Our Company

About Us

We are about more than just modern HCM processes.
We have the passion for creating great work environments and promoting the Employee Experience. With our extensive Cloud and On-Premise expertise and our warm, responsive approach, we help you to realize your vision for modern HR.

Outstanding Human Capital Management that makes all the difference? With us it is possible! At HCM ADVICE we are more than just consultants – we are enthusiasts, who unite over 25 years of consulting experience with a passion for the digital transformation of HR processes. Our expertise comprises modern SAP solutions in the Cloud, SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Concur, as well as classic SAP HCM solutions. We support, digitalize, and automate. Furthermore, we develop innovative SIMPLERIX apps, to make your SAP products even more effective.

Our international customers appreciate not only our broad technical know-how but also, in particular, the competent and friendly advice. Quality, speed, and reliability are our number one priority at HCM ADVICE. We support our customers nearly round the clock and in many countries.

The following are crucial points for the growing success of our company HCM ADVICE in daily use:

We love what we do, and you will quickly see the difference!

We think beyond the boundaries of the project framework!

You can rely on us to provide you with prompt support and quickly find the best solution for you.

On-Premise? Cloud? Hybrid? We have the know-how to help you.

 

Furthermore, we offer our customers the know-how and information transfer in the depth that you desire.

This is what our customers say about the cooperation with us:

The cooperation with you is SUPER, everything always works perfectly, thank you so much for that 😊

Christina Burkhardt, Personalsachbearbeiterin

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

The most important thing about the cooperation with you is that, up until now, you have not only resolved everything (tickets, incidents, questions, etc.), but are also reliable, very friendly and polite. We really couldn’t ask for more of our cooperation.

Boyan Hadjistoyanov; Application Management, IT

Repower AG

automatically translated

I would like to thank you for your support, patience, and helpfulness. No matter how specific the customer’s requirement is, you manage to implement the most complex tasks. Hats off to you!

Michaela Pöschl, CMC

MP Unternehmensberatung e.U.

automatically translated

Thank you for the efficient work and very good cooperation! 😊 You are the best!!!

Elisabeth Fragner, Head of HR Projects, HR-IT & IM

Engel Austria GmbH

I would like to particularly thank you for your very efficient work in supporting us. I found you very efficient, quick, professional and kind.

Elise Waringo, Human Resources

Dnata

A great big "merci" for your quick and successful support!

Sven Kuch, Modulverantwortung SAP HCM

Securiton AG

automatically translated

Thank you for the support that is so valuable to me, the competent solutions and the great cooperation.

Andreas Baumann, Finance

Müller Martini AG

automatically translated

Thank you so much for your, as always, excellent support. We can always rely on you!

Martin Elis, Löhne & Systeme

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

Thank you very much for the great cooperation. We can always count on prompt and competent help.

Karin Schwager, HR Specialist

Sulzer

automatically translated

The cooperation with you is SUPER, everything always works perfectly, thank you so much for that 😊

Christina Burkhardt, Personalsachbearbeiterin

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

The most important thing about the cooperation with you is that, up until now, you have not only resolved everything (tickets, incidents, questions, etc.), but are also reliable, very friendly and polite. We really couldn’t ask for more of our cooperation.

Boyan Hadjistoyanov; Application Management, IT

Repower AG

automatically translated

I would like to thank you for your support, patience, and helpfulness. No matter how specific the customer’s requirement is, you manage to implement the most complex tasks. Hats off to you!

Michaela Pöschl, CMC

MP Unternehmensberatung e.U.

automatically translated

Thank you for the efficient work and very good cooperation! 😊 You are the best!!!

Elisabeth Fragner, Head of HR Projects, HR-IT & IM

Engel Austria GmbH

I would like to particularly thank you for your very efficient work in supporting us. I found you very efficient, quick, professional and kind.

Elise Waringo, Human Resources

Dnata

A great big "merci" for your quick and successful support!

Sven Kuch, Modulverantwortung SAP HCM

Securiton AG

automatically translated

Thank you for the support that is so valuable to me, the competent solutions and the great cooperation.

Andreas Baumann, Finance

Müller Martini AG

automatically translated

Thank you so much for your, as always, excellent support. We can always rely on you!

Martin Elis, Löhne & Systeme

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

Thank you very much for the great cooperation. We can always count on prompt and competent help.

Karin Schwager, HR Specialist

Sulzer

automatically translated

The cooperation with you is SUPER, everything always works perfectly, thank you so much for that 😊

Christina Burkhardt, Personalsachbearbeiterin

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

The most important thing about the cooperation with you is that, up until now, you have not only resolved everything (tickets, incidents, questions, etc.), but are also reliable, very friendly and polite. We really couldn’t ask for more of our cooperation.

Boyan Hadjistoyanov; Application Management, IT

Repower AG

automatically translated

I would like to thank you for your support, patience, and helpfulness. No matter how specific the customer’s requirement is, you manage to implement the most complex tasks. Hats off to you!

Michaela Pöschl, CMC

MP Unternehmensberatung e.U.

automatically translated

Thank you for the efficient work and very good cooperation! 😊 You are the best!!!

Elisabeth Fragner, Head of HR Projects, HR-IT & IM

Engel Austria GmbH

I would like to particularly thank you for your very efficient work in supporting us. I found you very efficient, quick, professional and kind.

Elise Waringo, Human Resources

Dnata

A great big "merci" for your quick and successful support!

Sven Kuch, Modulverantwortung SAP HCM

Securiton AG

automatically translated

Thank you for the support that is so valuable to me, the competent solutions and the great cooperation.

Andreas Baumann, Finance

Müller Martini AG

automatically translated

Thank you so much for your, as always, excellent support. We can always rely on you!

Martin Elis, Löhne & Systeme

Energie Wasser Bern

automatically translated

Thank you very much for the great cooperation. We can always count on prompt and competent help.

Karin Schwager, HR Specialist

Sulzer

automatically translated

You can find more reviews from our customers and a selection of our references and success stories here.

Our Values

EXTRA MILE
Our goal is to exceed your expectations! That’s why we take time to listen to your wishes and needs, analyze them carefully and work with you to develop the perfect concept for your digital future. We think in terms of solutions, because your success is our success.

PASSIONATE
Exceptional attention to detail and high-quality standards are what distinguish us. Your satisfaction is our motivation to evolve and constantly seek new solutions. That is why we work patiently and consistently to continuously perfect our services.

TRUSTWORTHY
Open and honest communication at all levels is a matter of course for us. We see it as the foundation for any solid relationship and convey this to every new team member through our actions. Therefore, you can rely on it: We don’t promise anything we can’t deliver.

FRIENDLY
We are firmly convinced that friendly, collegial teamwork, conversations at eye level and respect make the big difference! Therefore, we live these values every day internally and externally. This enables us to master the challenges together in a constructive and friendly manner.

Team

Our team consists of consultants with international experience, a high degree of social competence, multi-lingual knowledge and an excellent educational background in Computer Science and/or Economy.

We provide our customers with consulting services in multiple languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Slovak, Slovenian, Hungarian, Serbo-Croatian, Romanian, Polish, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Turkish, Russian, Indian-Malayalam, Chinese-Mandarin and Cantonese. We provide diverse expertise not only for manufacturing, commercial and service enterprises from various industries, but also for different departments of public administration.

Our project managers and consultants are committed to the fulfillment of customers’ requirements with prompt, high quality solutions in compliance with our project management methodology. Our managers supervise the implementation of projects and systematically instruct the personal development of our employees into highly accomplished consultants.

Together, a group of people can make better decisions than an individual.1) Bearing this in mind, we have developed a strong culture of teamwork which enables us to efficiently provide the best solutions for our customers. An additional advantage of this is that several consultants are well-informed about a single customer’s requirements, ensuring that there is a contact person available for the customer at any time.

1)See for instance “The Wisdom of crowds. Why the Many are smarter than the few.” James Surowiecki, 2004.

CEO and Partner

Mag. Michael Berthold, CEO and Founder
Michael Berthold is the founder and visionary of HCM ADVICE. His many years of experience in SAP HCM consulting, as a personnel manager, and his years in classic corporate consulting, as an interim manager and corporate finance advisor characterize his wealth of experience.

Dipl.-Ing. Rejo Alappat, Partner
Rejo Alappat is a partner at HCM ADVICE and the driving force behind the development of the SIMPLERIX apps. As the first employee, he has helped to build up the company from day one and has more than 15 years of consulting experience in international SAP SuccessFactors and SAP HCM projects.

Christian Ess, MSc., Partner
Christian Ess is a partner at HCM ADVICE, as well as the manager of the Munich office. He combines his deep understanding for business processes with sound IT expertise. He looks back on over 15 years of international consulting experience in the area of SAP HCM and SAP SuccessFactors.

News

What an unforgettable evening!

Read…

29.

Oct.

Manaslu Expedition

Read…

18.

Oct.

SAP NOW Vienna 2024

Read…

19.

Sep.

SIMPLERIX video*apply

Read…

22.

Jul.

SIMPLERIX quick*apply

Read…

17.

Jun.

SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA (H4S4)

Read…

08.

Feb.

29.

Oct.

What an unforgettable evening!

Our Office Opening & 15th Anniversary was an incredible celebration, and we couldn’t be happier!

We are overwhelmed that so many customers and partners from the entire DACH region came to celebrate with us. The evening was full of good music, culinary highlights, and exclusive drinks. Not to mention the hands-on sessions in which our experts provided valuable insights into the world of AI in SAP SuccessFactors and our own SIMPLERIX applications. The office tours, which impressively demonstrated how art and design can be integrated into everyday working life, and the funny closing cabaret were the perfect way to round off a great event.

What we are especially proud of, is that this evening was a representation of what we are all about: attention to detail, friendly relationships at eye level and the desire to exceed expectations. We can’t wait to continue in the same spirit for the next 15 years.

Here’s to many more years of success, shared moments, and exciting challenges ahead.

18.

Oct.

Manaslu Expedition

He did it!

We are proud and impressed by our CEO Michael Berthold, who has successfully reached the summit of Manaslu (8163m)! This remarkable achievement reflects the values that drive us at HCM ADVICE: Trust in oneself and the team, passion for what we do, the pursuit of excellence, the determination to always go the extra mile, and the power of friendliness, which fosters strong relationships and teamwork.

Whether on the mountain or in the office, these values push us forward every day and help us reach new heights together. We congratulate our CEO on this extraordinary accomplishment!

Want to rewatch the full expedition? Check out all the highlights and key moments in our Instagram Story Highlight “Expedition”.

19.

Sep.

SAP NOW Vienna 2024

It was a day full of interesting discussions, exciting talks and inspiring encounters.

Special thanks go to Karin Huditz (Energie Steiermark) and Christian Ess (HCM ADVICE), who gave us valuable insights into our joint personnel transformation project at Energie Steiermark. They showed us how the existing SAP ERP HCM system can be modernized by integrating the talent management solutions from SAP SuccessFactors. The result of this project: digital, modern HR processes that meet the high demands of a dynamic market and ensure employee satisfaction and productivity.

22.

Jul.

SIMPLERIX video*apply

For SuccessFactors Recruiting!

Simple and uncomplicated applications with a video – without account creation and password entry? This is now possible with our SIMPLERIX video*apply app for SuccessFactors Recruiting! You will receive authentic applications in which you can immediately see whether the candidate is a good fit for your company.

17.

Jun.

SIMPLERIX quick*apply

Our app for SuccessFactors Recruiting

Are you struggling to attract top talents for your company due to a complicated application process? Then check out our SIMPLERIX quick*apply app for SuccessFactors Recruiting! One-click applications – without tedious registration and password entry – are now possible. Get more information here on our website or contact us without obligation!

08.

Feb.

SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA (H4S4)

Many customers are faced with the decision...

The maintenance period for the SAP Business Suite 7 (ECC) and the previous SAP ERP HCM system as an On-Premise solution ends on 31.12.2027 (extended maintenance period until 31.12.2030 subject to corresponding fees). Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions in the Cloud, such as SAP SuccessFactors Suite, offer numerous advantages, such as reduced costs, greater flexibility, and an improved employee experience. But what about the customers who already use an SAP ERP Human Capital Management solution and wish to continue doing so, or who are not yet ready to completely move to the Cloud? Should they continue to invest in On-Premise solutions that have an expiration date, or should they plan long-term and switch to SAP SuccessFactors? Since the new release of SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA (H4S4) many customers are facing decisions concerning the direction of their future investments.

What is SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA?

SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA is a successor solution for SAP ERP HCM and has been available since Q4 2022. Customers can choose between two variants of the new SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA solution: On-Premise or Private Cloud Edition.

  • On-Premise
    The On-Premise Edition supports the known solutions for human resource management, such as, for example, personnel administration, organizational management, employer benefits, corporate compensation management, personnel cost planning and simulation, MSS; solutions for talent management, such as, for example, SAP Learning Solution, SAP E-Recruiting, Talent Management, and Talent Development, solutions for time accounting, such as time management, shift planning, worktime entry (CATS), and public sector, such as, for example, budget planning and management, job management, and resource planning.
    However, some of the functions are no longer part of the solution, including: in the area of human resource management: Employee Interaction Center, Shared Service Framework for HCM Integration, HCM P&F with Adobe forms, Manager’s Desktop, Workforce Viewer, cPA-CM-CP); in the area of Talent Management: Recruiting, Compensation Management (PA-CM), evaluation systems, career and successor planning, development plans, training courses, and event management.
  • Private Cloud Edition
    The Private Cloud Edition includes solutions for Personnel Management (incl. ESS/MSS), such as, for example, employee management, global task management, management of the organizational structure, job management, service management, work plan management, and absence management. Solutions for time entry (incl. ESS/MSS), such as:  Work plan management, absence ­management, time entry for employees, time accounting, personnel resource planning, as well as solutions for Wage and Salary Accounting (incl. ESS).

Talent Management incl. Learning and Recruiting is not included in the solution.

All SAP HCM functions that are not named here and were previously available in the On-Premise and Private Cloud Edition are alternatively available via SAP SuccessFactors.

Why is this such an important topic right now?

According to SAP, SAP ERP HCM Suite will only be maintained until 2027. After that, system maintenance can be extended for a maximum of three years (until 2030) for an additional charge. Furthermore, all customers who have already been using an S/4HANA Compatibility Pack (HCM) for some time should make the switch by the end of 2025, as the system will no longer be supported after that. Switching to the new On-Premise transitional solution or to the Cloud is therefore unavoidable.

Facts about SAP Human Capital Management for SAP S/4HANA

  • On price list / available since Q4 2022
  • Maintenance until at least 31.12.2040
  • Must be operated on an SAP HANA database
  • Can be operated as an integrated SAP landscape with S/4HANA or as “H4S4“ stand-alone system
  • Migration tools & services (ALE interface to SAP S/4HANA) are provided by SAP
  • Functions from SAP ERP HCM will largely be retained (see above)
  • License/contract conversion with SAP necessary

Options for your SAP HCM Landscape:

Currently, most customers are within one of the four scenarios displayed on the left. The time period beyond 01.01.2028 gives rise to a system landscape consisting of an S/4HANA system (for the ERP area), SAP HCM for S/4HANA (integrated / stand-alone) and potentially SAP SuccessFactors as an enhancement, for example for a talent hybrid or even a core hybrid approach. You must migrate to “H4S4“ between now and 31.12.2027.

If you are currently faced with making a decision on how your SAP HCM landscape should look in the future, and which solution would make the best economic sense for you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to discuss your current situation in a joint consultation and develop a made-to-measure solution approach together with you.

We look forward to you contacting us!

Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Hareter
Managing Consultant
T: +43 1 236 4312
bernd.hareter@hcm-advice.com