From Merger to Momentum: ams OSRAM Unites HR on a Global Scale

A Global Leader in Light and Sensor Technology

ams OSRAM is a global leader in innovative light and sensor solutions with more than 110 years of industry experience. Headquartered in Austria and Germany, the company employs approx. 19,000 people worldwide and generated EUR 3.4 billion in revenues in 2024.

Its portfolio includes semiconductor-based light emitters, sensors, CMOS ICs, software, and traditional lighting technologies, serving the automotive, industrial, medical, and consumer electronics markets. By combining engineering excellence, global manufacturing capabilities, and a passion for innovation, ams OSRAM creates breakthrough applications that make the world safer, smarter, and more sustainable.

From Two Systems to One Global HR Backbone

The merger of ams and OSRAM brought together two organisations that both used SAP SuccessFactors but in very different ways. ams had implemented a lean version of Employee Central as a standalone HR system, while OSRAM leveraged modules such as Performance & Goals, Learning, and Recruiting in conjunction with a various local HR systems.

This fragmented setup led to inconsistent processes, duplicate systems, and limited global reporting. Recruiting in particular lacked transparency across borders, restricting both internal mobility and external hiring.

The new ams OSRAM organisation needed a single HR backbone that would:

• Cover all employees across the globe.

• Provide consistent, scalable processes that respected local requirements.

• Serve as a reliable data hub for downstream ERP, payroll, and finance systems.

Why Effective People

ams OSRAM carefully evaluated partners and selected Effective People for two main reasons:

1. Global capability with local sensitivity: This project covered about 20 countries on 3 continents and required a partner who understands how to define global processes leveraging a consultative, customer-centric approach.

2. Proven insight and foresight: The detailed approach of Effective People highlighted topics that required specific attention. This increased transparency and trust that the expertise provided was right to manage the complexity of the project.

ams OSRAM valued the ability to think globally, reflect company-specific needs, and provide an approach that matched the company’s long-term strategy.

The Solution: Building a Scalable HR Foundation

The transformation began with a complete redesign of Employee Central, rolled out globally to cover 100% of employees. This included replacing the legacy HCM system, ensuring compliance with local requirements, and establishing Employee Central as the single source of truth and data hub for downstream systems.

Once Employee Central was in place, additional modules followed:

• Recruiting: Global rollout with harmonised workflows for approvals, interview scheduling, and feedback, delivering transparency and a consistent candidate experience.

• Learning: Linked training requirements to job roles and compliance needs, streamlining processes for L&D teams while supporting employee development.

• Compensation: A global compensation solution is underway, designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and scalability across entities.

Business Impact: From Fragmentation to Clarity

ams OSRAM achieved measurable improvements across the organisation:

• 100% of employees managed in one Employee Central instance.

• A single source of truth for HR data, reducing interfaces and improving quality.

• Global recruiting transparency, enabling internal mobility and consistent candidate experience worldwide.

• Streamlined learning environment supporting compliance and development.

• On-time, on-budget delivery with very high quality.

Looking Ahead: Payroll and Time on the Horizon

With Employee Central, Recruiting, Learning in place, and Compensation in the works, ams OSRAM has established a strong HR foundation. ams OSRAM now has the capabilities to serve their employees and managers with high-quality processes which - due to the strong foundation - are adaptable to reflect future needs and incorporate the innovation SuccessFactors provides.

Conclusion: A Foundation for Growth

By uniting two distinct HR landscapes into a single global SuccessFactors platform, ams OSRAM now has the control, consistency, and clarity needed to support its global workforce. The project was more than a technical achievement. It was a people story, built on partnership, trust, and the shared commitment to create one company and one team.

The ams OSRAM transformation shows how merging organisations can unify HR globally while maintaining local compliance and empowering employees worldwide.

Ready to modernise your HR backbone with SAP SuccessFactors? Learn how Effective People can help.