| Business simulation software is one of | | | | imagination. |
| the best ways for a company to plan its | | | | An extensive help function is essential, |
| future before making any actual moves in | | | | especially for new users just starting |
| that direction. This software is like a | | | | to use business simulation. Built-in |
| flight simulator for your business, | | | | assistants are particularly helpful, as |
| allowing you to tweak process | | | | is a traditional point-and-click system |
| parameters, resource allocations, and | | | | similar to what you experience in other |
| other factors in order to create the | | | | computer programs. A graphic user |
| most efficient and productive process | | | | interface makes it easy to navigate |
| design, which can then be implemented in | | | | through software options. |
| the real world. Simulation software | | | | Each of the building blocks within the |
| gives a whole new meaning to the phrase | | | | simulation tool should be easy to |
| "planning ahead"! | | | | manipulate and customizable so that you |
| Virtually any industry sector can | | | | can craft the objects to resemble your |
| benefit from business simulation | | | | particular business needs. Look for |
| software. These computer programs allow | | | | business simulation software that uses |
| users to create a representation of a | | | | drag-and-drop and dialog-based |
| business which can be modeled over time. | | | | interfaces. This functionality is more |
| The software is especially useful when | | | | desirable than older |
| trying to gain insight into what effect | | | | programming-language-based tools, and is |
| proposed changes will have on an | | | | easier to master as well. |
| existing system. The simulation can be | | | | GREAT VERSATILITY |
| set up to take various parameters and | | | | In your business simulation software, |
| live data as inputs into the model. | | | | you want to have the ability to link to |
| This results in a dynamic representation | | | | other software packages that will |
| of your process - which is what | | | | complement your program. Harnessing |
| businesses need when they are dealing | | | | Excel's complex spreadsheet capability |
| with complex "what if" scenarios. | | | | or Visio's flow charting tools can yield |
| SOFTWARE CHARACTERISTICS | | | | significant advantages. This will allow |
| When shopping for business simulation | | | | you to leverage the data you have |
| software, you need to find the product | | | | available, or work you have already |
| that is best suited to your particular | | | | completed in your process improvement |
| field. You want flexibility and | | | | project(s). |
| accuracy in your simulations as well as | | | | Of course, you can also hire a |
| a gentle learning curve so that you can | | | | simulation consulting company like |
| get started as quickly as possible. Some | | | | Visual8 to demonstrate the software, and |
| software comes with pre-loaded | | | | teach your employees how to use and |
| templates, which can be alluring at | | | | interpret the output data properly. In |
| first - until you discover that the | | | | addition, by using a consulting company |
| template does not include one of your | | | | you can also contract its services for |
| key processes. It would be far more | | | | software support on an as-needed basis |
| helpful to look for software that | | | | until your own employees are more |
| includes a few simple objects that are | | | | comfortable in its use. Business |
| flexible enough to represent any type of | | | | simulation software is great for |
| process. In that case, you would be | | | | companies that are on the cusp of making |
| limited only by your own creativity, and | | | | big changes which will affect their |
| not by a software designer's | | | | overall processes. |