ERPsim Facilitator Orientation
This afternoon session transitions you from experiencing ERPsim as a participant to taking control as a facilitator. During the morning’s simulation, you gained firsthand insight into gameplay dynamics, user navigation, and decision-making under pressure. You will now tap into that direct player experience to understand how technical setups, live controls, and system configurations directly shape the learning environment when managing and running your own ERPsim sessions. To ensure you have a solid base to build on, make this new knowledge fresh and accessible through the review activities below.
Live ERPsim Experience – Review your Knowledge Quiz – done individually or as a group
Activity: Review your Knowledge Case Study – done as a group
Activity: Review your Knowledge Case Study
Instructions
Work in small groups of 3-5 people and complete the following steps:
Read the scenario context and complete the two parts of the activity through group discussion.
The goal of this activity is to reflect on actions you took as a participant in ERPsim and connect them with how they influenced advancement to the simulation goal. This sets the stage for learning the actions of an ERPsim facilitator to support players during a session.
Scenario Context: BioDrink Logistics Operational Review
You have just finished Round 1 managing BioDrink Logistics, a wholesale energy drink distributor serving convenience stores across North, South, and West regional markets. Your strategic mandate was to maximize net profitability while actively managing carbon footprint fees across direct transfers, warehouse storage overhead, and purchased goods & inbound shipping. During gameplay, you had to choose between mass-market and sustainable suppliers. Reflecting on your team’s decisions during gameplay and leveraging your own ERPsim simulation experience, look at the different operational actions executed in SAP S/4HANA and complete the following:
1. Connect the functional area and Fiori tiles with core participant operational steps.
2. Identify facilitator actions
3. Discuss your participant experience and identify how the ERPsim facilitator would support goal-oriented gameplay.
Core Operational Steps and Dashboard Location Reference
Challenge: Participant or Facilitator Action?
Below are a list of participant operational actions. For each action, connect it to the functional area and Fiori tile in the dashboard.
- Select suppliers and convert Requisitions to POs.
- Review current product stock and unit costs.
- Run MRP to generate Purchase Requisitions.
- Analyze emissions within the different scopes
- Adjust wholesale prices based on market demand.
- Monitor carbon cost surcharges.
- Track net profit margin and team market rank.
- Click ‘Save Sales Prices’ to commit to S/4HANA.
- Check stock levels and historical sales trends.
- Enter sales forecasts in Requirements and MRP.
In this activity, you will decide if the action is completed by a player or the facilitator. Read the list of simulation actions below. If the action is done by a participant, place it in the “participant’ column, and if it is done by a facilitator, place it in the “facilitator” column.
List of actions
- Adjust product selling prices and save changes.
- Pause or resume the simulation timer during gameplay.
- Run Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to generate requisitions.
- Unlock participant user accounts that entered wrong passwords.
- Convert purchase requisitions into Purchase Orders.
- Monitor emissions in the Product Footprint tile.
- Change the round step duration speed from 60 seconds to 30 seconds
- Compare team profitability and rank on the live Leaderboard
- Reset game data and re-prepare the scenario for Round 1.
- Switch supplier from Extreme Spirit Co. to Organic Can Co.
Reflective Analysis: Transitioning to Facilitator Mindset
Complete the following structured reflection questions based on your team’s gameplay experience:
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Which specific player transactions (e.g., executing MRP vs. converting POs) was hard or confusing during Round 1? As a future facilitator, how will you guide players through this exact step?
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What live SAP S/4HANA signals or report trends (e.g., stockouts, margin drops, carbon surcharge spikes) triggered your key strategy shifts during gameplay?
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How did choosing the sustainable supplier impact your net margins compared to carbon footprint penalty costs? Was the trade-off profitable in Round 1?
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Now that you understand player Fiori actions, what specific backend indicators will you monitor on the Game Controller dashboard to determine whether playing teams are actively trading or stuck?
Navigate the ERPsim Environment
Mastering navigation across the ERPsim ecosystem is essential for any facilitator. Smooth technical navigation ensures you can seamlessly manage session workflows, quickly locate critical resources, and guide participants through their system access without disrupting the flow of gameplay. By mastering these environments, you build the technical confidence needed to maintain momentum, resolve access issues on the fly, and create a seamless learning experience for your players. In this module, you will familiarize yourself with the different visual elements of the Baton Portal, Instructor Portal, SAP Fiori Launchpad, My Home and participant access points.
Configure and Prepare an ERPsim Session
Setting up an ERPsim session properly is the cornerstone of a smooth, impactful simulation experience. In this module, your team will select an appropriate scenario, configure session settings in the sandbox, assign participant roles, and execute pre-game setup tasks. Mastering these technical and operational preparation steps ensures you can launch sessions efficiently, minimize live technical disruptions, and tailor the simulation environment to your participants’ learning objectives.
With your team, discuss whether you would like to configure a session with the Sustainability Scenario (the scenario you played earlier) or with the Manufacturing scenario, which would be new. Watch the appropriate videos to familiarise yourself with the particular scenario.
Sustainability Scenario Client Brief
The Global Supply Chain & ESG Steering Committee at PharmaCorp is hosting a 2.5-hour workshop for 16 regional procurement managers and logistics directors. The goal is to demonstrate how operational choices such as selecting eco-friendly cold-chain/packaging suppliers versus high-emission standard suppliers, or transferring stock to regional warehouses impact carbon emissions and overall net margin under new corporate sustainability reporting guidelines.
→Your task is to configure and prepare to facilitate this ERPsim session. Review the resources in the Sustainability section below.
Manufacturing Scenario Client Brief
The Digital Transformation Office is preparing for the global rollout of SAP S/4HANA across PharmaCorp’s manufacturing plants. They have requested an intensive 3-hour hands-on session for 24 plant operations managers, MRP planners, and plant controllers. The learning objective is to experience the complete cash-to-cash cycle.
- forecasting
- running Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- converting requisitions to purchase order
- managing production capacity
- selling finished goods
→Your task is to configure and prepare to facilitate this ERPsim session. Review the resources in the Manufacturing section below.
Sustainability Scenario
Manufacturing Scenario
Control and Monitor an ERPsim Session
Moving on to controlling and monitoring live gameplay, you will gain hands-on practice operating the Game Controller while actively interpreting live system reports, dashboards, and gameplay signals. Developing fluency in these controls and monitoring tools enables facilitators to maintain a smooth technical pace, identify when teams encounter friction, and deliver timely interventions that maximize participant engagement and learning outcomes.
With your team, you will rotate through the operations during gameplay with different roles. This ensures equal hands-on exposure to both backend technical management and live participant interactions. Use the activity guidelines below to organize yourself.
Group Roles & 3-Round Rotation Matrix
To ensure equal hands-on exposure to both backend technical management and live participant interaction, team members assign and rotate through four core operational roles during each practice round:
- Role 1: Lead Facilitator (Game Controller): Configures game parameters, transitions session states (Prepare, Start, Pause, Reset), adjusts step duration pacing, and manages SimBot assistant settings.
- Role 2: Technical Operator & System Monitor: Tracks Actual vs. Expected Step Duration server lag, monitors CPU/system health, views Activity Logs, and resolves account issues (unlocking locked users).
- Role 3: Simulated Learner(s): Logs into SAP Fiori Launchpad as Team A/B. Executes transactions (pricing, MRP, stock transfers) or intentionally simulates user errors (e.g., password lockouts, uncommitted prices).
- Role 4: Analytics Observer & Debrief Lead: Monitors live simulation dashboards (Leaderboard, P&L, Inventory, Carbon Footprint). Formulates targeted facilitator interventions and leads round debriefs.
| Role / Function | Round 1 (10 min) | Round 2 (10 min) | Round 3 (10 min) |
| Lead Facilitator (Game Controller) | Learner A | Learner B | Learner C |
| Technical Operator (System/Security) | Learner B | Learner C | Learner D / A |
| Simulated Player(s) (Fiori Execution) | Learner C & D | Learner D & A | Learner A & B |
| Analytics Observer (Reports & Debrief) | Learner E / A | Learner A / B | Learner D / C |
Control the Simulation Checklist
The Lead Facilitator must execute and verify each task in the Baton Game Controller interface during their assigned rotation:
Session Configuration: Log into the Baton Instructor Portal, navigate to Game Controller, select scenario (Sustainability Standard or Manufacturing Extended), set Category to ‘Practice’, and configure team count (2–4 teams).
State Transition (Prepare Game): Click ‘Prepare Game’. Verify system status transitions: Not Started -> Preparing -> Paused. Confirm data load completes before distributing credentials.
Credential Distribution: Click ‘Print Teams’ to access participant login cards. Confirm SAP Client number, WebGUI/Fiori links, Team letters (A–D), User IDs (A1–A4), and client password (‘erpsim’).
Game Launch & Timer Management: Click ‘Start Game’ to transition status to ‘Running’. Practice using ‘Pause Game’ midway through a round to deliver a 60-second teaching intervention, then resume execution.
Pacing & Step Duration Control: Observe simulated day progression. Adjust Step Duration (e.g., changing pace from 60 seconds per day to 30 seconds or 90 seconds) based on team learning speed.
The Technical Operator and Analytics Observer collaborate to monitor live server health, participant activity, and simulation metrics:
Step Duration & Server Lag Audit: Compare Expected Step Duration (e.g., 60s) against Actual Step Duration. If Actual Step Duration spikes significantly (>120s), identify server lag and evaluate pausing.
System Health Monitoring: Access System Monitoring tab to inspect active process threads, memory load, and database connection status during peak transactional runs (e.g., when multiple teams execute MRP simultaneously).
Participant Activity Verification: Check the Activity Log tab to verify live transactions. Confirm teams are actively saving price changes, running MRP, and converting purchase requisitions.
Account Unlocking & Recovery: Simulate a locked user account (User A1 entering incorrect password 3 times). Technical Operator navigates to ‘Unlock Users’ / ‘Reset Passwords’ in Game Controller to restore access immediately.
Financial & Leaderboard Tracking: Monitor Profit and Loss and Leaderboard (Trend) reports. Track cumulative net profit, sales revenue, and team rank shifts across rounds.
Sustainability & Operational Analytics: In Sustainability scenarios, open the Carbon Footprint dashboard. Differentiate Scope 1 (warehouse transfers), Scope 2 (storage overhead), and Scope 3 (supplier selection) emissions driving penalty costs.
Practice Scenarios & Simulation Script
Practice Round 1: Standard Execution & Pacing Adjustment
Lead Facilitator prepares and starts a 10-day practice round. On Day 4, Simulated Players report that step speed is too fast. Lead Facilitator adjusts Step Duration from 60s to 90s. On Day 7, Lead Facilitator pauses the game for a 60-second teaching point on pricing strategy, then resumes.
Practice Round 2: Technical Troubleshooting & Account Recovery
Simulated Player intentionally locks User A1 password. Technical Operator identifies the locked account notification, navigates to the Unlock Users tab, and restores access. Simultaneously, Technical Observer notes a spike in Actual Step Duration and evaluates system health in System Monitoring.
Practice Round 3: Live Analytics & Data-Driven Facilitator Debrief
Teams execute full gameplay (procurement and sales). Analytics Observer tracks the live Carbon Footprint and P&L reports, identifying that Team A’s low net margin is caused by Scope 3 carbon penalties from Extreme Spirit Co. supplier choices. Analytics Observer delivers a 2-minute post-round debrief.
Post-Round Debrief & Reflective Evaluation
At the conclusion of each 10-minute practice round, groups pause for a 5-minute micro-debrief using the structured reflection questions below:
Lead Facilitator Reflection:
How smooth was the state transition from Prepare Game (Paused) to Start Game (Running)? Did you encounter any friction when adjusting step duration or pausing gameplay mid-round?
Technical Operator Reflection:
What specific server indicators (Step Duration, Activity Log, System Monitoring) gave you visibility into system health? How long did it take to unlock the simulated locked user account?
Analytics Observer Reflection:
Which live dashboard report (P&L, Leaderboard, Inventory, Carbon Footprint) provided the clearer operational signal? How did you frame your debrief insight to connect game data to business value?
Enhance and Troubleshoot an ERPsim Session
In this module, you will explore integrated AI tool such as Kira, the Intelligent Assistant and autonomous agents, and practice diagnosing and resolving live simulation issues. Mastering AI capabilities and technical troubleshooting is pertinent for ERPsim facilitators, as it empowers them to leverage AI support effectively without sacrificing human judgment, maintain smooth session flow, and confidently handle technical disruptions in real time.
In your team, watch the videos and complete the scenario challenge.
Sustainability Scenario
During Round 2 of the BioDrink Logistics session with 16 procurement managers, teams are balancing higher unit costs from Organic Can Co. against cheaper, high-emission suppliers, Extreme Spirit Co. Two regional procurement managers encounter account locks and frozen carbon tiles.
Team Role Tasks
- Simulated Player: Prompt Kira AI on Fiori (‘What is the Scope 3 emissions difference between suppliers?’) and intentionally trigger 3 wrong password entries on user A1.
- Technical Operator: Access Game Controller -> Unlock Users to restore access for user A1. Monitor System Monitoring for processing lag.
- Lead Facilitator: Assist participant experiencing spinning carbon tiles by guiding them through Incognito mode and Ctrl+F5 hard refresh.
- Analytics Observer: Compare Kira’s AI explanation against the live Product Footprint Management tile to verify carbon fee impact on net profit.
Manufacturing Scenario
During Round 1 of an intensive 3-hour S/4HANA plant operations simulation with 24 plant controllers, 6 teams run MRP simultaneously. The server step duration spikes to 350 seconds, pop-up blockers trigger during report loading, and one plant manager logs into Client 400 instead of Client 300.
Team Role Tasks
- Simulated Player: Right-click Fiori tiles to open DAS walkthroughs for MRP execution. Attempt converting purchase requisitions while reporting a pop-up blocker error.
- Technical Operator: Detect Actual Step Duration spike (>120s) in System Monitoring. Pause simulation timer for 60 seconds to clear server queue, then resume.
- Lead Facilitator: Instruct participant to disable pop-up blocker for Fiori domain. Verify participant SAP Client Number matches Client 300 on Print Teams sheet.
- Analytics Observer: Check Activity Log to confirm whether teams successfully saved forecasts before running MRP.
ERPsim Facilitator Technical Readiness Check
After a full session of playing with ERPsim and learning how to configure, control and troubleshoot an ERPsim session, complete the assessments below to check your knowledge.
Technical Readiness Quiz – completed individually or as a group
Technical Troubleshooting Case Study – completed as a group
ERPsim Session Technical Troubleshooting Case Study
Sustainability Scenario
Leslie is facilitating a live, in-person, 4-team Sustainability session. During Round 1, Day 6, Team B calls them over, stating that their Fiori Launchpad tiles are spinning, prices are not saving, and their data appears frozen. Meanwhile, Team C announces that they cannot log into their Fiori launchpad because their user account was locked after entering the password incorrectly multiple times.
Leslie looks at the Game Controller dashboard. They notice that the Actual Step Duration statistic has jumped from the configured 60 seconds up to 450 seconds, indicating a processing lag on the server. Rather than pausing the simulation immediately, Leslie tells Team B that the entire server has crashed and suggests re-registering all users.
What immediate browser troubleshooting step should Leslie have instructed Team B to perform before assuming a server failure?
How should Leslie resolve Team C’s locked user account in the Game Controller so the participant can log back in?
Based on the spike in Actual Step Duration, what action should Leslie take on the Game Controller to allow the backend S/4HANA system to catch up?
Manufacturing Scenario
Alex is facilitating a live, in-person, 6-team Manufacturing Extended session for plant operations managers. During Round 1, Day 8, Team B calls Alex over, stating that while attempting to convert their purchase requisitions into Purchase Orders (POs) in Fiori, their browser opened a blank pop-up window, the Fiori tiles remained spinning, and PO numbers were not generating. Meanwhile, Team D announces that two members cannot log in because they entered the wrong SAP Client Number (400 instead of 300), and a third member’s user account (D1) was locked after entering the password incorrectly multiple times.
Alex looks at the Game Controller dashboard. They notice that the Actual Step Duration statistic has spiked from the configured 60 seconds up to 400 seconds as all 6 teams run Material Requirements Planning (MRP) at the exact same time. Rather than taking controlled action on the Game Controller, Alex panics, announces to the room that the S/4HANA database has crashed, and tells Team D to create a brand new event in the portal
What immediate browser troubleshooting steps (including pop-up permissions and caching) should Alex have instructed Team B to perform before assuming a database crash?
How should Alex resolve Team D’s locked user account and client number confusion using the Game Controller and participant credential sheets?
Based on the spike in Actual Step Duration during simultaneous MRP runs, what specific action should Alex take on the Game Controller to allow the backend S/4HANA system to catch up?
