Gentle Monster parent adopts SAP for centralized HR platform to boost global growth

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The parent company of eyewear brand Gentle Monster is centralizing its global workforce management, betting that a unified data platform will support its rapid international expansion.

IICOMBINED has rolled out a worldwide human-resources system built on SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Korea said Monday. The move replaces fragmented local processes with a single cloud-based interface to manage employees across Asia, Europe and North America.

SAP Korea, the local unit of the German enterprise-software giant, provides back-end systems — such as ERP and payroll tools — that help major Korean exporters standardize operations as they scale overseas.

The system, developed in partnership with LG CNS, replaces a patchwork of country-specific human resources (HR) processes with a single, integrated framework designed to support the company’s expanding international footprint.

At the center of the overhaul is SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, which consolidates employee data across regions and standardizes HR policies and job structures. The company said the platform also enables continuous system upgrades and more consistent global operations.

Gentle Monster eyewear / Korea Times file

By linking the new platform with existing systems through SAP’s Business Technology Platform Integration Suite, IICOMBINED established a unified global source of HR data, allowing information to flow seamlessly across its operations.

The impact is immediate for management. Executives can now track workforce data and generate reports in real time, strengthening oversight and enabling more data-driven organizational decisions. The system is also built to incorporate new overseas entities with flexibility as expansion continues.

Within HR departments, automation has reduced manual workloads and streamlined processes. The company said features such as advance contract expiration alerts and automatic deletion of personal data improve compliance and help mitigate legal risks.

Employees are also gaining more control over their workplace experience. A self-service system allows staff to access and manage their own HR information, while administrative tasks such as document issuance have been simplified.

Han Kwang-mo, head of HR solutions at SAP Korea, said the shift represents a strategic turning point.

“The adoption of SAP SuccessFactors goes beyond a system transition,” Han said. “It positions IICOMBINED to strengthen its talent management capabilities in line with the speed of its global expansion.”

Kim Ji-young, a team leader at LG CNS, said the system was tailored to reflect the company’s distinct HR policies while preparing for future growth.

“We focused on building a flexible architecture that can support the expansion of overseas subsidiaries,” Kim said.

An official at IICOMBINED said the platform sets a new standard for its global HR operations.

“With automation and standardized processes in place, we can now focus more on improving employee experience and executing our global growth strategy,” the official said.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.