Is it time to update the technology at your franchise? Franchises can do more in less time when they have the right technology. Of course, getting everyone on the same page is important for flawless integration. Here are some tips for making a tech plan for your franchise locations.
1. Work Backwards From the Goal
Leaders sometimes implement new technology because they’re impressed by something they’ve seen. They may also feel like they’ll “miss out” if they don’t adopt the same programs other franchise brands are using. However, good technology isn’t always good for every business. That’s why it’s important to select technology upgrades based on what’s currently missing at your franchise instead of “what’s hot” at the moment. Always work backward from the problem you’re trying to solve. This helps to ensure that technology is solving pain points instead of creating new ones.
2. Create a Technology Portal
Every franchise can feel like an island! This is especially true when it comes to how franchisees handle technology. For franchise parent companies, getting every franchise on track with the same tech is the first step to untangling the mess. The easiest way to align technology among franchises is to create a franchisee tech portal where franchisees can purchase vetted and approved technology resources. When purchasing technology, franchisees will be able to choose from various payment or financing options.
3. Offer Digital Payment Options
If there’s one technology change to implement at your franchise, it’s digital payment. According to industry experts, more than half of Americans now use contactless payments. Here’s how the popularity of contactless payment breaks down among shoppers across different segments:
- Grocery: 85%
- Pharmacy: 39%
- Retail: 38%
- Quick service restaurants (QSRs) and fast food: 36%
People grew accustomed to contactless payments during the pandemic. That behavioral shift has continued now that consumers generally find contactless payment to be a hassle-free way to avoid the need to handle cash at registers and checkout kiosks. With the younger generation of consumers using contactless payments for most of their lives, there’s no doubt that this technology is here to stay. For franchises, having convenient and reliable in-person digital payment options that consumers will recognize is essential. This generally means having the tech in place to accept payments from digital wallets that connect to PayPal, Google, Pay, Apple Pay, Zelle, and Venmo.
4. Get Everyone on the Same Page With Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Adding or upgrading CRM software represents a great opportunity for training and empowering franchise employees. CRMs allow franchises to create databases that link up to a variety of marketing, messaging, scheduling, and invoicing tools. Some even link up to payment tools. For franchises, trying to piece together all of those different parts without putting them on a unified platform can waste time, money, and patience. CRM software also creates a much clearer picture of how franchise locations are performing both in real-time and using historical data.
Make everyone a part of a new CRM implementation. This is an opportunity to host franchise-wise training. It’s also a great opportunity to implement new rules and policies that can enhance the customer experience.
