Case Study 4: ERP Payroll Localization and Systems Integration for a Multi-Country Retail Group Using SAP S/4HANA

The Challenges:

Disjointed Payroll Processes Across GCC Locations
UAE, KSA, and Oman each had different allowance structures, tax treatments, and labor requirements. The SAP payroll module was not configured to reflect these variations.
Manual Attendance-to-Payroll Mapping
The absence of integration between biometric data and SAP resulted in overtime mismatches and compliance flags.
High Risk of WPS & GOSI Non-Compliance
UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS) and KSA’s GOSI contribution requirements were not being automatically validated within SAP.
Lack of Centralized Reporting for Payroll Audits
Payroll data was fragmented by location, making it difficult to deliver timely and consolidated audit-ready reports.

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Industry:

Retail & Distribution

Location:

Oman, UAE, KSA

Services Used :

GCC Payroll & Regional Localization

Data Migration & System Integration

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The Solution

Wolken Connect Networks worked closely with the client’s HR, IT, and Finance departments across all three countries to localize SAP Payroll and establish real-time system integrations.

✅ GCC Payroll & Regional Localization

Configured SAP Payroll schemas to support leave policies, gratuity, social contributions, and tax-free housing allowances
Aligned WPS formatting with UAE Central Bank requirements
Customized Arabic payslip templates for KSA-based users and dual-language output for UAE staff
Automated GOSI, end-of-service benefits, and leave encashments

✅ Data Migration & System Integration

Integrated biometric time attendance with SAP Time Evaluation through middleware
Linked POS sales performance data to employee incentive structures
Migrated historical payroll entries from legacy systems to SAP’s control center for audit consistency

✅ ERP Advisory & Optimization

Established a shared payroll reporting dashboard at group level
Built exception alerts and payroll error-handling workflows
Trained local HR teams in Dubai, Riyadh, and Muscat on SAP-based payroll audits

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💬 In Their Words:

“We went from fragmented payroll across three countries to a compliant, streamlined system. Wolken Connect understood the nuances of labor laws and configured SAP to work for each of our locations without disrupting business continuity.”
— Regional HR Director, Retail Group, GCC