First of all this seems to have been an implementation of SAP HR, FI, CRM, SCM, etc. (and you're referring to CRM in your comment).
SAP is the best payroll system in the world if you want to run it on your own. SAP FI is top notch as well. It's a proper on-premise solution, which is preferred by institutions from the public sector. It's not easy to do a proper move from one older system to another. We needed about 5 years to do it for a huge public sector institution, with at least 20 people permanently on the job, most of the time double or more. We had an excellent project manager who knew SAP HR and FI, I think that's what made the difference (SAP provided him and half of the consultants).