Using Action Search, Other Searches, and Custom Navigation

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Modify People Search and Action Search.
  • Maintain custom navigations.

People Search and Action Search

A search bar on the top of the SAP SuccessFactors welcome page is displayed.

At the top of the page, a search bar allows users to search for an action or for people.

Benefits of the People Search

People Search in the Global Header enables you to search for and find people in your organization.

The benefits of the Global Header People Search include the following.

• Easy access from every page.

• Supports for fuzzy matching, allowing you to find an employee by a search term that has one character difference from the target employee name.

• Supports searching for employee names that contain characters with accents, umlauts, diereses, and so on.

• Supports searching for employees by Employee Central names.

• Ability to control the EC (Employee Central) and non-EC user info displayed in the search results with Role-Based Permissions.

Name Matching Logic

If you want to search for employees and are not sure about the exact spelling of their names, you can use the special character "*" as a wildcard.

To help you better understand the matching logic, let's assume that Person A "Mike Adams" and Person B "Mike Williams" are in our employee database.

So when you search for "Mike adam", Person A appears in your search results. When you search for "Mike Willi", Person B appears in your search results. When you search for "Mi *ams", both Person A and Person B appear in your search results. When you search for "*ike Adams", neither Person A nor Person B appears in your search results

For further information check: Allowing Special Characters in Search Queries

Fuzzy Search in People Search

The results of a fuzzy search are displayed.

Fuzzy search allows you to find an employee by a search term that has one character difference from the target employee name. The feature applies to the following scenarios when searching employees:

• One missing or redundant character. If you search for "Joerg", the results also return "Jörg", and vice versa.

• One misspelled character. If you search for "ALLEX", the search results also return "Alex" and "Allen", and vice versa.

Prerequisites:

• User Search permission is granted in RBP.

• Make sure People Search is enabled in Provisioning.

Inactive Users in the Global Header People Search

The results of a search for an employee shows that she is an inactive user.

By default, inactive users are not included in People Search results.

This company-level setting does not affect search functions on People Profile or Employee Directory. Likewise, feature settings and permissions used to control search functions on People Profile or Employee Directory, such as the Role-Based Permission Include Inactive Employees in the search, do not affect People Search.

Future hires are also displayed as inactive users in the People Search results in the Global Header.

Note

People Search uses the company-level Show inactive user in people search (requires Role-based Permissions) setting. In order to be able to Search Inactive Users in the Global Header, users must also have the permission Manage Recruits/Manage Hires IncludeInactive Employees in the search.

Disable Fuzzy Search and Enable Inactive User Search

Business Example

In this exercise you will learn how to disable the Fuzzy Search and enable the Inactive Users Search.

Steps

  1. On "Company Systems and Logo Settings", disable the Fuzzy Search and Enable Inactive User Search.

    1. Log into your instance. Use Action Search to search for "Super" and note, that there were no results.

    2. Use Action Search to navigate to Company System and Logo Settings.

    3. Use Ctrl+F to search for "fuzzy" and find "Enable fuzzy search function for People Search".

    4. Disable "Enable fuzzy search function for People Search" by unchecking the box in front of the line.

    5. Use Ctrl+F to search for "show inactive" and find "Show inactive user in people search (requires Role-based Permissions)".

    6. Enable "Show inactive user in people search (requires Role-based Permissions)" by checking the box in front of the line.

    7. Scroll down to the end of the page and click on "Save Company System Settings".

    8. To test your settings, use Action Search to search for "Super" and note that you find a user "super admin" that has the status inactive.

Result

You have disabled Fuzzy Search and enabled Inactive User Search.

Action Search

Action Search

Action Search is a feature designed to facilitate navigation and enhance overall system usability.

As an End User, you can use Action Search to find dozens of common actions directly in the search bar at the top of the page. You can use natural language to describe what you want to do, and then select from a list of suggested actions. You can also search for tools using English search terms, even if you log on SAP SuccessFactors with non-English language.

As an administrator, you can use Action Search to access your Admin Center as well. You can also do the following:

  • Create a search for relevant actions based on keywords and synonyms.

  • Manage and configure your own action keywords and custom links.

As an administrator, you can access Admin CenterCompany SettingsManage Action Search to customize the ways in which users find actions from the search bar in the page header. You can enable or disable actions, and add your own search terms or search labels, both for standard actions and your own custom actions.

There are a number of predefined actions and paraphrases within SAP SuccessFactors. If you would like for users to have additional key words or paraphrases to search by, you can add your own Custom Paraphrase within a specific Action.

For example, as an administrator, you may refer to Role-Based Permissions as RBPs. In Action Search, you can add RBP as a searchable paraphrase from Action Search. To do this, choose Action from the list on the left side of the page. Then choose the Add custom paraphrases option. Type in the new paraphrase under When the user searches for any of these… and the option you’d like to display in the search results under Display this paraphrase. Then click Save.

Note

You can find out more about People Search and Action Search by reviewing the documentation on the SAP Help Portal

Manage Action Search

Business Example

BCUI (Manage Business Configuration) is a commonly used term to reference the Manage Business Configuration page in Admin Center. In this exercise you will add BCUI as a custom paraphrase to enhance Action Search using the Manage Action Search page.

Steps

  1. Add the term BCUI to Action Search results to allow users to use that common abbreviation to navigate to Manage Business Configuration.

    1. Log into your instance. Use Action Search to navigate to Manage Action Search

    2. In the field "All types" select Admin to reduce the number of actions listed.

    3. In the field "Search for action" enter "Manage Business Configuration" to reduce the number of Actions listed to a single result.

    4. Click on the 1 Action result listed: Manage Business Configuration.

    5. Near the bottom of the page click on + Add custom paraphrases.

    6. Near the middle of the page under Custom Paraphrases and under "When the user searches for any of these…" enter "BCUI".

    7. Under Display this paraphrase enter "Manage Business Configuration THR80".

    8. Near the bottom right of the page click Save.

    9. Wait 1 minute.

    10. Use Action Search and enter the term "BCUI".

    11. Confirm the result shows "Manage Business Configuration THR80".

Result

You have added the term BCUI to Action Search and users can use that term to more rapidly navigate to the Manage Business Configuration page.

Customization of Navigation

Custom Navigations provide the ability to navigate to a new location, such as an external URL or a custom report, which is not accessible using default system options. Custom Navigations can appear in Action Search, the main Navigation Menu, People Profile "Jump To" and "Employee Records," and from "Take Action" and "Go To" within People Preview. This gives companies great flexibility in customizing their instance of SAP SuccessFactors, as they can now seamlessly provide quick access to other tools outside of SAP SuccessFactors, centralizing the workspace.

Custom navigation must be enabled in Provisioning.

To configure Custom Navigations in the instance, navigate in the Action Search. The following table describes the configuration options:

Field

Description

Menu Item Label

This is how the link appears in the user interface. For custom actions, this becomes the "display label" in Action Search.

ID

This can be any text or numeric value. You can use any convention you wish, but every custom navigation link, regardless of its location or locations, must have a unique ID.

Link Type

Custom actions created in Action Search do not reflect these settings. Action Search only supports "same browser" behavior. Both internal and external custom navigation actions open in the same browser tab.

For other custom links, you can select the following:

  • Internal Link

    Used with a SAP SuccessFactors deep link in URL field

  • External Link - Same Browser

    Used with an external URL. Opens in the same browser window.

  • External Link - New Browser

    Used with an external URL. Opens in a new browser window.

URL

Enter the URL or deep link that you want to make available in action search.

Menu Location

To create a custom action, select Action Search in the dropdown menu. For custom actions, it is recommended that you only select one location, Action Search, in this menu. This is due to the fact that localization and link types are handled differently in action search than with other custom link locations. For other link locations, you can select one or more locations.

Permissions

This dropdown displays the permission roles and groups configured in RBP. Only those selected will see the Custom Navigation.

Configure Custom Navigation

Business Example

In this exercise you will learn how to configure a customer specific navigation.

Steps

  1. Add a customer-specific item to the main menu.

    1. Log into your instance. Use Action Search to navigate to Configure Custom Navigation.

      Note

      This tool is only available if exercise "Edit Company Settings and add a New Administrator Account in Provisioning" was completed already.
    2. In the column "Menu Item Label" enter "Company Website".

    3. In the column "ID" enter "1".

    4. Select as Link Type "External Link – New Tab/Window".

    5. In the column "URL" type https://www.sap.com.

    6. Select as Menu Location "Top Navigation" by checking the box in front of this option.

    7. Select as Permission "Select all", click on "Save" and on "OK" in the confirmation box.

    8. To test your settings, log out and log back into the system and click on the main menu where you will find a new item called "Company Website".

Result

You have configured a customer specific navigation by adding a customer specific item to the main menu.

Joule Support in SAP SuccessFactors

Joule has the capability of dealing with HR tasks, for example, employee and manager self-service. With the assistant, managers and employees can perform business tasks in a conversational context that is enabled by supported transactional use cases. Joule is available on all pages in the SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite.

The Joule chat assistant is displayed.

Customers can determine which Joule data center they want to use. The reason for this is that in complex scenario customers want to integrate Joule with multiple SAP business applications on different data centers even in different regions.

As configuration requirement, the instance is set up for SAP Cloud Identity Services - Identity Authentication service (IAS) and Joule. Joule is enabled. To set the permission go to "General User Permission" and enable "Access to Joule permission".

AI-Assisted Writing

Employees can use the AI-assisted writing tool to enhance multiple aspects of their writing, such as clarity, conciseness, and tone when they write content in the text fields in SAP SuccessFactors applications.

AI-assisted writing is an interactive tool that uses generative AI capabilities to assist employees with their writing tasks.

AI-assisted writing is available for use in the following product areas:

  • Compensation
  • Rewards and Recognition
  • Variable Pay
  • Calibration
  • Employee Central
  • Platform
  • Learning
  • Onboarding
  • Dynamic Teams (including Objectives and Key Results)
  • Latest People Profile
  • Talent Intelligence Hub
  • Mentoring (as part of the Career Development)
  • Recruiting
  • Job Profile Builder

It also includes the following features:

  • Enhance Writing
  • Change Tone
  • Make Shorter
  • Make Longer
  • Make Bullet List
  • Text Analyzer
  • Translation

For more information about the options available in the AI-assisted writing tool, refer to AI-Assisted Writing.

AI-Bulk Translate feature in Picklist Center

With the 1H 2025 release (and after you've purchased the AI units license), this feature is available in Picklist Center, enabling users to translate individual picklist values across all system-enabled languages. You can specify one source language and one or multiple target languages and choose whether a new translation should overwrite an existing value.

AI-Assisted Microsoft Teams App Chat

A feature called AI-Assisted Microsoft Teams App Chat, is available in Work Tech. It allows users to interact with the SAP SuccessFactors app in Microsoft Teams to initiate HR transactions or view personal data using natural language through a built-in AI engine.

Enhancements and Expanded Adoption of User Feedback on AI Features

We’ve enhanced the user feedback option for SAP SuccessFactors Business AI features, with the newest addition being the ability to include free-text comments. Users can now share their impressions of AI-generated content with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down rating. If they select thumbs-down, they can specify a reason for their rating and provide additional context through free-text comments. This feedback is optional and can be submitted after AI-generated content appears on the page. Adding optional comments for extra detail can help us make targeted improvements for the given prompt or experience, improving the overall quality of AI-assisted processes. Gathering user feedback helps improve AI accuracy, relevance, and usability. Patterns in ratings and comments provide valuable insights into recurring issues, allowing SAP SuccessFactors to enhance AI-assisted processes over time. Submitted feedback may be analyzed to identify trends and refine AI-generated responses.

Users can provide feedback on the AI-generated content in the latest Goal Management.

Usage Metrics for AI Units

You can monitor the consumption of AI units across all premium AI features which is part of the AI Services Administration in the section Business AI Consumption Dashboard on the SAP for Me page. You can review:

  • Your current balance of AI units.
  • A summary detailing the consumption of AI units by each premium AI feature.
  • The number of AI units approaching their expiration date.

WalkMe Guided Tours in SAP SuccessFactors

WalkMe

WalkMe guided tours provide structured, step-by-step assistance for employees, managers, and administrators to complete common tasks.

WalkMe is an AI-powered digital adoption solution that enables teams to create guidance and automation in the flow of work, while giving business and technology leaders insights into how people are using the software and where users can be more self-sufficient.

Currently, the guided tours are only available when the system language is set to English (US).

SAP SuccessFactors delivers WalkMe content that you can use without a license to WalkMe. If you would like to customize WalkMe content, you need to purchase a license.

The guided tours are created and managed by SAP SuccessFactors. To access the SAP SuccessFactors-managed content, you must enable WalkMe, as it is disabled by default. To enable WalkMe make sure you have Company System and Logo Settings permission. Then you can search for WalkMe Digital Adoption Platform in the Action Search to enable WalkMe.

Note

Premium AI focuses on AI-assisted capabilities that involve complex tasks, intelligent business insights, and measurable business outcomes. Premium AI capabilities require purchasing of SAP AI Units license. All features using generative AI capabilities and Joule messages that exceed a customer's annual usage allocation are considered to be Premium AI.

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