Top 10 Performance Support and Simulation Tools for SAP

1. Top 10 Performance Support and Simulation Tools for SAP Stephen Bradley Division President, Learning & Performance, SystemLink Session #2706 May, 16 2006

2. Learning Points • Understand the major differences between Performance Support and Simulation Training tools • Learn how to select the best tool for your organization's needs • Have access to the only independent study of training tools for SAP of its kind

3. What We Will Cover • Speaker introduction and how the research was done • Why Performance Support and Simulation Tools are important • Major characteristics of the tools • Overview of Top 10 • Side by Side Comparisons • How to get more information • Q & A

4. Speaker Introduction and How the Research Was Done

5. About SystemLink and Research • ASUG / SAP Installation Member • SAP Services Partner • SAP 3rd Party Partner • Independent consulting firm for SAP and other leading Learning Technology Solutions, specializing in: • Research, Advisory and Implementation services in Learning & Performance Industry, covering Technology, Tools and Best Practices • World’s leading authority on SAP Learning Solution • Specialist in SAP Performance Management • SAP End-User Training • Steve Bradley, Division President, Learning & Performance

6. About the Research • TOP 10 tools selected were based on a combination: • Simulation Tools that were also EPSS tools • Number of SAP customers • Customer feedback • Vendor track record for integration with SAP • Vendors feedback on other competitors • Research was conducted through interviews of technology with vendors • Interviews with SAP customers and independent consultants who have used the tools • Practical experience • Industry Research • Validated by our research staff • Not intended to be a recommendation of which tools to use • Information subject to change as a result of recent updates • Some information is the opinion of the speaker which may not represent the opinions of the vendors or other users

7. Why Performance Support and Simulation Tools Are Important

8. Why Performance Support & Simulation Tools Are Important • Self-service • On-demand learning • Safe environment • Measurable • Low cost rapid development • Easy-to-manage dynamic content

9. Major Characteristics of the Tools EPSS vs. Simulation

10. Types of EPSS / Simulations • Soft Skills • Hard Skills / Technical • Software Simulations (Application training)

11. EPSS Tool Purpose: To support users in mastering a business application . . .. . . BY EXPLAINING and or DOING Simulation tools consist of four functional components: Record (captures screens and keystrokes) Edit (develops customized documents) Simulate Present (user access in a variety of modes) Context sensitive Distinct web site Assess Electronic Performance Support Systems are an integral part of an employee support structure Simulation Tool Purpose: To support users in mastering a business application . . .. . . BY DOING Simulation tools consist of four functional components: Record (captures screens and keystrokes) Author (develops customized lessons) Present (user interaction in a variety of modes) Watch Interact / Practice Live Interaction Assess Simulations can be an integral part of an Electronic Performance Support System Difference Between Performance Support EPSS and Training Simulation Usually not learning management tools in and of themselves

12. Difference Between Performance Support EPSS and Training Simulation

13. Typical Presentation (Playback) Modes Training Modes • Demo (Simulation) • Interactive with guidance (Simulation) • Interactive without guidance including testing (Simulation) Performance Support Mode • Interactive and aware with live application (EPSS) • Printed output that can be used as job aid (PS)

14. Overview of Top 10 EPPS / Simulation Tools

15. Assima Simulation Suite from Assima, Ltd.

16. Overview of Assima

17. Assima – Presentation Modes

18. Summary - Assima • Strengths • Strong technology presents opportunity for new functionality • Built with ERP solutions in mind • Superior language translation capability and content version control • Attractive and easy-to-use interface and editor • Challenges • Small company new to US trying to enter mature market • Lack interactive mode (planned for 2006) • Reasonably expensive pricing model • Coolest Feature • Object-level cloning of application • Language translation module

19. Epiplex from Epiance

20. Overview of Epiplex

21. Epiplex – Presentation Modes

22. Summary - Epiplex • Strengths • Superior technology with interactive application mode • Built-in user tracking for performance measurement • Cross-application support • Challenges • Small company with limited marketing budget • Expensive pricing model • Limited US-based support • Coolest Feature • Mode of capturing controls allow identification of application context to make Epiplex “application-aware” with almost any application. Can be used with spreadsheet to automatically populate training data into SAP.

23. Firefly from Knowledge Planet

24. Overview of Firefly

25. Firefly – Presentation Modes

26. Summary - Firefly • Strengths • Easy to use visual developer module speeds development • Strong capture technology • Competitively priced • Challenges • No Interactive mode at field level with application • Manual screen capture is labor intensive • Owned by LMS vendor may present problems with other Learning Management Systems • No content management or version control • Coolest Feature • Automatically create PowerPoint presentations from recording

27. Info Pak Simulator from RWD

28. Overview of Info Pak Simulator

29. Info Pak Simulator – Presentation Modes

30. Summary – Info Pak Simulator • Strengths • Financial strength backed by SAP alliance • Built for SAP and mature • Can produce both simulation and static content from single recording, including other outputs as well • Good content management system • Challenges • No Interactive mode at field level for simulation • Older capture technology • Over dependent on SAP for source of product revenue which limits use for other applications. More of a training company than product company • Coolest Feature • Both Static EPSS and Simulation from same recording

31. OnDemand Personal Navigator from Global Knowledge

32. Overview of OnDemand

33. OnDemand – Presentation Modes

34. Summary - OnDemand • Strengths • Financial strength • Mature development platform built for SAP and ERP interfaces, very full-featured meant to serve enterprise • Includes a strong content management system • Provide performance measurement statistics • Challenges • Expensive – Requires web server for database • Manual screen capture is labor intensive • Older capture technology and more extensive editing required which increases administration • Coolest Feature • Live interactive mode is “SAP aware” of where user is in application • Glossary and Keyword search for content objects

35. Resite Recorder from Insite Objects

36. Overview of Resite

37. Resite – Presentation Modes

38. Summary - Resite • Strengths • Built for SAP and very mature • Same recording produces both Static EPSS and Simulation • Captured content is automatically published to Web database which can be accessed through Web page or in SAP linked to recoded transaction. Built-in version control of content development • Challenges • Small company • Overly focused on SAP • No interactive mode at field level • Requires plug-in for SAP for published content • Coolest Feature • Automatic publishing and version control

39. SAP Tutor from SAP

40. Overview of SAP Tutor

41. SAP Tutor – Presentation Modes

42. Summary – SAP Tutor • Strengths • Financial Strength of SAP • Free with SAP Enterprise and later • Output can be stored in SAP Learning Solution • Challenges • Further development uncertain • Older capture technology makes editing difficult • Requires plug-in • No content management or version control • Coolest Feature • Included with SAP

43. SoftSim from OutStart

44. Overview of SoftSim

45. SoftSim – Presentation Modes

46. Summary - SoftSim • Strengths • Simple to use • Inexpensive for functionality • Includes text to speech function • Challenges • No Interactive mode at field level with application • Old capture technology (uses basically same as RWD) • No content management or version control • Coolest Feature • Built-in MP3 recorder and output can be done in PDF format

47. STT Trainer from STT Technology

48. Overview of STT

49. STT – Presentation Modes

50. Summary - STT • Strengths • Reasonably priced solution for functionality delivered • Includes central repository for captured content • Strong workflow process for content management • Challenges • No interactive mode at field level with application • Older manual capture technology • Limited editing capabilities. Labor intensive • Widely used in Europe, but not US • Coolest Feature • Can update and publish multiple Sims at once