Ice Kingdom: A Gamified Story About ERP Implementation at an Ice Cream Factory

Gamification in B2B

Gamification is the integration of game elements, mechanics, and principles into non-game processes. It helps explain complex business concepts through interactive experiences, turning learning or feature demonstrations into an engaging scenario. Instead of abstract theory, users see how processes work, make decisions, and immediately see the outcome.

B2B companies are increasingly using gamification to engage customers, train employees, or showcase products. Game mechanics encourage active interaction and are well-suited for solutions with complex logic or multi-step processes. Gamification serves both as a business tool and a way of presenting information, easily adaptable to the specific needs and goals of companies across various industries.

Concept: from idea to implementation

Implementing an ERP system is a multifaceted process that requires in-depth analysis, careful planning, and the involvement of specialists from various departments. The idea of creating an ice cream factory as the foundation for the gameplay came from the desire to showcase business process optimization in a simple and accessible format.

When creating the landing page, we focused on combining game elements with real business challenges: each stage of the game not only serves an entertainment purpose but also reflects typical problems companies face. The choice of an ice cream factory was also intentional: the production process involves numerous complex and interdependent stages that require clear control and coordination.

Design process

To better understand the design creation process, we spoke with FreshTech’s UI/UX designer, Kseniia Kosheleva. She shared how the visual concept took shape and gave us insights into working on this project. 

Kseniia, what was your approach to developing the visual style? What inspired you along the way?

Together with the team, we conducted in-depth research on interactive games: their goals, user interaction criteria, mechanics, styles, and graphics. It was important to create not just an engaging game but also a meaningful experience with an informative component. Our sources of inspiration were quite diverse – from the classic board game "Monopoly" and the simple Snake game to retro posters and comics. 

How did the design evolve throughout the process? Did you have to balance aesthetics and functionality?

The design went through many stages. Initially, we had a completely different project concept, but after several iterations, we shifted direction. The result was a harmonious balance between a modern style, functionality, and engagement.

Were there any unconventional solutions that helped adapt the game mechanics to the specifics of the ERP system?

Our goal was to create a simple yet engaging gameplay experience that would seamlessly align with the project’s concept. It was important for the game mechanics to be interesting, but not overly complicated. The ERP system itself is actually the perfect foundation for creating puzzles, as its primary goal is to simplify complex processes.

ERP for the ice cream factory

Each area of manufacturing has its own set of unique requirements, but the common need is resource optimization and coordinated work across all departments. Since manufacturing processes are often interdependent, a lack of automation or insufficient control can lead to errors or disruptions in operations.

In the game's storyline, the Ice Kingdom factory faces a series of similar issues arising from a lack of coordination in production processes. Poor planning, chaotic raw material storage, and unstable order fulfillment put all production plans at risk. Errors in accounting, a lack of communication, and unclear instructions lead to delays and increased costs. Each stage of the game is dedicated to solving relevant business challenges: data synchronization, inventory management, and procurement planning.

Custom Spiro-based ERP software

A custom ERP based on the low-code platform Spiro is a flexible and comprehensive system for automating business processes. Spiro's modular architecture allows us to quickly deploy ERP tailored to the needs and specifics of any business sector.

The system functionality includes modules for managing production, inventory and stock, supply chains, orders, finances, document flow, and reporting. With a high level of customization, each module can be tailored to the company's business logic. The flexibility of the settings allows for selecting only the necessary features, thus saving resources.

The system easily scales with the company’s growth and maintains operational stability even as data volumes increase. Regular updates and the ability to add new features allow for quick adaptation of the ERP to changes in business processes without major alterations to the infrastructure.

Complex processes – simple management! Play our interactive game and help the Ice Kingdom factory optimize every stage of ice cream production.