SAP introduces games-based training to African market to drive adoption, increase knowledge so customers gain maximum benefits

Pretoria — SAP Education is bringing the fun of games-based training to the enterprise with the introduction of the SAP ERP Simulation Game. Launched in Paris earlier this year, the learning game is now available to customers in South Africa and other African countries.

“One of the biggest challenges to companies that run SAP software is to gain 100% buy-in from staff, on top of which they have to gain the necessary skills and proper understanding of how and why to use the system correctly,” explains Johann Pretorius, Education Director at SAP South Africa. “The simulation game has won wide acclaim for achieving these goals through a fun, interactive and informative process.”

The game is played between colleagues, with members split into teams of between four and six players, who then compete on a live SAP ERP system to manage a mock company. The game, which can be played over six or 12 months, involves the full life cycle of a business, with each of the players assigned a role to fulfil.

The game has been designed in a manner that it cuts across all levels of an organisation, from executive management all the way to end-users, including new employees.

“The end goal is to drive awareness and understanding, promote cross-team integration, increase adoption and deliver real improvements in productivity,” says Pretorius. “Results from some of the early pilot programmes have already shown considerable improvement in user acceptance and adoption, a better understanding of the integrated nature of SAP and increased knowledge of navigation and operation. Executives, for example, were also able to demonstrate enhanced business acumen and sharper decision-making following their exposure to the system through the game.”

He adds that the game concept is one that is familiar to the so-called 2.0 generation of employees who are more comfortable learning through this type of mechanism and interface than conventional training methods. In fact, research firm Gartner noted in 2006 that game-based learning can significantly accelerate the transfer and application of knowledge, and that by 2011, gaming would emerge as a critical component in a majority of corporate learning solutions.

One of the first African organisations to participate in the SAP ERP Simulation Game are executives from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, a significant customer in terms of size, location and industry.

“We look forward to rolling out the SAP ERP Simulation Game to customers who recognise the value to their organisation in having more staff use their system correctly, more often,” concludes Pretorius.

SAP

SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software(*), offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 97 000 customers in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol “SAP”. For more information, visit http://www.sap.com.

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