Klosterfrau transforms its HR and payroll operations with SAP SuccessFactors and Strada

For healthcare and pharmaceutical group Klosterfrau, modernising HR was not simply a technology upgrade; it was an opportunity to unify systems, reimagine processes, and build a more connected and scalable workforce experience. 

Operating across 11 countries in Europe, Klosterfrau partnered with Strada to design and implement a global HR transformation strategy powered by SAP SuccessFactors.  

By combining strategic advisory, process optimisation, cloud technology, and payroll integration, Klosterfrau has evolved HR into a more agile and strategic function aligned with business growth.

Building the foundation for a global HR transformation 

Before introducing new technology, Klosterfrau first needed to address differences in HR systems and processes across regions. 

Until 2017, HR operations varied significantly by country. Germany operated on SAP ERP Human Capital Management, while other regions used local systems. This created an opportunity to strengthen consistency, streamline processes, and improve workforce visibility across the organisation.  

At the same time, increasing regulatory and compliance requirements in the pharmaceutical sector added further complexity, reinforcing the need for a more standardised and scalable HR operating model. 

Following an earlier implementation attempt that did not fully integrate systems, Klosterfrau reset its approach prioritising a transformation focused on: 

• Standardised HR processes 
• A unified global employee data foundation 
• Scalable cloud-based technology 
• Stronger alignment between HR and IT 
• A roadmap for integrated payroll and automation 

Strada partnered closely with Klosterfrau to redefine this transformation strategy, providing advisory support, governance frameworks, and process design expertise to align stakeholders and prepare the organisation for change. 

Establishing a global core HR platform

With a clear strategy in place, Klosterfrau implemented SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central as its global Core HR platform. The rollout standardised employee data and core HR processes across countries creating a single, reliable foundation for workforce management and reporting.  

Despite tight timelines and the complexity of onboarding multiple regions, the implementation was completed within six months, supported by strong governance, structured delivery, and close collaboration between HR, IT, and Strada. 

“Implementing SAP SuccessFactors has fundamentally modernised how we operate as an HR function. What used to be fragmented, and manual is now unified, transparent and automated across HR and IT. SAP SuccessFactors gives us the stability, standardisation and global consistency we needed, while still allowing us the flexibility to evolve. It’s become the foundation for how we deliver HR services and support our business.”

Dagmar Reinhold CHRO, Klosterfrau Group

The transformation became particularly important during the COVID-19 period, enabling HR teams to maintain continuity and support a distributed workforce through digital processes. 

Expanding capabilities through talent and employee experience 

Following the Core HR rollout, Klosterfrau expanded its SAP SuccessFactors landscape to enhance talent management and employee experience. 

The organisation introduced: 

• Recruiting 
• Performance & Goals 
• Succession & Development 
• Compensation 

These capabilities enabled more consistent talent processes across countries while improving transparency for employees and managers. Adoption was a key priority throughout. By focusing on usability, stakeholder engagement, and local HR support, Klosterfrau ensured a smooth transition and strong alignment across regions. 

Driving process optimisation and governance at scale 

A critical success factor in Klosterfrau’s transformation was the focus on process optimisation and governance, rather than simply documenting existing ways of working. Working together, Klosterfrau and Strada: 

• Redesigned core HR processes using best practises 
• Standardised workflows across regions 
• Created structured operating models aligned with global governance 
• Developed supporting materials for training, onboarding, and knowledge transfer 

This approach enabled Klosterfrau to move from locally defined processes to a globally consistent and scalable HR operating model, improving collaboration between HR, IT, and business stakeholders.

Enabling integrated payroll operations in Germany 

Payroll transformation was a key component of the program, with Employee Central Payroll (ECP) implemented for Germany. The integrated payroll environment strengthened alignment between HR and payroll while supporting accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. 

To reduce risk and ensure readiness, Klosterfrau adopted a structured approach including testing cycles and parallel payroll runs. These allowed teams to: 

• Validate payroll accuracy end to end 
• Identify and resolve issues early 
• Test integrations thoroughly 
• Build confidence before go-live 

This phased and controlled approach ensured a smooth transition with minimal disruption to employees.

A partnership built on expertise, trust and continuity 

Strada played a central role throughout the transformation, not only as an implementation partner, but as a strategic advisor and long-term collaborator. 

This partnership extended across: 

• Data migration and system integration 
• Process design and optimisation 
• Payroll testing and validation 
• Governance and change management 
• Ongoing advisory and application support 

The continuity of the Strada team and their ability to challenge, guide, and align with Klosterfrau’s goals helped ensure consistent progress across phases.

Building a scalable and integrated HR ecosystem 

As the platform matured, Klosterfrau expanded integrations across its wider IT landscape to enable automation and end-to-end workflows. The SAP SuccessFactors environment now connects with: 

• ServiceNow for onboarding and case management 
• UKG PeopleDoc for document management 
• Active Directory for identity and provisioning 
• Time tracking and clocking systems 

These integrations improved data governance, streamlined workflows, and enhanced collaboration between HR and IT, while Klosterfrau continues to partner with Strada through a comprehensive Application Management Services (AMS) model that supports system stability and maintenance, release and change management, integration monitoring, compliance, and continuous optimisation. 

As part of the ongoing AMS partnership, Klosterfrau has also begun activating AI-enabled functionalities within SAP SuccessFactors, further supporting automation, usability, and continuous improvement across HR processes. Today, Klosterfrau benefits from a modern HR ecosystem that delivers: 

• Standardised HR processes across countries 
• Improved workforce data quality and reporting 
• Faster and more consistent HR service delivery 
• Stronger collaboration between HR, IT, and business teams 
• Integrated payroll operations in Germany 
• Enhanced employee and manager experiences 
• Reduced operational risk through automation and governance 
• Improved compliance and audit readiness 

The transformation has repositioned HR from an administrative function to a strategic business partner that actively supports organisational growth.

Preparing for the future with AI-enabled HR transformation 

Today, Klosterfrau benefits from a modern HR ecosystem that supports standardised processes, improved data quality, integrated payroll operations, and stronger collaboration across HR and IT. More importantly, the transformation has repositioned HR as a strategic business partner capable of supporting future growth, workforce innovation, and continuous improvement.  

As the organisation continues to expand its SAP SuccessFactors capabilities and AI-enabled functionality, the partnership with Strada remains focused on helping Klosterfrau simplify complexity, improve employee experiences, and build a scalable HR foundation for the future.