ELMO vs SAP SuccessFactors – how they compare for AU/NZ HR & payroll
For: HR Leaders, Payroll Managers, Finance Directors|9 min read|Last updated: August 2026
This comparison is published by Affinity. Vendor information is based on publicly available sources. Contact each provider directly for their current capabilities.
Summary
ELMO Software is an AU/NZ-built modular HR suite with a native payroll module of its own. SAP SuccessFactors is a global enterprise HXM suite with real native AU/NZ payroll through Employee Central Payroll.
Affinity is an AU/NZ payroll specialist – its core business is a configurable award and EBA payroll engine, full STP Phase 2 and Superannuation, and Pay Day Super readiness. Most organisations run it best-of-breed, alongside a dedicated HR platform for recruitment, performance, and learning, connected through Clever Forms. Where an organisation doesn't have – or hasn't yet settled on – a separate HR system, Affinity's own employee record and self-service can also carry the essentials of a lighter core-HR layer, so payroll doesn't have to wait on an HR project to get underway.
How ELMO and SAP SuccessFactors differ
ELMO was built in Australia and New Zealand for mid-market organisations, with a broad native module set – core HR, recruitment, onboarding, performance, and learning – and particular strength in aged care, education, healthcare, and local government, alongside a native payroll module of its own.
SAP SuccessFactors is built for global enterprise governance, with Employee Central as its core system of record and native modules across recruiting, onboarding (including AU compliance panels), performance, learning, and payroll through Employee Central Payroll (ECP). Put simply: ELMO is local and mid-market; SuccessFactors is global and enterprise-scale.
Feature comparison
A neutral comparison of ELMO Software and SAP SuccessFactors across HR and payroll capabilities, with Affinity shown as a separate AU/NZ specialist column. Vendor capabilities should be confirmed directly with each provider.
Native / strong: Native / strongAvailable / partial: Available / partialNot offered: Not offered
Capability
ELMO Software
SAP SuccessFactors
AU/NZ specialistAffinity Payroll
Core HR/HRIS (system of record)
Native / strong: Native HR Core — system of record, AU/NZ-built
Native / strong: Employee Central – core HR system of record
Recruitment / ATS
Native / strong: Native Recruitment module
Native / strong: Native Recruiting module
Onboarding
Native / strong: Native onboarding workflows – digital offer acceptance, learning checklists, compliance training
Native / strong: Native Onboarding with AU compliance panels (TFN, Superannuation)
Native / strong: Digital onboarding via Clever Forms – new-starter pack completed on any device, TFN validated at entry, data writes directly to the payroll record, no re-keying
Available / partial: Native payroll module, STP Phase 2 compliant – many ELMO customers pair it with a specialist AU/NZ payroll platform for complex award and EBA requirements
Native / strong: Employee Central Payroll (ECP) – real, AU super/NZ payday-filing capable when configured, but enterprise-heavy to implement and expensive; many AU/NZ customers outsource ECP or use a specialist instead
Native / strong: Affinity's core business – configurable award/EBA engine, full STP Phase 2 & super, Pay Day Super ready
Bank / TFN / IRD / super validation at capture
Native / strong: Captures TFN declarations, Super Choice forms, and bank details during onboarding
Native / strong: Native – Employee Payment Information portlet includes AU-specific bank-account validation; Onboarding supports AU compliance panels
Native / strong: Bank account and tax file/IRD number validated at entry via Clever Forms, before data reaches the payroll record
Leave management & AU/NZ compliance
Native / strong: Leave requested/approved/tracked in HR Core with ESS/MSS; built for Fair Work, Modern Awards, EBAs
Native / strong: Native time/leave in Employee Central with strong compliance configuration
Available / partial: Handled via HR Core workflows; not confirmed as a dedicated purpose-built change-approval engine
Native / strong: Native workforce/position management within Employee Central (enterprise-config heavy)
Native / strong: Role, salary, and position changes submitted and approved through Clever Forms workflow – writes to the record automatically with a full audit trail, effective from the date specified
Integration / interface with Affinity
Native / strong: Native 2-way API integration
Native / strong: File-based or API integration built to specification and customer requirements
Native / strong: Affinity uses its existing integration library, or draws on experience from equivalent customer integrations, to deliver a low-cost system connection
Where ELMO fits
ELMO suits AU/NZ mid-market organisations that want a single, locally built suite covering the full HR lifecycle, with statutory data captured natively at onboarding. Affinity maintains a dedicated partnership with ELMO.
Where SAP SuccessFactors fits
SAP SuccessFactors suits large, complex enterprises and government entities that need a single global system of record across HR, talent, and workforce governance, and have the budget and implementation capacity for enterprise-grade configuration.
Where Affinity fits
ELMO connects to Affinity through a native 2-way API integration. SAP SuccessFactors is different: Employee Central Payroll is genuinely capable, but the real cost and implementation rigidity of running or maintaining it is why organisations running Employee Central for HR often choose a specialist AU/NZ engine like Affinity instead of ECP, connecting through a file-based or API integration built to specification and customer requirements. Either way, Clever Forms validates bank, tax, and super details at the point of capture. This is the same pattern behind why HR and payroll are separating and the case for best-of-breed HR and payroll. See how the delivery models compare for your organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is ELMO or SAP SuccessFactors better for AU/NZ HR?
ELMO is an AU/NZ-built modular suite for mid-market organisations, with a native payroll module of its own. SAP SuccessFactors is a global enterprise HXM suite with real native AU/NZ payroll through Employee Central Payroll. ELMO suits local mid-market organisations; SuccessFactors suits large, complex enterprises with global governance needs.
Do ELMO and SAP SuccessFactors handle AU/NZ payroll?
Both have native payroll. ELMO's is STP Phase 2 compliant, and many ELMO customers pair it with a specialist AU/NZ payroll provider for complex award and EBA requirements. SAP SuccessFactors offers Employee Central Payroll (ECP), configurable for AU super and NZ payday filing, but at real implementation cost and complexity, which is why many organisations running Employee Central for HR outsource ECP or pair it with a specialist instead.
What is the main difference between ELMO and SAP SuccessFactors?
ELMO is a locally built, modular AU/NZ suite for mid-market organisations across a wide range of verticals. SAP SuccessFactors is a global enterprise HXM suite built for large, complex organisations that need governance across many countries. ELMO optimises for local depth; SuccessFactors optimises for global enterprise breadth.
How does Affinity compare to ELMO and SAP SuccessFactors?
Affinity is an AU/NZ payroll specialist, not an HR system. ELMO connects to Affinity through a native 2-way API integration. SAP SuccessFactors connects through a file-based or API integration, built to specification and customer requirements.
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