Munich, November 2025. Four teams, two companies, one clear mission: to lead a fruit juice company out of crisis – under time pressure, with clearly defined roles and complex decision dynamics. What might sound like a business game turned out to be a powerful lesson in cross-functional thinking.
At the Young Professionals Challenge 2025, young professionals from Lindt & Sprüngli and Tchibo took part in the realistic business simulation The Fresh Connection, tackling hands-on challenges in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). But this was about more than just the simulation – it was about what learning in organizations needs to deliver today.
Learning Time – Consciously Enabled
What stood out: both companies actively made time for their teams to participate – a clear commitment to the strategic value of learning. According to the current eLearning BENCHMARKING Study 2025 by Haufe, over 80% of companies still cite lack of time as the biggest obstacle to successful learning initiatives.
S&OP as a Reality Simulator
At the heart of the challenge was the implementation of an S&OP process. Participants had to act as a team, simulate coordination across purchasing, production, sales, and supply chain – and make decisions that directly impacted the company’s ROI. The takeaways were clear:
- Data alone is not enough.
- A shared understanding is critical.
- Above all: cross-functional decision-making is essential.
Digital Learning Culture Needs Space
The study’s findings echo what was visible during the challenge:
- 63.7% of companies aim to better integrate learning into daily operations,
- 48.9% are actively working on building a digital learning culture,
- yet 81.8% still struggle to provide adequate learning time.
Formats like The Fresh Connection demonstrate how learning can become part of everyday business – not as an add-on, but as a core element of organizational development.
Learning as a Team Effort
The Young Professionals Challenge 2025 made one thing clear: Cross-functional learning is not a soft skill – it’s a competitive advantage. Those who understand S&OP, understand collaboration. Those who grasp interdependencies, make better decisions. And those who share responsibility, strengthen trust within the organization.
Looking Ahead
All teams have qualified for the The Fresh Connection Global Professional Challenge 2026 – another stage where learning becomes strategy. The next Young Professionals Challenge kicks off on June 26, 2026, in Munich.
