Your weekly briefing on the HR and HR technology developments that matter to SME HR teams across Europe.
Big picture: skills data moves to the core of HR software
On 6 October 2026 SAP announced an agreement to acquire TechWolf, a Ghent-based company whose software builds a continuously updated view of the skills and tasks inside an organisation from the HR and business systems it already uses. Financial terms weren’t disclosed and the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. SAP plans to build the technology into SuccessFactors and its Joule AI assistant, citing uses such as internal mobility, reskilling and skills-based hiring. TechWolf is expected to keep operating independently and stay open to companies that don’t use SAP. It’s a clear sign that skills data is becoming a core layer of HR systems rather than an add-on.
Why it matters: skills-based planning is moving from large-enterprise projects into mainstream HR software, so SME teams can expect clearer skills records, internal mobility and development planning in the tools they already use. It’s a good moment to check that your own role descriptions and employee skills data are accurate and up to date.
On the radar
Pay transparency: no delay from Brussels. The EU Pay Transparency Directive had a transposition deadline of 7 June 2026. According to a Mondaq summary of the European Commission’s answer of 22 May 2026, the Commission doesn’t envisage including the Directive in any simplification package or “stop-the-clock” measure. The same summary notes that implementation is uneven and that most member states are expected to miss the deadline, so attention may turn to infringement proceedings. Employers operating in several countries should expect national rules to arrive at different speeds.
Manager support decides whether AI lifts engagement. Gallup’s latest US workplace data, reported by Allwork.Space on 23 July 2026, found 31% of workers engaged in the first half of 2026, down from a peak of 36% in 2020. Employees whose managers actively encourage and guide AI use reported 48% engagement, against 30% without that support. Gallup’s conclusion is that simply providing AI tools doesn’t reliably raise engagement or productivity. The figures are from the US, but the lesson on manager coaching travels well.
AI agents in payroll, with a human in the loop. In its 20 August 2026 episode, The HR Huddle podcast discussed isolved’s Guardian, an AI agent that flags payroll errors and can fix them once a user approves the change. The hosts described this as a “glass box” approach. Whatever the vendor, the pattern of AI suggesting and people approving is becoming the norm for sensitive processes such as pay.
HR tech watch
Metaview raises $60m for agentic recruiting. On 30 September 2026 the London-based recruiting platform announced a $60m Series C led by Insight Partners, bringing total funding to $110m. According to the company’s own press release, more than 7,000 companies use the platform, and humans still set the criteria and make final hiring decisions. Tech.eu lists the round at €53m.
Deel buys Clarity to tackle fake-candidate fraud. The HR Huddle also covered Deel’s acquisition of Clarity, a company offering identity verification, deepfake detection and fraud prevention. The hosts saw it as relevant for payroll and HR systems facing fraudulent applicants.
For SME HR teams
Three practical steps this week. First, review your skills and role data: even a simple, accurate list of skills per role will make any future skills tool far more useful. Second, if you hire or pay people across borders, ask your payroll provider or adviser how they’re tracking national pay transparency rules, as deadlines are being missed unevenly. Third, brief your line managers on how you want AI used in the team, because manager guidance appears to matter more than the tools themselves. If you’re trialling AI in recruitment or payroll, make sure a named person approves the outcomes.
Sources
- The Next Web: SAP agrees to acquire Belgian AI workforce startup TechWolf
- People Matters: SAP acquires TechWolf to strengthen skills-based workforce planning
- Mondaq: The EU Commission does not intend to delay the Pay Transparency Directive
- Allwork.Space: Gallup finds AI doesn’t boost employee engagement without manager support
- WRKdefined, The HR Huddle: A big Clarity deal and more AI chaos
- Reworked: Metaview raises $60m Series C to lead the shift to agentic recruiting
- Tech.eu: HR tech funding rounds in 2026
HR Radar is a weekly informational summary of publicly reported HR and HR technology developments and trends. It is not legal or professional advice.
