By Stephanie Johnson, AlphaGraphics

In the world of franchising, the gap between independently owned and operated locations and brand consistency can be vast.

Along with navigating becoming a new business owner, franchisees are left with the daunting responsibility to uphold a brand’s national identity and image. If left with little resources and guidelines, challenges can present themselves and lead to inaccurate or ineffective messaging, failed campaigns, inconsistent customer experiences, and a decrease in customer trust and loyalty. Embracing innovative technological tools and resources to aid franchise partners and achieve consistency can be game-changing.

The Power of Marketing Automation

With all of the day-to-day operational responsibilities that come with owning a business, marketing initiatives such as sending out system-wide emails and promotions or uploading timely social media posts can be overlooked or put to the side by franchisees. To avoid this, use technology to automate these tasks and give some time back to the busy franchisee. Marketing automation tools are designed to take over the small, repetitive tasks that are often forgotten about.

By leveraging technology and implementing these tools throughout the entire franchise system, franchisors can ensure that marketing strategies are executed both in a timely manner and properly align with national brand messaging. This allows franchisees to spend more time focusing on the customer experience, satisfaction, and other strategic areas of the business without worrying about smaller marketing tasks that may have slipped their mind. Ultimately, this leads to stronger brand consistency across the entire franchise and ensures that no marketing campaign or opportunity is missed.

Centralized Digital Asset Management

Another technology-based resource for marketing consistency is centralized brand asset management (BAM) systems. These platforms encourage and allow franchisees to customize marketing materials to fit their market or community while remaining aligned with national brand messaging. Having a centralized hub for all marketing assets is incredibly beneficial for small- and large-scale campaigns.

When franchisors invest in these platforms, they give franchisees and other partners access to approved images, logos, color palettes, promotions, etc. Franchisees can then use these assets for marketing while still being able to customize them to resonate with the local audience by adding a town or city name, slogan, the franchisee’s name, store phone number, and more. This is important as campaigns are often less successful if they fail to resonate with the local community. Having this perfect blend of brand guidance and flexibility empowers local owners and minimizes the risk of miscommunication, ensuring that every piece of marketing material is consistent, on-brand, and locally impactful.

Franchisee Online Training and Support

Franchisors should be implementing technology to support ongoing training for franchisees and their teams. With many franchise systems having locations scattered across the country and even the world, it’s crucial to leverage technology in a way that brings they whole system together and guarantees training and communication is consistent. This not only promotes operational consistency but also fosters a collaborative environment where franchisees can share best practices and insights. Additionally, incorporating technology into training allows for real-time updates, ensuring that all team members are equipped with the latest knowledge and tools to succeed.

When it comes to marketing, virtual training platforms provide step-by-step guidance on leveraging marketing tools and understanding national brand guidelines — all available at the click of a button. This continuous and accessible education is vital as the business landscape across all industries is ever-changing. Regular training sessions make certain that franchisees and other partners are aware of any current and upcoming marketing strategies and campaigns as well as additional important updates.

Other benefits to using technology for training include increased customer satisfaction across locations and increased employee morale. When training is consistent, the customer experience becomes uniform regardless of geographical location, resulting in an amazing in-store and online experience for all customers. For employees, training is a great place to establish your network of peers and mentors and get more involved in the business.

Measure Success and Adjust Strategies

We live in an era where everything is data-driven. Rather than getting left behind, franchisors should take advantage of technology and reap all of the benefits it can offer. One of the most overlooked benefits of leveraging technology within a business is the ability to track marketing campaign performance through metrics.

With the right tools, franchises are able to monitor audience engagement, conversion rates, and customer feedback in real time. All of these insights provide a wider perspective on what is and isn’t working for the brand and also helps to stay ahead of trends and changing customer preferences. These insights can be used to guide future campaigns, ensuring that brand relevance and customer loyalty remains high. By fostering a culture of data-driven decision making, marketing efforts are able to be continuously refined and reach their ultimate potential.

All-in-all, technology is a franchisor’s best friend for ensuring streamlined consistency in marketing and all other areas of the business. Embracing technology is no longer an option if you want to stay ahead of the curve and at the top of your industry — it’s a necessity and resource that leads to long-term success.

Stephanie Johnson is the vice president of marketing for AlphaGraphics. For more information about IFA franchisor member AlphaGraphics, please visit franchise.org/franchise-opportunities/alphagraphics-inc.