beqomPaySuite 24.1 - Feature release notes
This article details the latest improvements introduced in version 24.1 of the beqomPaySuite application, their benefits for our end-users, and their principles of use.
Compensation Management
Managing workflow stages
With the 24.1 release, we have added the Workflow stages feature to extend advanced workflows in Workbench > Compensation Management > Compensation Rounds.
Within a single compensation round, global compensation administrators can now create and order named stages. Configuration takes place in the Workflow step of the compensation round wizard, where administrators access Manage stages to define each stage by setting its name, assigning eligible actors, and determining its start date. The choice of actors at the stage level (for example, HRBP, comp manager, or comp manager +1) is configured independently of the workflow step setup, while the workflow step itself dictates what those assigned actors can do: have read-only access, submit proposals, approve, or reject.
Currently, stage progression remains time-based, with each stage triggered by a set start date. Manual stage progression is planned for a future release.
At runtime, the round's current stage is evaluated at login: actors who are not part of the active stage will not see the round in their Planner round list, and once the round transitions to a stage that includes them, it appears automatically. A visual progress indicator at the top of Planner > Compensation displays information about the current stage and other stages defined, giving all participants visibility into where the round stands. Importantly, republishing the round is required after modifying stage dates for the changes to take effect immediately.
By keeping the round hidden from actors until their stage begins, the feature preserves data integrity and confidentiality. It improves transparency, as all participants can see which stage the round is in and how many stages remain. Also, it delivers a clear process for complex compensation cycles such as HRBP validation, manager proposals, and final global review. Because configuration is available per round, organizations can tailor the workflow to each compensation cycle's unique requirements.
Workflow stage management in Compensation Rounds
Stage progression in the Planner
Planner filtering and sorting improvements
We have introduced sorting and advanced filtering in the Planner across a broader set of field types, including worker columns, manager columns, and compensation amount fields.
Users can sort the worker list alphabetically by worker name, the grid by the reporting manager's name, and compensation amounts numerically. Advanced filtering has also been upgraded to enable more complex filter expressions, and currency can be used as a criterion when filtering on compensation amounts. These sorting and filtering capabilities apply consistently to all fields sourced from rule configuration, not just predefined system columns.
To use the new capabilities, users click any column header in the Planner > Compensation grid to toggle ascending or descending order, and access the advanced filter panel from the Planner toolbar to construct multi-criteria filters with the expanded set of field types and operators as well as additional conditions. Sorting and filtering states take effect in real time and persist during the planning session. As the improvements are available automatically for all existing compensation rounds, no additional configuration is required.
The result is faster identification of compensation outliers and simplified navigation of large populations through sorting, more targeted reviews via advanced filters that isolate specific worker groups without scrolling through the full list, and a uniform experience across all Planner columns, which removes the workarounds needed when sort or filter capabilities were missing.
Improved filters with currency selection in the compensation round
Advanced calculations in the Eligibility step
Eligibility in Workbench > Compensation Management > Compensation Rounds now supports advanced calculation rules using custom columns, allowing administrators to define dynamic eligibility conditions based on custom data points.
To configure this, administrators create or edit eligibility rules for specific compensation elements in the Eligibility step of a round's pending draft. Rules can reference custom columns (for instance, a "Promotion" drop-down column) using the advanced calculation editor's expression language. As an example, a rule can state that a worker is ineligible for life insurance by default but becomes eligible when the "Promotion" column is set to "Yes." In Planner > Compensation, when a user updates the custom column value for a worker, the corresponding compensation element becomes editable for that worker in real time. An optional calculated column can be configured to show a plain-language eligibility status alongside the compensation element in the Planner grid.
By tying eligibility to promotions, role changes, or other HR events captured in custom columns, the feature facilitates event-driven compensation decisions and reduces the need for manual overrides. Eligibility conditions become rule-based and traceable. The enhancement also extends the power of advanced calculations to the eligibility layer itself, not just column display logic.
Conditional eligibility rule configuration with the formula editor
Eligibility-driven field activation in the compensation grid
Password protection settings for Excel exports in Planner
A new configurable setting allows administrators to control whether Excel exports from the Planner are password-protected. Previously, password protection was always enforced. This release gives organizations the flexibility to disable this requirement depending on their needs.
To access the setting, compensation or global compensation administrators navigate to Workbench > Compensation Management > Compensation Rounds and go to the Team planner view step in the round's create or edit mode. Then, they select the Planner add-ons tab and toggle Password-protected Excel export on or off. The toggle is enabled by default to preserve the existing secure behavior for all current and future rounds. Users such as managers and HRBPs see different behavior depending on the setting: with password protection off, clicking Export to Excel in Planner > Compensation shows only the page selection and no password is required; with password protection on, the Export modal includes a mandatory Password field with real-time validation and password requirement guidance. The password only protects the downloaded file and is never stored in the system.
The change removes unnecessary friction where password-protected Excels are not operationally required. At the same time, it preserves security-first defaults. Different rounds can have different export settings based on their data sensitivity, and full backward compatibility is maintained, as all previously created rounds continue to follow the password protection rule.
Password-protected export toggle in Planner add-ons
Pay information widget in the digital reward statement
The 24.1 release upgrades the Pay information widget. Administrators manage it from Workbench > Platform Setup > Passport > Digital reward statement, in a dedicated Pay information block. The widget is off by default, so existing clients remain unaffected until the administrator explicitly enables it.
When enabled, administrators set a required section header, an optional rich-text description, and country eligibility via a multi-select list populated from the Data Foundation live snapshot. Only workers whose work country matches see the widget; no empty state or placeholder is shown for others.
Administrators also choose one of three request submission modes: Button only (one-click submission), Dropdown reasons (default option where workers select from a configurable list), or Free text. Dropdown reasons can be added, reordered, or deleted, and defaults include Pay level comparison by gender, Pay band and grade information, Criteria used for pay decisions, and General pay transparency inquiry.
In the worker experience within Passport > Compensation, the widget appears only when the Worker option is checked in Workbench > Pay Transparency > Document Settings and the Pay information toggle is on.
This enhancement supports regional compliance, for example by scoping requests to Switzerland and France for the EU Pay Transparency Directive. It also simplifies implementation and lets teams match the submission experience to their existing HR processes without developer involvement.
Enhanced Pay information widget
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Performance Management
Due date prepopulation
We have improved the usability of goal creation. Currently, the Due date field in the Create goal forms is automatically prepopulated with the goal plan's end date when one is configured. However, users can still change the date manually before saving or publishing the goal. If the goal plan has no end date (for example, it is a recurring plan), the Due date field remains empty.
This reduces repetitive manual input, keeps goals consistent, and makes them aligned with the plan timeline by default.
Automatic expansion of mandatory sections
In addition, the Measurement criteria and Deliverables sections now expand automatically during goal creation when marked as Mandatory in the selected goal type configuration. In such setups, the sections open by default, so users immediately see the required fields without an extra click. When the Measurement criteria and Deliverables are not mandatory, current behavior remains unchanged.
This allows users to quickly identify mandatory information and avoid validation errors caused by hidden sections.
Prepopulated Due date and auto-expanded Measurement criteria in goal creation
Pay Transparency
New variables for document generation
With this release, document generation templates support new snapshot-related variables. Organizations can dynamically include the snapshot effective date and other snapshot data, along with the document generation date in DOCX communication templates used for pay information requests.
These variables prove especially valuable for EUPTD Article 7 pay information letters, as they increase traceability by showing when the underlying compensation data was captured and when the document itself was generated. They also help organizations ensure consistency and compliance in worker-facing communications.
Mapping configuration for pay information requests
A new Mapping configuration capability, available within Workbench > Pay Transparency, lets administrators define mappings between populations, document templates, data snapshots, and communication rounds. During pay information request processing, these mappings automatically restrict and guide the options shown to HR users, and the system auto-selects the template, snapshot, and communication round when a worker belongs to a single mapping. The page provides a list view of all mappings, individual mapping configuration, and bulk actions to activate, deactivate, or delete mappings. Multiple mappings can apply to the same worker population.
Instead of manually identifying valid templates, snapshots, or communication rounds for each worker request, HR users see only the relevant configurations. This reduces user errors, incorrect document generation, misaligned snapshot selection, and administrative overhead, and simplifies overall request processing workflows.
Individual mapping configuration for pay information requests
Enhanced email notifications with dynamic CC support
Document email notifications, configured under Workbench > Platform Setup > Email Notifications > Documents, can now automatically CC communication managers. The manager is determined dynamically from the hierarchy defined in the communication round configuration wizard, and when secondary hierarchies are set, managers from both primary and secondary hierarchies can be added in CC.
The new capability improves communication visibility and collaboration during document review and distribution workflows. As a result, relevant managers stay informed throughout the process without requiring manual email management or coordination.
Email notification settings including communication managers in CC
Workflow release and unrelease permissions
We have added new permission controls for release and unrelease actions to the Workflow step of communication round configuration. Administrators can independently configure which roles (HRBPs and communication managers) are allowed to release a document and which are allowed to unrelease one. To do so, they need to check relevant boxes under Workbench > Pay Transparency > Communication Rounds > Workflow > Permissions.
This enables more granular governance and approval controls during document review and distribution workflows, fostering alignment with internal processes and compliance standards.
Release and unrelease permissions in the communication round's workflow
Real-time adjusted pay gap calculations during pay gap remediation
Pay Transparency now supports automatic real-time recalculation of adjusted pay gap metrics during pay gap remediation. As users update recommended raises or final raises within pay analysis remediation workflows, the metrics refresh dynamically, and new insights show the adjusted pay gap after recommended and final raises are applied. The capability is available for administrators in Workbench > Pay Intelligence > Pay analysis results. HRBPs see it in Planner > Pay Analysis.
As a consequence, HR and compensation teams can instantly evaluate how proposed raises influence adjusted pay gaps while remediation decisions are being made. This gives immediate visibility into remediation impact on pay equity, improving transparency, decision-making efficiency, and analysis accuracy.
Adjusted pay gap metrics with real-time recalculation in the Planner
Data Foundation
CSV separator configuration
The new version of the application offers a more flexible CSV upload experience to accommodate customers working across different regional Excel settings. Previously, tenants using non-English versions of Excel (for example, French or German) could encounter upload issues, as Excel in such tenants typically saves CSV files with semicolons (;) rather than commas (,). When the system expected only one format, this could result in failed uploads or incorrectly parsed files. Currently, Data Foundation supports configurable CSV separators while maintaining consistent and predictable ingestion behavior across both manual uploads and SFTP.
Administrators can now define a preferred CSV separator at the tenant level, selecting either a comma or a semicolon. This setting serves as the default for SFTP ingestion and for manual CSV uploads whenever no other selection is made at upload time. Manual CSV uploads also allow for an optional separator override: users can choose a comma or semicolon per upload, and that selection takes precedence over the tenant-level setting.
The system applies a clear order when determining which separator to use: the separator chosen during the manual upload comes first, followed by the tenant-level setting, and finally the platform default (comma). This approach keeps ingestion consistent, ensures compatibility with non-interactive flows such as SFTP, and provides the flexibility to handle files that differ from the tenant's standard setup.
The scope of this release covers tenant-level separator configuration, a manual upload separator override, consistent processing of uploaded CSV files using the configured separator, and support for both manual and SFTP uploads. We have also updated the Data Upload UI to display the tenant's separator setting, allow users to select a separator when uploading a file manually, and pass that selection through to the upload API.
No migration or tenant action is required. Existing tenants will continue to use comma-based CSV parsing unless the tenant-level setting is changed or a different separator is selected during an upload.
Authorization
Security groups
With this release, we have introduced security groups, a new framework for PaySuite services that gives enterprise customers a scalable, flexible model for defining reusable authorization scopes.
Crucially, this release focuses on API-level integration. UI-based administration is planned for a future release.
Each security group combines roles, attribute-based access control (ABAC) rules, and organizational scope definitions, and is assigned to users through APIs. The framework facilitates complex scenarios across services such as Pay Transparency, Compensation Management, and PayAnalytics.
Administrators and integrations can define security groups containing role assignments and attribute-based scopes. Supported scope attributes include Worker Country, Organizational Units / Org Items, Legal Entity, and Division. Groups are exposed through new authorization APIs covering creation, update, retrieval, and user assignment.
Users can be assigned to multiple security groups, with effective authorization calculated as the union of assigned roles and resolved scope attributes. For data access scenarios where a user holds multiple roles with different scopes, the engine also enables contextual role filtering: applications can request authorization in the context of a specific active role, and only the security groups associated with that role are evaluated.
The platform allows for large-scale security group assignments per user, with no hard limit currently enforced. Capacity will continue to be monitored in production. Existing individual authorization override (ACL) configurations remain fully supported and take precedence over security group evaluation, so SMB authorization and legacy role assignment flows keep working unchanged. Customers can adopt security groups incrementally.
Overall, security groups reduce authorization complexity and role duplication, improve enterprise scalability, provide support for matrix organizations, and lay the foundation for further authorization enhancements.