Against the unequal treatment

Exploiting opportunities for diversity and inclusion is the ambitious goal that SAP has set itself with the expansion of the functional scope of SuccessFactors. Companies are to be supported in checking job descriptions and performance appraisals for possible biases and evaluating them objectively.

Techniques such as text analysis and machine learning will be used. Human resources managers can then propose changes in the interests of equal treatment.

The new features are analyses and reports around the topic of diversity and inclusion. They help companies identify and track where bias exists - in recruitment, compensation, succession planning, or management processes.

They also receive guidance on how to develop targeted interventions to avoid disadvantage.

SAP is also working on applications to help disadvantaged groups of people manage their careers more effectively, as well as tools to help employees better balance work and family.

Elements such as deliverables, schedules and management are integrated into a single process.

"Diverse teams are very high-performing teams"

explained Mike Ettling, president of HR at SuccessFactors, an SAP company.

"We are constantly looking for new ways to help improve people's working lives with innovative technology for workforce management.

Our Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions simplify and standardize HR processes around the world.

We focus on providing integrated intelligent services and recommendations so that inequalities can be prevented. Innovations today and tomorrow are designed to help companies recognize and seize the opportunities of an inclusive culture.

Thanks to innovation, HR professionals can make conscious decisions when recruiting, hiring and promoting employees."

The use of technology to address gender equality issues in the workplace has not progressed at the same pace as the digital economy.

According to a report published by the McKinsey Global Institute, gross domestic product worldwide could be $12 trillion higher if women were no longer disadvantaged.

In today's marketplace of increased competition and skills shortages, diversity and inclusion are critical to competitiveness. Companies must harness all the talents of their entire workforce.

And SAP SuccessFactors solutions help them make equitable decisions for all employees - across the entire employee lifecycle.

Earlier this month, SAP launched a new working group called the SAP Diversity and Inclusion Customer Advisory Group. Working with customers and diversity and inclusion experts, SAP aims to identify how modern technology can be used to create a culture of diversity.

An initial focus will be on equal opportunities for women and men. Several global customers from different industries will help develop new SuccessFactors products and features that address gender inequality.

These companies include banking group Erste Group Bank AG, spice manufacturer McCormick & Company, insurance group New York Life, Royal Bank of Canada and Varian Medical Systems.

Gender bias

Gender bias is the starting point of SAP's large-scale initiative, which will later encompass all aspects of diversity and inclusion. SAP recognizes that a holistic approach and commitment of resources are necessary to make concrete progress.

The new SAP SuccessFactors solutions focus primarily on gender equality, as this issue has the greatest impact on the global labor market.

And many of the applications that support the elimination of gender bias can be used in the future for other aspects such as ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation.

SAP will provide information on the current status of the initiative's implementation at the SuccessConnect trade show, which will be held in Las Vegas from August 29 to 31, 2016.