Beer Game round logo

Beer Game

Easily host remote or live Beer Game sessions

Engage participants through immersive supply chain simulations to boost individual skills development, teamwork and promote continuous improvement.

Check how it looks:

Beer Game model of Supply chain - Retailer, Wholesaler, Distributor and Manufacturer

They successfully modernize their Supply Chain trainings with our Beer Game:

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Rated 9.4/10 by our customers since 2021.

Zensimu client - Airbus

Logo EY - client Zensimu

Zensimu client - Bose

Zensimu client - Philips

Zensimu client - Sanofi

Accenture logo - zensimu client

Zensimu client - Festo logo

Kellogg's logo - client zensimu

McKinsey logo - client zensimu

Zensimu client - Airbus

Logo EY - client Zensimu

Zensimu client - Bose

Zensimu client - Philips

Zensimu client - Sanofi

Accenture logo - zensimu client

Zensimu client - Festo logo

Kellogg's logo - client zensimu

Bose testimonial logo - Zensimu

"We had a lot of fun! Playing the Beer Game made our seminar an unforgettable experience. It was so easy to organize and it had a very positive impact on all the teams."

Tom, Global Head of Commercial Supply Chain Operations, Bose

Festo testimonial logo - Zensimu

"Our remote trainings using Zensimu are a success, the experience is very enriching for participants."

Alessandro, Director, Festo Academy

Efficio testimonial logo - Zensimu

"We use the app to educate our consultants. The competitive experience is fun and the lessons learned are applicable for a long time after!"

Louis, Senior Consultant, Efficio Consulting

Natura testimonial logo - Zensimu

"Really great games! We used them to explain supply chain and lean concepts in a few minutes only."

Gustavo, Supply-Chain Manager, Natura

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Companies, universities and consultants alike use our online beer game simulation to meet a wide range of objectives — from reproducing real challenges within supply-chain processes to optimizing an organization’s overall performance.

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Students and trainees learn new business and team management skills by participating in a fun and engaging serious game experience.

We are the go-to solution for several reasons

Easy to start, easy to play

Easy to start, easy to play

Our intuitive platform enables instructors to set up their games in a flash.

Complete Immersive Experience

Complete Immersive Experience

Our Beer Game delivers the market's most immersive experience, making supply chain learning faster and more effective

User-friendly and multilingual interface

User-friendly and multilingual interface

Both beginners and more senior-level participants can immerse themselves in their roles. The game is available in English, French, Spanish and German.

Self-service and customizable

Self-service and customizable

Instructors need no technical expertise to set up and launch a session in both default or custom settings.

Extensive post-game analytics

Extensive post-game analytics

Our Beer Game automatically generate exportable reports and stats for instructors to debrief players and reinforce lessons.

A Supply Chain simulation designed for you

Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Supply Chain Manager, Operations Manager, Procurement Manager, Inventory Manager

Continuous Improvement and Quality Management

Continuous Improvement and Quality Management

Continuous Improvement Manager, Lean Manager, Six Sigma Specialist, Process Engineer

Training and Consultation

Training and Consultation

Educational Trainer, Corporate Trainer, HR Development Specialist, Management Consultants

Project Management and Analysis

Project Management and Analysis

Project Manager, Manufacturing Engineer, Business Process Manager, Innovation Manager

Across various use cases and events

Corporate and Team Events

Corporate and Team Events

In-company training session, team-building workshop, project kickoff meeting, onboarding program, strategic planning sessions

Conferences and Public Engagements

Conferences and Public Engagements

Seminar, kickoff meeting, larger conferences, Industry networking events

University game based learning

University and Educational Development

University training programs, bootcamps, contests across universities, introductory courses

Consultation and Client Engagement

Consultation and Client Engagement

Sales demo, Kickoff client's presentation, Client-focused workshops, Coaching sessions

This isn't a drinking game, so why is it called the Beer Game?

The name is derived from a classic role-playing game developed at MIT in the 1960s.

Professors at the time found that they could grab university students’ attention more effectively by calling it The Beer Distribution Game.

Our beer games can be white-labelled, so whether you trade in aircraft parts or smartphones, you can customize The Beergame App to your specific widget, industry and audience.

The Object of the Beer Game

The aim of the game is to fulfill requests at each stage of the supply chain in order to meet the overall demand of end customers.

Players are assigned to a role in their specific industry. For example, in a beer supply chain simulation, participants play as either Manufacturer, Distributor, Wholesaler, or Retailer.

Each role responds to order requests from the stage below and places orders for the stage above.

→ The resulting game experience provides insights into:

Illustration of players at various roles in a supply chain gameIllustration of players at various roles in a supply chain game

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Basic supply chain concepts

Stock, lead time, costs, orders, demand, etc.

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The Bullwhip Effect

Erratic demand variations, which increase up the chain

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Impact of various supply parameters

Visibility, batches, price fluctuations, etc.

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Effects of human behavior

How collaboration — or lack of — can impact overall performance

1

Step 1

Setting Up a Game

Instructors have an extensive set of features and options for creating a custom Beer Game.

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Customize the layout and scenario to fit your industry and lesson goals.

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Configure the settings, such as lead time or game duration.

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Create copies and manage templates of your game for future events.

Beer Game Setup ViewBeer Game Setup View
Beer Game Hosting ViewBeer Game Hosting View

2

Step 2

Hosting and Gameplay

Once your game is set up, you can send player invites and launch your game in a matter of seconds!

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Invite as many as several hundred players with a simple click of the “Share Away!” button.

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All onboarding and instructions automatically await players entering the game.

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Announce surprise events, like a seasonal promotion, encouraging players to cooperate and adapt to common supply chain challenges.

3

Step 3

Debriefing and Discussion

Even though the game is over, the learning is not! Review automatically generated post-game analysis and statistics.

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Utilize the analytics in the format of your choice — graphs, charts, PDF, Excel.

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Compare individual and team performances at each game round.

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Stimulate discussion and reinforce key learning objectives in the debriefing.

Beer Game Debriefing ViewBeer Game Debriefing View

Turn your Beer Game into a memorable learning experience with our guides!

Discover our collection of guides designed to master the Beer Game at every level. Whether you're preparing your first session, looking to conduct impactful debriefs, planning to host large groups, or aiming to glean key lessons from a simulation, our guides have you covered with practical advice, PowerPoint templates, proven strategies, and in-depth expertise.

Explore our flexible Beer Game plans tailored to your needs

Conference Plan

One-time payment for a single game experience, such as exceptional training sessions, corporate events and seminars.

Select the number of participants: 40

Large

Beer Game

Up to 40 Participants

One-month access

Add your own logo/colors

Pay via bank transfer

700 excl. tax

€17.5 per participant

Annual Plan

Host as many sessions as you need during one year. Perfect for recurring trainings, consultancy offers or multiple courses throughout the year.

Select the number of instructors: 1

Annual

Beer Game

Unlimited Participants

1 Instructor

Add your own logo/colors

Pay via bank transfer

Everything you need to know about the Beer Game!

What's the Beer Game simulation?

The Beer Game is an experiential learning exercise originally developed at MIT in the 1960s to illustrate the complexities of supply chain management. It's a role-play simulation game where participants manage a supply chain consisting of a brewery, distributor, wholesaler, and retailer. The objective is to meet customer demand for beer while minimizing costs and avoiding inventory backlogs or shortages.

What are the use cases of a Beer Game simulation?

The Beer Game is widely used in business schools and corporate training programs to teach the principles of supply chain management, demonstrate the impact of system dynamics, and highlight the importance of effective communication in managing complex systems. It's also employed in team-building exercises to improve decision-making skills and collaboration among team members.

Does the online beer game is better than on paper or in physic?

The online Beer Game offers several advantages over its physical counterpart. It allows for broader accessibility, enabling participants from different locations to join in. The digital format provides enhanced data tracking and analysis capabilities, and it's scalable for larger groups or multiple sessions. However, the choice between online and physical versions depends on specific learning objectives and the available resources.

How to make the best Beer Game Strategy?

The best strategy in the Beer Game involves effective communication, collaborative planning, and a keen understanding of supply chain dynamics. Participants should focus on maintaining a balance between supply and demand, anticipate potential delays, and avoid overreacting to backlogs or stockouts. Continuous learning and adapting strategies based on game progress are crucial for success.

Which professional should implement the Beer Game?

The Beer Game can be implemented by educators, corporate trainers, business consultants, and managers seeking to enhance their team's understanding of supply chain management. It's especially beneficial for professionals in operations, logistics, procurement, and strategic planning.

What supply chain principles are the Beer Game help to explore?

The Beer Game helps explore several key supply chain principles, including the bullwhip effect (where small changes in consumer demand cause larger fluctuations upstream in the supply chain), inventory management, lead times, the impact of communication and collaboration across the supply chain, and the challenges of forecasting and meeting customer demand.

Can I customise the Beer Game: Currency, vehicle, logo, company name?

Yes, you can customise our Beer Game to your brand’s colors! By customising the Beer Game with your logo and colors, participants will project themselves as if they were managing your company's actual supply chain

How many players can we add?

It's unlimited! You can also add multiple organisers: essential for handling large group sessions, facilitating learning and debriefing or for those who don’t feel comfortable hosting a session on their own

Can we try Beer Game before paying?

Yes of course, you just need to schedule a Demo with us!