SAP SuccessFactors will have two releases in 2020, a change from the previous quarterly release schedule. As usual, each release will come with a preview period that allows customers to test new features and functionality before it goes live, as well as the live production release date.
We can expect the biannual releases to be larger than the previous quarterly releases, so SAP SuccessFactors is adding an extra week to those preview periods, meaning customers will have five weeks instead of the previous four to check out the latest updates before they hit their systems.
The 2020 SAP SuccessFactors release dates are expected to be in the spring and fall, with dates as follows::
- First Half 2020 Release
- Preview – April 10, 2020
- Production – June 5, 2020*
- Second Half 2020 Release
- Preview – October 16, 2020
- Production – November 20, 2020
* SAP has moved back the First Half release to give customers more time during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Cloud Advantage
Frequent and automatic updates are a benefit of cloud HCM software like SAP SuccessFactors. Customers receive the benefit of the latest innovation without large-scale technical projects.
There is still change management, of course, that still goes along with cloud releases. That change management will be cut down for SAP SuccessFactors customers this year with the change from quarterly to biannual updates. However, it is still important for customers to have change management and release management processes in place to ensure their SAP SuccessFactors investment is maximized.
Staying Up-to-Date with SAP SuccessFactors Releases
Each release is full of updates in nearly every module of the SAP SuccessFactors suite. There are a number of ways to stay in the know with the newest innovations, fixes, and enhancements. One of which is to follow the Rizing HCM blog, where our experienced consultants dig into the release notes to find the most important updates. For the total picture, it’s important to follow the SAP SuccessFactors Community release page.