Sumol Compal, a major beverage player in Portugal and Mozambique, has embarked on a strategic project with Arago to migrate its payroll to the cloud. Objective: to modernize a hybrid HR architecture, combining SAP HCM (on-premise) for payroll and SAP SuccessFactors (cloud) for HR Core and Talent, in use since 2018. For more details on the benefits of this migration, read our dedicated article on the subject.
In 2023, the introduction of Time Off & Time Tracking in Portugal marked a turning point, involving an overhaul of internal processes and the adoption of self-service. In 2024, the switchover to Employee Central Payroll and full deployment in Mozambique prepared the way for the exit from SAP HCM. This was a sensitive project, as payroll cannot tolerate any errors. This transformation goes hand in hand with the Group's continued growth: sales of €371.5 million in 2023, +10% in volume compared with 2022, and a presence in over 50 countries.
The project lasted 12 months and involved two countries: Portugal and Mozambique. The main objective was to migrate Sumol Compal's payroll process from SAP to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP). This transition involved not only technology, but also a complete overhaul of the company's HR and IT processes. One of the main complexities was the introduction of SAP SuccessFactors in Mozambique. Until then, this entity had never used the platform, which required specific integration and enhanced support to ensure a successful roll-out.
From the outset, the company has adopted a pragmatic, forward-looking approach, working closely with Arago. This approach focuses on concrete, effective solutions, while anticipating future needs.
In Portugal, the company set itself apart by modernizing its HR management tools, while remaining realistic in the face of challenges. It relied on our expertise to implement Joule (SAP's AI), despite its innovative nature, demonstrating its ability to take calculated risks. The result was improved operational efficiency and greater employee involvement, while laying the foundations for future growth. This project was made possible by the ambitious vision of Sumol Compal's IT and HR departments. A team that embraces technological innovation and anticipates the future. Even if certain functionalities are not yet fully operational, Sumol Compal has chosen to rely on our expertise for their deployment. They are ready to be pioneers in their adoption.
In line with this innovative approach, Sumol Compal has also deployed SAP's Payroll Control Center, a new tool that now enables them to automate payroll validations directly in SuccessFactors, reducing errors and manual tasks. Thanks to an intuitive interface and improved traceability, the company gains greater efficiency, compliance and transparency in payroll processing.
Migrating a process as critical as payroll to the cloud is never an easy task. It directly affects employees' salaries, so there's no room for error: everything has to be in order. Several challenges marked this project:
Faced with these challenges, Arago demonstrated its flexibility and adaptability in supporting Sumol Compal in its transformation. Since 2023, Sumol Compal has been working with Arago on other SAP SuccessFactors modules, including recruitment, onboarding, time tracking and performance management. In 2024, this collaboration intensified with the deployment of Employee Central Payroll. The partnership between the two teams enabled us to structure an efficient and agile approach, guaranteeing a successful implementation tailored to the specific needs of the two countries concerned.
Although the project is still being finalized, Sumol Compal has already taken major steps towards more modern and efficient HR management. As one of our customers who has already embarked on the use of AI offered by SAP, the company is positioning itself as a visionary player, ready to take advantage of HR innovations to better support its employees.
Sumol Compal was even recently honored in the Go Live Leader category by SAP at the HR Connect 2025 event, in recognition of its commitment to innovation and excellence in human resources management.
We are proud of what the Sumol Compal and Arago teams have achieved so far together. This project has been a real success, as evidenced by the successful and smooth payment of salaries since December 2024 in SuccessFactors' ECP.
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In an upcoming article, we'll be taking a look at one of the most innovative aspects of this transformation: the integration of artificial intelligence with SAP Joule, an initiative that reflects a new step towards even more intelligent and automated HR management.