: who they are today and who they are becoming.”
“We are energised by the progress we’ve made and thrilled to have the SwoopTalent team join us to continue bringing our HXM vision to life,” Wilson concluded.
Great HXM starts at the application stage. Find out how InsideSAP Careers helps you gain and retain the best SAP talent here.
