In this episode of the SAP HR Mavericks Podcast, we kick off a new series exploring the future of HR. Our host, Silvia Moreno and Ruud van Galen share perspectives on how HR is evolving from an operational function to a true strategic partner in the business. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• The key HR trends shaping 2026: From evolving roles to new priorities, HR is rapidly transforming into a strategic driver of business success. 
• Why AI is transforming HR and what companies often get wrong: While AI offers huge potential, many organisations underestimate the need for a clear strategy and proper foundations.
• The importance of data quality before AI adoption: Without accurate and reliable data, AI-driven insights can lead to poor or misleading decisions. 
• How HR can speak the language of finance and drive business value: Translating people metrics into financial outcomes is key to influencing leadership and shaping strategy. 
• The role of SAP SuccessFactors in enabling strategic HR: Modern solutions are helping HR teams become more data-driven, integrated and aligned with business goals. 
• Why skills, workforce planning, and payroll are more critical than ever: Talent gaps, ageing workforces and complex payroll environments are driving new priorities for HR.

Companies that are still weighing up their options for the future might be inspired by this e-book. Discover the what, why and how of payroll outsourcing.

International growth rarely comes with an HR blueprint. One moment you’re handling two countries and a handful of spreadsheets; the next you’re running payroll across six markets with different calendars, contracts, and compliance rules. 

If you’re leading HR or Payroll in a fast‑growing, multi-country business, chances are you’re using fragmented systems and relying on local vendors and email threads while leadership expects perfect payroll, clean headcount insights, and a consistent employee experience. 

Meanwhile, costs are climbing, risk is building, and decisions are taking longer than they should.  

Here are three scale‑up challenges that matter most. 

In 2025, organizations rushed to experiment with AI - launching pilots, testing tools, trying to "keep up." Nearly every HR suite announced new AI functionality, but many failed to deliver on their promises. This led to what’s known as AI fatigue: a mix of pressure, confusion, and skepticism fueled by rapid change, inflated expectations, and unclear business cases. 

But 2026 marks a turning point. The conversation has moved beyond fear and hype. AI is increasingly seen as a Digital Ally - a trusted partner that handles repetitive tasks, improves accuracy and compliance, and gives HR teams time back to focus on what matters most: their people. When technology manages the admin, HR can focus on coaching, collaboration, and culture-building. That's the shift from automation to humanization. 

Modern HR technology, from AI-powered insights to cloud-based platforms, can automate repetitive tasks, surface valuable data patterns, and improve operational efficiency across the employee lifecycle.

Last month, SAP SuccessConnect brought together HR leaders, technology innovators, and solution experts in Las Vegas for three days of learning, networking, and future-focused discussions. Representing SD Worx SAP Solutions, Johan Buys, Portfolio Manager/Business Development SAP & SuccessFactors, and Henrik Lillieqvist Sorensen, Solution Architect, joined the event to explore what’s next for HR, payroll, and time in the cloud. 

Organisations need a payroll strategy that's accurate, timely and scalable, one that supports how your business evolves without adding complexity. 

Discover how to build a scalable, decision-ready HR strategy that supports international growth, simplifies complexity, and aligns with your business goals. 

Picture this: Margaret, your company's payroll manager for 28 years, announces her retirement. She's the one who knows exactly why certain employees get that mysterious quarterly adjustment, how to navigate the labyrinthine state tax codes for your multi-location business, and which vendor relationships took years to cultivate. In three weeks, she'll be gone—and with her, nearly three decades of hard-earned expertise that no manual or system documentation could ever capture. 

Margaret's story isn't unique. Across organisations worldwide, a seismic shift is reshaping the HR and payroll landscape as baby boomers retire at a rate of 10,000 a day, taking with them an irreplaceable treasury of institutional knowledge, relationship dynamics, and battle-tested problem-solving approaches that can't be easily transferred through a handover document. 

In today’s competitive talent landscape, work-life balance is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic priority. At SD Worx, we’ve made it part of our DNA, not only to attract and retain top talent, but to foster a culture where people thrive. Here are five practical ways organisations can support work-life balance, with examples from our own journey.