Why you need to address your SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding 1.0 module now

SAP is urging customers switch to the new internally developed Onboarding 2.0 module as support for the original SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding module is ending in 2026. 

The H2 2025 release will kickstart the End of Maintenance lifecycle phase for Onboarding 1.0 – effectively ending enhancements and bug fixes. The planned depreciation is scheduled for the following release in H1 2026. 

How did we get here 

Understanding the heritage of Onboarding 1.0 helps to explain the encouragement to upgrade to Onboarding 2.0. 

Following the acquisition of SuccessFactors in 2011, SAP next acquired KMS Software in 2014 to provide an onboarding solution to the human capital management (HCM) product. 

SAP later overhauled the module in 2019, building it on SAP SuccessFactors’ Employee Central (EC) human resource information system (HRIS). This change meant new hire data didn’t have to be mapped into the EC database, as well as a new user interface built on SAP Fiori. 

Onboarding made simple and streamlined 

Mastering SAP spoke to SAP SuccessFactors expert and solution architect at HR & Payroll software provider Zalaris, Ishan Sharma, about what SAP customers should know about SAP SuccessFactors new onboarding module. 

“Onboarding 2.0 utilises all employee data fields from Employee Central (EC), helping make the integration between the recruitment process to onboarding smoother than before,” Sharma said. 

Employee Central now acts as the single source of information throughout the whole hiring process, so employee data is instantly available in the onboarding process instead of extracting the information separately with Onboarding 1.0 (due to its origins as a third-party add-on via KMS Software).  

In addition to employee onboarding, customers can also configure both cross-boarding and offboarding processes within the same platform. 

“The module also benefits from SAP SuccessFactors’ regular twice a year updates,” he said. “For instance, this year saw the introduction of some automated processes, like validating data before it gets fed into EC; transferring users from onboarding into EC; and managing pending hires to complete the hiring process within EC.” 

For Australian customers, the new module now also has the standard taxation, tax file number and Superannuation forms built in. 

Onboarding 2.0 also includes a standard e-signature functionality for no extra cost for those without an existing solution – plus a built-in integration for DocuSign customers. 

One major change to the new version of the module is that users can access candidate personal information (emergency contact, address, etc) from EC, eliminating the need to create individual portlets for data capture. 

The SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding upgrade path 

Sharma says the upgrade from version 1.0 to 2.0 can be done through a small-scale project focused on comprehensive testing. 

“However, if a customer has some challenges in their current setup or is looking to leverage more capabilities beyond Onboarding 2.0, then now is the time to step back, redesign and implement a process that is more fit for purpose against your current needs,” he said. 

“This can be achieved through design workshops aimed at showcasing Onboarding 2.0 functionality and collaboratively producing a new process with the customer.” 

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (EC) is a prerequisite for anyone looking to upgrade, but there is another option available. 

“If a customer doesn’t have EC, they would need to implement at least one EC Mini Master for the Onboarding 2.0 upgrade,” Sharma said. “This method does not require a complete EC implementation and would not incur any additional licensing costs.” 

However, for cross-boarding and off-boarding process solutions the full EC suite is required.