Exploring Integration Center Data Entities for Recruiting

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to identify key data entities within SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center for recruiting processes.

SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center for Recruiting

The SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center allows you to work with various data entities related to recruiting to create both inbound and outbound integrations. The specific entities available depend on your configuration and the integration you're building.

Data Entities within Integration Center

Understanding the available data entities within Integration Center is crucial before creating an integration. These entities represent the different data objects you can work with. The specific entities available depend on your configuration and the integration you're building.

Key entities for recruiting integrations include:

  • Job Requisition: This entity contains information about the job postings, including details like title, department, location, job code, hiring manager, and status. You can use this to export job requisition data to job boards or other systems or to create new job requisitions from position data in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.
  • Job Application: This entity stores data about candidate applications, including the candidate's details, application status, associated job requisition, and other relevant information. Integrations can be built to trigger actions based on application status changes, such as initiating background checks or sending candidate communications.
  • Candidate and Candidate Light: These entities hold information about candidates, such as personal details, contact information, and attachments like resumes and cover letters. You can use this to export candidate data or to create or update candidate profiles in SAP SuccessFactors.
  • Operator and Operator Team: These entities contain information about the recruiters and hiring managers involved in the recruiting process, as well as teams of operators.
  • Candidate Profile Extension: If enabled, this entity can store additional candidate profile information beyond the standard fields.
  • JobApplicationBackgroundCheckRequest: This is used specifically for integrations related to external background check providers.

Note

The specific set of entities available to you in the Integration Center will depend on your SAP SuccessFactors configuration and the OData API permissions granted to the integration user or role. You can explore the OData API catalog within the Integration Center to discover the available entities in your environment.

Common use cases for Integration Center Jobs for SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting include:

  • Exporting Job Requisitions: Automate the export of job requisitions to external job boards or internal reporting tools.
  • Updating Job Requisitions from Position Data: Automatically update job requisitions when position details change in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Position Management.
  • Integrating with Background Check Vendors: Trigger background check requests to third-party providers as candidates reach certain stages.
  • Integrating with Assessment Vendors: Send candidate information to external assessment tools and receive evaluation results back in SuccessFactors.

Automation Tools for Recruiting: Business Rules and the Integration Center

To create effective integrations for your recruiting processes in SAP SuccessFactors, it’s important to understand the roles of both business rules and the Integration Center.

Business rules are designed to automate entity-specific tasks within the Recruiting data model, often triggered by specific events. In contrast, the Integration Center focuses on automating data imports, exports, and updates, with jobs that can be scheduled or triggered by user actions. This distinction helps you choose the right automation approach for your needs. The following table compares business rules and the Integration Center to further clarify how these tools support your recruiting processes.

Business Rules and Integration Center Comparison

Business RulesIntegration Center
User-friendly tool to help create automation within a Recruiting data modelPlatform tool to help create automation against data entities
Used to automate entity-specific tasksUsed to automate import/exports or updates data in an interface
Supports event-based triggers (Initiate, Change, Save)Jobs are scheduled throughout the day or based on supported user-action

Create Integration Center Jobs

The Integration Center is a user-friendly platform that enables you to automate and streamline connections between your recruiting module and other systems, ensuring efficient data flow and task automation. Follow this procedure to create an Integration Center Job.

Steps

  1. Navigate to Integration Center in Admin Center.

  2. Select My Integrations.

  3. Select + Create.

  4. Choose More Integration Types to define your integration further.

    Note

    For inbound CSV integrations, directly select Scheduled CSV Input Integration.

  5. Configure the Integration Type:

    1. Set the Trigger Type (for example, Scheduled).

    2. Choose the Source Type (for example, SuccessFactors for internal data or SFTP for external files).

    3. Specify the Destination Type (for example: SuccessFactors for internal transfer, REST for external API, or SFTP for file transfer).

    4. Select the desired data format (for example, OData v2 for SuccessFactors to SuccessFactors transfers, JSON for REST, CSV, or EDI).

    5. Select Create.

  6. Define the source and destination entities:

    1. Select the starting entity that will send data in the Search for Entities by Entity Name field.

    2. In Configure Fields, switch to Field Mapping View.

    3. Select the receiving entity.

  7. Map and Filter Fields (if necessary):

    1. Drag and drop source fields to destination fields to establish data transfer mapping.

    2. Apply filters to narrow the data being transferred (for example: filter by change date to only include recently updated records).

  8. Configure Source Settings (if applicable):

    1. For SFTP or CSV integrations, configure server details, file name, and folder settings.

  9. Schedule the Integration Job:

    1. Go to the Scheduling tab.

    2. Select scheduling frequency from the Occurs dropdown (Once, Daily, Weekly, Monthly).

    3. Specify the start date and time.

    4. Optionally, specify email addresses to receive notifications for failed integrations.

  10. Review and activate the integration:

    1. Go to the Review and Run page to review all settings.

    2. Select Save and Schedule to activate the job, or Run Now to execute immediately.

Integration Center Methods and Best Practices for Recruiting

The SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center provides a variety of options to facilitate seamless connectivity, automate workflows, and support robust reporting requirements. Understanding these integration methods, and following best practices, can help maximize efficiency and maintain data integrity.

One of the most widely used features is Scheduled Exports, which enables organizations to regularly export recruiting data such as job requisitions, candidate information, and application statuses. These exports can be configured with specific filtering conditions and delivered in various output formats, including CSV, XML, or EDI, for consumption by other systems or for reporting purposes.

Beyond scheduled exports, Intelligent Services Events offer a dynamic approach to integration. With this capability, integrations can be triggered automatically based on events within SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting. For example, when a candidate's application status changes, the system can initiate a background check request to a third-party vendor, reducing manual effort and accelerating the recruitment process.

In addition, organizations can develop Custom Integrations tailored to specific business needs. This flexibility allows for the creation or updating of job requisitions from external sources or other specialized data exchanges, ensuring that unique requirements are met.

When implementing integrations, there are several best practices to keep in mind:

  • Map fields carefully: Accurate data transfer relies on precise mapping between source and destination entities.
  • Prioritize data consistency: Establish clear mapping rules and validation checks to maintain data integrity across systems.
  • Leverage templates and existing integrations: Utilize predelivered templates or adapt existing solutions to save time and effort.
  • Thoroughly test integrations: Before deploying integrations to production, conduct rigorous testing to identify and resolve any errors or inconsistencies.

In essence, the SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center empowers you to build custom integrations, streamline your recruiting workflows, and connect SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting with other SAP modules or third-party systems.

Summary

The SAP SuccessFactors Integration Center empowers you to connect SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting with other SAP SuccessFactors modules and third-party systems, orchestrate data flows, and automate key recruiting processes. Knowing the available entities, choosing the right automation tool (business rules versus Integration Center), and following proven methods and best practices ensures robust, reliable integrations.

Learning

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