First HR AI Success Metrics Beyond "Saving Time" Emerge from Josh Bersin Company Analysis

Rhea-AI Summary

SAP's HR AI tools are delivering measurable benefits beyond simple time savings, according to a new Josh Bersin Company analysis. The study reveals significant improvements in workplace efficiency and employee experience:

• 95% acceleration in employee search speeds through AI copilots
• 25% boost in employee satisfaction with career opportunities
• 30% improvement in skill-to-assignment alignment
• 25% reduction in candidate selection bias
• 25% increase in overall employee performance through AI-driven skill inference

The research demonstrates that AI implementation is creating 'superworkers' rather than replacing employees. For organizations with 10,000 employees, even a 0.25% productivity increase per employee results in 5.2 additional productive hours annually per person. The study highlights various AI applications, including informational search assistants, HR support, conversational AI for core transactions, and personalized career guidance.

Positive

• 95% improvement in employee search efficiency
• 25% increase in employee performance metrics
• 30% better skill-to-assignment matching
• Measurable productivity gains: 5.2 hours/year per employee
• 25% reduction in hiring bias

Negative

• None.

• Until now, CHROs have been told that AI is transformational, but without solid proof
• That's finally changing, as Josh Bersin Company analysis of global SAP HR AI engagements reveals solid benefits
• Analysis strengthens the case for AI not as a job destroyer, but as a catalyst for a new breed of highly effective and productive AI-powered "superworkers"

OAKLAND, Calif., March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Josh Bersin Company, the world's most trusted HR advisory firm, today unveils key insights into the real impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in HR—going beyond the usual headlines focused solely on time-saving benefits.

We're proving that AI is all about boosting the productivity of people, not just thinning the ranks

Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis of global organizations using various AI and decision support tools from enterprise software leader SAP, the study confirms tangible AI-driven achievements—not just in efficiency but also in employee experience (EX), effectiveness, and overall productivity.

The new Josh Bersin Company study, Maximizing the Impact of AI in the Age of the Superworker, reveals tangible results, including:

• AI copilots for HR inquiries accelerate employee search speeds by 95%
• AI-driven career assistants boost employee satisfaction with career opportunities by 25%
• AI-powered project and role matching improves skill-to-assignment alignment by 30% and reduces bias in candidate selection by 25%
• Leveraging AI to infer employee skills from performance data results in 25% increase in overall employee performance

These figures add to the growing body of evidence highlighted in Josh Bersin Company's analysis earlier this year of a key trend: the emergence of the AI-empowered "superworker."

The research and advisory firm's most recent research reveals how SAP customers are evolving into superworkers, leveraging AI to enhance the quality of HR services. Crucially, none of the use cases achieved bottom-line gains through workforce reductions or replacing employees with AI—addressing the top concern among both the public and employees about AI in the workplace.

Maximizing the Impact of AI in the Age of the Superworker also outlines the key groups benefiting from AI. While employees and candidates see the most significant impact—given AI's high multiplier effect in this group on overall company outcomes—other beneficiaries include managers and leaders, HR professionals such as recruiters and HR operations, HRBPs (HR Business Partners), frontline HR staff handling frequent employee inquiries, and L&D specialists.

Maximizing the Impact of AI in the Age of the Superworker also highlights key benefits that companies aim to achieve by embedding AI into HR workflows, enabling organizations and employees to:

• Streamline routine HR transactions and drive efficiency (e.g., processing leave requests, managing benefits enrollment, handling expense approvals).
• Reduce time to hire and enhance the candidate experience
• Improve the quality of hires
• Boost talent mobility and retention.

The study highlights a wide range of AI-driven use cases seamlessly integrated into the flow of work, including:

• Regular use of informational search assistants
• Improved self-service efficiency through AI-powered HR support
• Conversational AI for navigating and executing core HR transactions using Generative AI that translates employee aspirations into personalized goal-setting
• Tailored guidance on essential skills for career growth
• AI-driven skill inference and recommendations based on performance data
• And more.

Kathi Enderes, global industry analyst and SVP Research, Josh Bersin Company, says:

"Our analysis of SAP AI tools like Joule at large global organizations shows AI isn't just about automation—it's about enabling every employee to become a superworker.

"Businesses are using next-gen AI not just to streamline work but to solve real challenges and drive better outcomes.

"Adopting AI-powered tools—from copilots to Talent Intelligence Hubs—proves that problem-solving AI is here, scalable, and making a real impact in mainstream enterprises.

"In tangible financial terms, for an organization with 10,000 employees, even a modest 0.25% increase in productivity per employee translates to 5.2 additional hours of productivity per year per person—a small individual gain that, when scaled across the workforce, can drive significant bottom-line impact."

Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, says:

"As we move further into 2025, the momentum is undeniable—AI is actively elevating employee performance and productivity. Conversations with leading SAP customers reinforce how companies are now strategically leveraging AI to tackle real business challenges every day.

"I'm especially pleased that the data confirms what I've long believed: AI's business benefits extend far beyond efficiency and cost savings. It's fundamentally about enhancing the employee experience, driving better business outcomes, and dramatically improving workforce performance.

"And crucially, we're proving that AI is all about boosting the productivity of people, not just thinning the ranks."

The report is available to Josh Bersin Company corporate members and Galileo^™ users, the AI-powered expert assistant for AI. For more information, email info@bersinpartners.com.

About SAP
As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP (NYSE: SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

About The Josh Bersin Company
The most trusted human capital advisors in the world. More than a million HR and business leaders rely on us to help them overcome their greatest people challenges.

Thanks to our understanding of workplace issues, informed by the largest, and most up-to-date data sets on workers and employees, we give leaders the confidence to make decisions in line with the latest thinking and evidence about work and the workplace. We're great listeners, too. There's no one like us, who understands this area so comprehensively and without bias.

Our offerings include the industry's leading AI-powered HR expert assistant, Galileo^™, fueled by 25 years of in-depth Josh Bersin Company research, case studies, benchmarks, and market information.

We help CHROs and CEOs be better at delivering their business goals. We do that by helping you to manage people better. We are enablers at our core. We provide strategic advice and counsel supported by in-depth research, thought leadership, and unrivaled professional development, community and networking opportunities.

We empower our clients to run their businesses better. And we empower the market by identifying results-driven practices that make work better for every person on the planet.

For more information, visit www.joshbersin.com

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FAQ

What specific performance improvements has SAP's HR AI technology achieved?

SAP's HR AI tools achieved 95% faster employee search speeds, 25% higher employee satisfaction with career opportunities, 30% better skill-to-assignment alignment, and 25% reduction in candidate selection bias.

How does SAP's AI impact employee productivity in large organizations?

For organizations with 10,000 employees, SAP's AI tools generate 5.2 additional productive hours per employee annually through a 0.25% productivity increase.

What are the main AI-driven HR use cases implemented by SAP?

Key uses include informational search assistants, AI-powered HR support, conversational AI for core HR transactions, personalized goal-setting, and AI-driven skill inference based on performance data.

How does SAP's HR AI technology affect employee career development?

SAP's AI provides tailored guidance on essential skills for career growth, improves talent mobility, and increases employee satisfaction with career opportunities by 25%.