Whether you’re a franchisor or a franchisee, growing and maintaining a successful franchise is no easy feat. Luckily, many franchise software programs are specifically designed to make management seamless across all locations. If you want to learn more about digital franchise management systems, this is the article for you!
What is Franchise Management Software?
In today’s digital world, technology is the key to franchise success. Franchise management software programs are centralized computer programs that help franchisors and franchisees work together remotely to grow their business. From making data available to all locations to providing quality customer management tools and more, franchise software programs make franchise-wide communication and information-sharing easy.
5 Types of Franchise Management Software that Boost Efficiency
Here are some of the most important types of franchise management software.
1. Web to Print Portals
Web to print portals are perfect tools to ensure that all of your locations have the same high-quality printed products. Through your company’s customized portal, each franchise location can easily order branded printed products that are shipped directly to them.
Why they’re great: Your brand is everything. Web to print portals take care of your franchise’s design, print, and distribution for all printed products, giving you time and energy to focus on other areas of operations. You can manage your company’s branding efforts while giving locations customization options, easily facilitating company-wide rollouts, and benefiting from set pricing. Web to print portals are the key to uniformly stellar company-wide printed products, and they increase both professionalism and efficiency.
2. Inventory and Supply Chain Managers
If your franchise sells products, you need a resource that tracks sales and inventory across all locations. An inventory and supply chain manager updates in real-time so that products can be restocked in a timely manner.
Why they’re great: No one wants to run out of products — not you, not your customers, and, certainly, not your projected profits. Inventory and supply chain managers make sure that you’re never stuck in the unenviable position of telling a customer “I’m sorry, that item is currently out of stock.”
3. Customer Relationship Management Software
Whether you’re creating a targeted marketing strategy or keeping track of customer accounts, you need to have a centralized customer management resource. Your customer relationship management software keeps track of everything related to the franchise-customer interface. These include loyalty programs, customer registration, purchase records, marketing demographics, and more.
Why it’s great: Without your customers, you have no business! Your goal is to provide great service that makes people want to come back for more. In order to do this, you need to treat your customers well.
4. Data Synchronization and File Sharing Programs
Franchises generate endless data: sales reports, product costs, labor and operations expenses, employee performance scores, and more. Transferring huge amounts of data and files between locations requires software that uses cloud-based data storage. All files and data are centrally located so that branches and central management can access the information they need at any time.
Why they’re great: Knowledge is power. The more information you have about your performance, sales, and expenses, the better you can adjust your operations to ensure that you’re increasing efficiency and profits.
5. Business Process Management
Business process management software unifies your company’s protocols across locations. Typically a cloud-based software, it can do everything from providing onboarding materials to handling paid time off (PTO) requests.
Why it’s great: Communication is key. With lots of vertical and horizontal communication happening simultaneously, a central platform for company-wide protocol dissemination is a must. It helps all of your locations stay on the same page, leading you to success!
Set Up Your Franchise’s Web to Print Portal Today
When you’re ready to simplify your franchise operations with a custom web to print portal, The Print Authority is here to help! With three decades of experience making web to print portals for franchises of all sizes, we’re experts in the field and know how to make the perfect web to print portal for your company. Contact us today to learn more!
