New business game with a touch of retro fun in the world of inventory management

With Optiquest, Filip Toye, founder and manager of West Flemish company Quester, brings fun to the world of inventory management. His business game turns learning about logistics planning into an exciting and competitive experience.

“As a teenager, I spent hours playing games like Pacman and Space Invaders,” laughs Filip Toye. “That fascination with games never went away.” After studying commercial engineering and gaining more than 30 years of experience at companies such as Beaulieu and Cargill, Toye became an expert in supply chain and logistics planning. He remained particularly interested in inventory management and S&OP. “Inventory management is the backbone of efficient logistics, but at the same time a source of friction between departments. I wanted to make that insight tangible in a playful way.”

Launch of Optiquest

This combination of knowledge and fun led to the creation of Optiquest, a business game about inventory management with the look and feel of a classic video game. “I developed the storyline and concept myself, and together with the Bruges-based game studio Bits of Love, we brought the game to life technically,” says Toye. “After a dozen test sessions, we launched Optiquest in 2024. Since then, the game has been played at Sanofi, Syros, and Young Supply Chain Masters, among others. The comments have been very positive, and we continue to refine Optiquest based on the feedback.”  

The game lasts about four hours in total: a short introduction, followed by a two-hour game in which teams of three players decide how much stock to replenish based on sales data and market dynamics. “Each round includes a mini-game, which keeps it fun and varied. Afterwards, there is a debriefing, in which we discuss the results and lessons learned,” Toye explains.

Gamification with impact

Optiquest fits perfectly with the trend of gamification in logistics. Participants experience the challenges of inventory management—fluctuating demand, promotions, seasonal effects—and immediately see the impact of their choices. “The competitive aspect ensures engagement, but the real benefit lies in the insight that teams from sales, finance, and planning gain into each other's specific challenges,” says Toye.

The game can be played both in-house and online via Teams. “Companies and students particularly appreciate the team-building element and the concrete link to real-life situations.”

Win a session for your team

A four-hour Optiquest session costs €1,750 (excluding VAT). As a reader of this trade journal, you have the chance to win a free in-house session. Visit www.inventoryplanningsgame.com, Enter your email address and use the promo code WNL2026 to enter the contest. An innocent child's hand will draw one winner.

“Learning about logistics can be fun,” Toye concludes. “With Optiquest, I want to show that inventory management is anything but boring.”