The time and money invested in franchise technology can have a lasting effect on the success and future of a franchise. Planning ahead is very important because, if done properly, technology can easily pay for itself many times over.
Technology is one of the harder aspects of franchising that most franchisors will eventually have to come to terms with. While some embrace new technology and try to implement it wherever possible, some avoid it like the plague. Depending on the franchise concept, technology can make or break your future. Franchisors need to ultimately decide which technology can help or hurt their operations. Contact us now and schedule your free 30 minute evaluation call. During this call you can ask any technology questions with no obligations.
Understanding how technology can help improve a franchise is critical to stay competitive and, most importantly, make money. Not only can technology help make the system more money by increasing sales, it can also save money by streamlining the method in which sales are processed. The right technology in the right place can easily translate into millions of dollars saved and or gained.
The first part of any technology investment is deciding how it can actually help the franchise. Having the latest and greatest in technology doesn’t always translate into actual dollars saved or revenue gained. In fact, it can easily turn into the endless money pit that can drain funds desperately needed elsewhere Remember, the end technology goal has to make good business sense. What might sound like a good idea may in actuality be much harder and more expensive to implement than previously thought.
For example; One of the most important things to do for the franchise is to have an active extranet. An extranet is just like a typical Web site, but only the franchisor and franchisees have access to it. It is completely secure and it allows both groups to communicate with each other anywhere in the world.
Communication with franchisees is the most important element when implementing any technology plan. If the franchise currently does not have an extranet that franchisees actively use, invest in one now. Dollar for dollar, it is the best money the franchise will spend. In fact, it should be the very first technology investment the franchise should implement. Without one, it will be very hard to implement any franchise-wide project.
While even the most simple technology items such as e-mail and point-of-sale systems might seem simple to implement on the headquarters level, it does not mean anything unless the franchisee understands and uses it. The only way the franchisor is going to get franchisees to understand any technology process is to communicate with them. Unfortunately, the firm cannot afford to physically talk to each of its franchisees every time there is an important announcement to make. Using an extranet is definitely the most cost effective way to do it.
Contact us now and schedule your free 30 minute evaluation call. During this call you can ask any technology questions with no obligations.
Getting structured input as to what franchisees are thinking can help fine tune any franchise implementation plan, especially complicated technology ones.
Implementing any technology plan can be challenging and will more than likely cost a lot of money. But if done right, it can be the best money ever spent. Don’t go it alone, get professional help. Get as much preliminary help as possible because changing course midstream on any technology implementation plan could have devastating cost consequences, not only dollar wise, but also with franchisee relations. Let us help you plan ahead.
We provide the following services to franchise companies: (Partial list)
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Technology evaluation (software in combination with hardware - we do not provide hardware only evaluations)
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E-commerce intranet and extranets
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Online brand promotion (social networking, online advertising etc)
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Mobile application development
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Custom Application development
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POS integration and module development
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Technology project management
Contact us now and schedule your free 30 minute evaluation call. During this call you can ask any technology questions with no obligations.