Building connections and streamlining communication are everyday issues for franchisee partners. Franchise intranet software offers a cost-effective solution.
Franchise Network Solutions
Franchises are now big business. According to the International Franchise Association, they employ some 8.9 million workers and contribute over $893 billion to the economy. Given franchise companies’ size and complexity, a centralized digital workplace is the only way to go. An intranet offers tools for management, two-way communication, collaboration, and seamless integration with other enterprise apps, making it a must-have.
Today’s post examines how franchise intranet software promotes a sense of connection between franchise operations and with the head office. We also explore the social intranet’s other benefits, including streamlined processes, increased compliance, enhanced knowledge sharing, and better communication.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive straight in.
What Is A Franchise Intranet?
A franchise intranet is basically a private website that can only be accessed by your franchisees. It contains all the key information and business tools that franchisees need to get the job done. It’s an invaluable resource that will help with your franchisee communications, support, training, and operations.
Typically a franchise intranet will include the following elements:
- up-to-date news and corporate information
- document management system
- corporate branding resources – logos, adverts, marketing materials
- online training programs
- collaborative working spaces and project areas
- message boards and discussion forums
- the ability to search information across the site or a specific area.
The business benefits of a franchise intranet include increased communications and connectedness, streamlined business processes for franchisees and improved compliance across the franchise.
Features Of A Franchise System
A cloud-based franchise system means that programs and data are accessible via an internet connection anywhere. A franchise system is an invaluable resource to support critical operations, including the following:
- Up-to-date news and corporate information
- Document management
- Corporate brand messaging and resources, like logos, adverts, and marketing materials
- Digital onboarding and training programs
- Collaborative community
- Instant messaging and discussion forums
- Advanced search at global and franchise levels
Implementing a franchise intranet will help solve the challenges of connection, internal communications, integration, and involvement for franchisees. Whether you have five or 500 franchise operators spread nationally or even internationally, an intranet solution ensures that distance and numbers are no longer an issue.
What Are The Advantages?
Introducing an intranet will allow franchisees to work more efficiently and effectively. From the master owner to the franchise operator and employees, all parties will feel the impact. Let’s take a closer look.
Improved Communication
Everyone wants to feel valued and connected, and franchisees probably feel this more keenly than average employees. An intranet is vital to creating that all-important community-based culture.
Newsfeeds ensure that head office keeps franchisees informed of company news, events and the latest information. Customization ensures that targeted information reaches the right people at the right time.
Franchises can create secure, local information-sharing and communication platforms. And digital access means staff can read company news and updates anytime and anywhere.
Furthermore, two-way communication channels like interactive blogs allow users to share feedback up, down, and across the organization. Easy access to centralized resources, such as the original franchise agreement, branding, and SOPs, ensures that franchisee companies have a common trademark.
Smoother Collaboration
All partners need to work together for a successful franchise relationship. Intranets are mission-critical for collaboration and sharing knowledge. Franchise employees can ask questions, share ideas and key information, and best practices. A collaborative community ensures franchisee partners and employees develop a sense of mutual support and feel part of a bigger picture.
It also helps eliminate many inquiries that would otherwise be directed at head office. The bottom line is that intranet solutions save time and resources.
Enhanced Employee Engagement
Employee engagement matters in all organizations, and franchises are no exception. The intranet has all the tools to engage users under one virtual roof. Surveys, polls, and team forums increase engagement and provide valuable insights on a host of issues.
Streamlined Business Processes
Streamlined business processes boost employee productivity. Automated workflows for reporting, ordering, invoicing, and inventory management are more effective at completing critical operational tasks accurately and on time. For example, automated weekly sales data allows franchisees to track results and benchmark progress across franchises.
Better Document Management
The intranet’s document management system (DMS) helps you track, manage, and store vital corporate documents and files. You can be sure the franchisee has the latest versions. Indeed, many franchisors discover considerable savings in printing and distribution costs. Instead of printing and mailing the latest operations manual, you simply upload it to the intranet. Job done.
The intranet also allows head office to verify that critical content, such as updated SOPs, is read by the right people. Roles and user permissions control access to documents and files in the DMS so only authorized personnel can edit or view confidential documents.
Higher Compliance And Adherence
Intranet solutions help head office to ensure compliance with franchise legal and branding requirements. Corporate logos, adverts, marketing materials, and other branding resources are controlled in one central location. Standard contracts or agreements are also stored centrally.
Inconsistent brand messaging and workflows are bad for business, affecting customer perceptions and brand reputation. An intranet means franchisees access only compliant resources and information.
Invest In Training And Professional Development
Online training is another vital way that franchisors can ensure consistency and standardization. Most franchise intranets offer online training programs on various topics, from getting started to product overviews and continuing professional development. They are a must-have tool for onboarding new employees and getting them up to speed on processes super-fast.
Automated reporting ensures that the head office keeps track of completion rates. Moreover, an intranet training program’s great advantage is that franchisees can train at their convenience, either off-site or outside regular working hours.
And don’t underestimate the impact investing in employees’ personal growth will have on engagement goals, recruitment, and retention.
Integrations With Enterprise Apps
The best franchise intranets integrate with the enterprise systems you already use to power your business. From CRM platforms like Salesforce to Google Workspace, your people have single sign-on access to all the tools they need. This not only saves time and resources but also makes daily working life more straightforward for your staff.
Workplace Safety And Health Requirements
In addition, there is a long-established system of food safety control and regulation which occurs at the federal and regional level. The main agencies involved include the Food and Drug Administration and the Food Safety Inspection Service. Each state also has its own agencies and regulations which will differ in their organization and complexity.
As you can see, potentially this is a minefield for each franchisee to navigate. Ultimately franchisors have an obligation to ensure that their business systems include all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and health of those affected by the franchise.
Getting this wrong can be an expensive business. It could result in any or all of the following:
- fines due to non-compliance with legislation
- direct costs in relation to a franchisee failing in its obligations
- increased insurance premiums
- indirect costs because of the damage to the franchise’s brand and reputation.
How A Franchise Intranet Can Make A Difference
A franchise intranet can include the following features that will help you manage workplace safety and health:
- Electronic learning management systems
- Compliance tracking for all franchises
- Reporting mechanisms
- Sharing best practices and knowledge across the franchise.
E-learning Management Systems
Cloud-based e-learning management systems are a proven cost-effective and flexible way to deploy critical training and knowledge-based information. The e-learning management system will identify the essential safety and health knowledge that is required across the franchise to be compliant with federal legislation. It can then be customized at the state or regional level with any specific local requirements. The e-learning could take many forms including webinars, quizzes, how-to videos or blogs.
E-learning has many advantages over traditional instructor-led classroom training. This form of training is not always consistent among different classes and tutors. Also, the costs of qualified trainers and the time away from the job for participants and training facilities can quickly add up.
In contrast, e-learning delivers consistent content to all learners, minimizes disruption to normal business activities and allows staff to train at their own pace and outside of normal working hours. Another benefit is that e-learning programs can be quickly and easily modified in response to changes such as new legislation or guidelines.
Compliance Tracking For All Franchisees
Your franchise intranet will be able to keep track of all safety and health training so that you can provide evidence of your compliance with bodies such as the OSHA.
With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can be sure that every staff member across the franchise has completed the correct training at the correct time. You can also check that all the relevant personnel have accessed or downloaded the latest standard operating procedures.
Reporting Mechanisms
In association with the compliance tracking, your franchise intranet will include reporting features that will streamline the administration of training. In this way, you will, for instance, be able to identify poorly performing franchisees and can intervene early to implement systems and processes that stop issues from becoming big problems.
Sharing Best Practices And Knowledge Across The Franchise
Another important way that a franchise intranet can help manage workplace safety and health is in the opportunity it affords to share knowledge and best practice across the franchise. A range of intranet collaboration tools such as discussion forums, 
activity streams, project team pages, and message boards enable collaboration between franchisees and help to develop a sense of mutual support and connection.
These collaborative working spaces could involve the sharing of information, examples of best practice or frequently asked questions. Topics could cover all aspects of the franchise operations and not just workplace safety and health. The franchisor has an overview of these working spaces and will, therefore, have a helicopter view of workplace safety and health issues and can quickly address any common concerns before they get out of hand.
Make A Difference
We began by examining how intranets can improve communication in franchise organizations. Along the way, we identified several other business benefits, including time and money savings.
In short, having a franchise intranet will make a difference. It offers a total solution for improved business operations and a central location for all communications, strengthening your relationships with franchisees.
About MyHub
We are a leading provider of cloud intranet solutions. Our software’s intuitive design makes it easy for your people to communicate, collaborate, and share information regardless of location. Sign up for a free demo or 14-day trial and explore how we can improve your franchise operation.
