Knorr-Bremse: Enhancing operational efficiency with a cloud-based solution to streamline HR processes
Explore Knorr-Bremse’s journey with SAP
As a global market leader in braking systems and safety-critical subsystems for rail and commercial vehicles, Knorr-Bremse AG wanted a cloud-based solution to modernize and improve its HR processes. It looked to SAP SuccessFactors solutions to unify employee experiences and optimize recruitment efforts.
| Industry | Region | Company Size |
| Transportation technology | Munich, Germany | 33,000 employees |
locations supported by a single HR solution.
HR Transformation Program Manager, Knorr-Bremse AG
Overcoming a lack of global decision-making and an outdated employee experience
With 33,000 employees working across more than 30 countries in 14 languages, Knorr-Bremse had disparate HR systems and was using manual processes in each location for managing employees and recruitment. With no common model, local HR teams were reinventing the wheel each time, and as a result, it was hard to make centralized and relevant decisions at a global level.
The HR teams were using valuable resources to keep basic processes up to date, consuming time and capacity on administrative activities. There was a heavy manual workload for collecting data and no visibility into global talent. The lack of defined HR services left room for improvement, and the employee experience was suffering.
With budget pressures and a small global HR program team, the company needed a centralized HR operation that was comparable with those of its competitors – one that would drive a positive effect for employees.
Migrating from on-premise to cloud solutions for enhanced HR services
As a long-term customer of SAP, Knorr-Bremse uses the payroll and time management functionality in the on-premise SAP ERP Human Capital Management solution.
Building on this relationship, the company chose to migrate to SAP SuccessFactors solutions, which offer shorter release cycles and a dynamic adjustment ability. Specifically, by moving its core HR function to the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central solution, the company has more extensive functionality, such as uniform self-service scenarios for employees and managers.
And the SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting solution improves transparency within recruiting and global governance by guiding HR staff in where and how to search for talent, as well as providing a more modern and engaging experience for candidates. With better data-evaluation capabilities, the business can see how many people apply for individual jobs to assess how attractive it is as an employer.
Supporting a multilocation strategy with a unified HR solution
With SAP SuccessFactors solutions, Knorr-Bremse can deliver the same experience and standard for every employee in every country in which it operates. More than 100 locations, each with their own distinct features, are now united under one core HR solution. The company has improved reporting capabilities with comprehensive information, such as the number of employees at different management levels and the length of tenure.
In an industry where it can be difficult to track and meet diversity and inclusion goals, a priority of Knorr-Bremse, the solution provides metrics to HR staff reliably and automatically. It analyzes the gender, age, and ethnicity of its employees and how the workforce changes across the hierarchy. Importantly, the business knows the challenges it’s still facing to ensure equal opportunities for all.
The SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting solution is being introduced across more than 30 countries of operation. This supports the company’s goal of appearing more modern and attractive to potential recruits, an essential element in finding and retaining good candidates in a highly competitive employment market and in being more competitive with organizations of a similar size.
Focusing on further enhancing employee experiences
Knorr-Bremse aspires to deliver even better employee experiences and enable improved global visibility into its workforce. With its passion for providing equal opportunities for everyone, the company wishes to offer opportunities regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity by focusing on improved succession planning.
The next step on its digitalization journey will focus on introducing additional SAP SuccessFactors solutions to support its objectives around performance and goal management and talent management and development, as well as compensation and learning.