Streamlining Time Sheet Approvals in SuccessFactors: Time Sheet Approval Center

[vinodgkrishna]

Streamlining Time Sheet Approvals in SuccessFactors: Time Sheet Approval Center

The Time Sheet Approval Center empowers managers in SuccessFactors with a centralized hub to efficiently manage and approve employee time sheets. Introducing in the 1H 2024 release, this feature simplifies the time sheet approval process, enhancing visibility and control.

Key Advantages:

• Effortless Mass Approvals: The Approve All button enables managers to approve all submitted time sheets with a single click, saving significant time and effort.
• Holistic View: Gain a comprehensive perspective of all employee time sheets on a single page. Essential details like time types, allowances, missing punches, absences, related approvals, alerts, and amendments are readily accessible, facilitating informed approval decisions.
• Inline Approval Convenience: Review and approve time-off requests, time event corrections, and single attendance record approvals directly from the Time Sheet Approval Center. This eliminates the need to navigate between multiple screens, streamlining the workflow.
• Unblocked Submissions: If a pending single attendance record approval hinders an employee from submitting their time sheet, managers can directly address it from the Time Sheet Approval Center, ensuring a smooth time sheet submission process.
• Deeper Dives: Navigate to the employee's Time Sheet UI or Time Workbench for more granular details when needed.
• Alert Management: Review alerts or amendments associated with time sheets and take necessary actions within the Time Sheet Approval Center or the Time Admin Workbench.
• Customizable Key Facts: Craft Time Sheet Key Fact Configurations to display specific details relevant to your organization, such as Time Type Group, Allowance Type, Unpaired Time Events, Time Off in Lieu Account balance, and Working Time Account balance.

Addressing Challenges:

The Time Sheet Approval Center effectively tackles the pain points associated with traditional time sheet approval methods:

• Manual Processes: Previously, managers had to manually review each time sheet for every direct report, verifying various details across scattered locations. This time-consuming approach could lead to errors and inconsistencies.
• Limited Visibility: The absence of a centralized view often made it challenging for managers to grasp the overall time sheet landscape and make informed approval decisions.

Configuration Requirements and Permissions:

• Restricted Availability: As of now, the Time Sheet Approval Center is in Restricted Availability. 
• SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking License: A license for SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking is mandatory.
• Optional Time Sheet Key Fact Configuration: Create Time Sheet Key Fact Configurations before linking them to Time Recording Profiles.
• Role-Based Permissions:
  • View the Time Sheet Approval Center: Administrator > Manage Time > Access Time Sheet Approval Center permission.
  • Mass Approve Time Sheets: Administrator > Manage Time > Access Time Sheet Approval Center > Enable Approve All permission.
  • Create Time Sheet Key Facts: View, Edit, and Import/Export permissions for User > Time Management Object Permissions > Time Sheet Key Fact.
  • Create Allowance/Time Type Group Key Facts: The respective View, Correct, Create, Adjust Order, Delete, and Import/Export permissions for User > Time Management Object Permissions > Time Sheet Key Fact (Allowance Types/Time Type Groups).
  • Create/Manage Time Sheet Key Fact Configurations: The respective View Current, View History, Create, Insert, Correct, Delete, and Import/Export permissions for User > Time Management Object Permissions > Time Sheet Key Fact Configuration.

Understanding the Interface:

The Time Sheet Approval Center offers a user-friendly interface with distinct functionalities:

• Approve All Button (Conditional): This button appears only when you have the requisite permissions and select all time sheets using the top-left checkbox. For individual approvals, use the Approve button on each time sheet row.
• Mass Approval Selection: Choose specific time sheets for bulk approval. Note that time sheets with pending related approvals cannot be approved during mass actions.
• Related Approval Details: A pop-up window displays details of related approvals (time off requests, time event corrections, etc.) and available actions for the manager or approver.
• More Actions Menu: Access options like opening the Time Sheet UI or Time Workbench, approving/declining the time sheet with comments, and more.

Previous Limitations vs. Improvements:

The Time Sheet Approval Center significantly addresses the limitations of earlier time sheet approval processes:

• Scattered Information: Managers no longer need to navigate through multiple screens to gather crucial time sheet details. The Time Sheet Approval Center presents a consolidated view.
• Inefficiencies: Mass approval capabilities and a streamlined interface considerably reduce approval times and effort.