ERP / LOGISTICS TRAINING USING COMPUTER BASED TRAINING TOOLS: A VIRTUALIZATION MODEL FOR SAP

Logistics organizations’ training programs face many challenges. These challenges, such as cost and consistency in training, are magnified if the organization is geographically dispersed and a training program must be implemented globally. To address these issues, a training model was developed and tested in a classroom environment during spring 2013 in three sections of a university logistics course. Delivered via both a traditional and a distance learning format, the training model used VMware View® clients configured to run the popular SAP® Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and SAP’s Datango® software. Testing revealed that students were able to grasp the skills necessary to use the training model with very little direction from the instructor. There were no differences in difficulties noted during the semester between traditional and distance education students. The model’s initial success suggests the potential for ease in adaptation in geographically dispersed logistics environments