Frequently Asked Questions
1. About The Fresh Connection
a. What is the game all about?
The Fresh Connection is an Internet game for supply chain professionals. Invented, developed and supported by experts in the field of supply chain management (SCM). From April, many supply chain professionals in the whole of the UK will become part of the world of The Fresh Connection. In the game the participants play the management team of a company which produces and retails fruit juices. There are 4 roles in each team:
- Supply Chain Director, who is responsible for logistical and planning decisions as well as the company strategy
- Purchasing Director, who is responsible for the supplier selection and management
- Operations Director, who leads and structures the production and the warehouse processes
- Sales Director, who will be responsible for customer service and promotions
Each week the teams take part in this spectacular Internet game. Tasks, information and choice possibilities are provided through the internet. The game lasts 7 weeks, where each week is equal to half a year in reality. As a team you engage yourself with strategic and tactical choices. The intelligent software behind the game calculates each week the consequences for the operation. The results, which are based on your decisions, form the starting point the following week. The aim is to obtain as high as possible Return on Investment (ROI) with the company.
b. What is the target group?
- General managers: general managers, operations managers, commercial managers, financial managers
- Logistical managers: logistics managers, supply chain managers, planners, procurement and purchasing managers, transport managers, warehouse managers, production managers, marketing/sales managers
- Students of logistics, supply chain management, operations, purchasing and related courses at Higher Vocational level and at degree level at University
And also everyone who can save The Fresh Connection from their own knowledge and experience!
c. What are the sponsorship and partnership possibilities?
It is possible for companies and educational institutions to become a sponsor or partner. Because of this they are able to get, for example, their logo on the site of The Fresh Connection or an important place in the final event or one of the many other possibilities. A current overview of sponsors can be found here.
The opportunity of registering as a sponsor can be found under the Sponsorship - Become a Sponsor tab or alternatively click here.
d. What will happen at the final event?
In July the final takes place, where the best teams will take part in a further 3 rounds. You will meet the other teams and get the opportunity to develop partnerships, to discuss strategies and negotiate with each other. The team which delivers The Fresh Connection the highest Return On Investment will win!
Furthermore, senior executives from across the logistics and supply chain industry will be speaking during the final event and a series of supply chain management workshops will be held.
2. Registration
a. How can I register a team?
You can do this through the Fresh Connection website, under the Registration tab or click here to register.
b. How can I register the individual team members?
A few days before the start of the competition the team member who put themselves forward as the main contact at the team registration will be notified. They will receive an e-mail with the teams' usernames and passwords. Each team member can then subsequently register themselves with their own username and password.
3. Payment and invoicing
a. Payment and invoicing, how does it work?
Following registration via our website an invoice will be automatically raised, and you will have the option to pay either by BACS transfer or cheque. Payment terms are 28 days.
Login usernames and passwords for the competition will not be issued until payment is received.
4. Technical / installation
a. How can I play The Fresh Connection on my PC?
A laptop/PC according to the current standards and a functional Internet connection is all that is required. One must however have the disposition over the following software:
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or newer
- Flash Player
- PDF Reader (Adobe Acrobat or similar)
- Microsoft Excel 2003 or newer
This is standard software which is already available on most computers. If not, then this software is available to download via the internet. Additionally, there must be a functional e-mail address available to be able to receive any communication with respect to the game.
b. Can / do I need to download the game on my PC?
No, the game is played via an Internet website.
c. How can I log in on the game?
A few weeks before the start of the competition the team member who put themselves forward as the main contact at the team registration will be contacted. They will receive an e-mail with the team's usernames and passwords. Each team member can then subsequently log in with their own username and password.
d. I lost my login code and password, what to do now?
If you provide your name, e-mail address and the company name/educational institute via our contact page, then you should get a new log-in name/password within a few hours.
e. I lost my coupon code/discount code, what to do now?
If you give your name, company name/educational institute and the name of the person who offered you The Fresh Connection via our contact page, then you should get a new coupon code/discount code within a few hours.
f. The images/videos do not look good on my screen. What do I have to do?
As a start, verify if your PC meets the minimum system requirements (see: How can I play The Fresh Connection on my PC?). If that is in order, then refreshing the page might help. You do that by pressing F5. If does not work, then note the page where the problem occurs and contact us your via our contact page. You should get an answer within a few hours.
g. I have inserted a wrong e-mail address, log-in name or password. What do I have to do?
You will not get access to the game. Try it once again with the correct log-in details. If that does not work, please contact us via our contact page. You should get an answer within a few hours.
5. While playing the game
a. I have entered a wrong decision. Can I reverse this?
No, in principle not. That would influence the course of the competition.
b. How do I see my results?
You will get a weekly update of the decisions which you have made in the previous week, to the e-mail address provided. If you want a more extensive evaluation of your decisions and the impact of it, then you can register yourself for the team performance report via the registration form.
6. Miscellaneous
a. I have a question which does not appear in this list. What do I have to do?
Contact us and you should get an answer within a few hours.
b. How is my personal data protected?
Through the normal IT security systems which are in place and is only provided to sponsors with your permission.