Internal communication within your franchise formula
The success of your formula is largely determined by the internal communication and collaboration between you and the franchisees!
Internal collaboration within your franchise formula is a crucial component for success. In a small business, internal collaboration is relatively simple. However, setting up internal processes correctly and efficiently in a franchise formula brings various challenges. The collaboration remains internal but between different companies and people who are geographically dispersed. The most successful franchisees are those who learn from the franchisor and other franchisees. This requires exchange!
Create effective internal communication
Organize your communication online
Email is a widely used method for communication within franchise formulas. An indispensable and fast way of communicating, but not always ideal due to the amount of email most of us receive daily. Email is relatively fleeting, and it can be challenging to find specific topics. Therefore, combine email with other cloud platforms to share information with your franchisees. With this type of software, you can provide a vast amount of ready-made information to all your franchisees. An even more ideal solution is the online handbook management system Scienta combined with your online franchise manual. This way, you keep all communication and information centralized in one place.
Encourage interaction
Encourage an open culture within your franchise formula. Your franchisees need to know they can contact you when necessary. Generally, you benefit most from encouraging the formulation of a company culture based on positive, always-ready communication, and support. Ensure that someone from your franchise management responds to a franchisee's question within 24 hours.
Appreciate your franchisees' feedback
Involve your franchisees in both big and small challenges. Regularly ask for their feedback and ideas. Allow them to discuss the ideas and plans they have contributed to with other franchisees. This enhances mutual collaboration and support within the franchise organization.
Practical tips to achieve this:
- Always listen actively
- Show interest
- Be honest and transparent
- Keep a record
Implementation of effective internal communication
Effective internal collaboration means that the right information is shared and discussed efficiently among everyone. This doesn’t happen on its own. Therefore, it's necessary to optimize internal collaboration and ensure that your internal processes grow efficiently with your franchise organization. In short, the processes and systems for internal collaboration need to be regularly developed. Something we would be happy to assist you with in 3 phases!
Phase 1: Inventory
- Explore the current practice
- Interviews with board members, communication staff, franchisees, and franchisees' staff
- Inventory of the effectiveness and future sustainability of current systems and processes
- Analyze outcomes and discuss internal needs
Phase 2: Develop new internal communication process
- Develop or adjust processes based on user needs. For example, for one-on-one, group, or online communication from the central organization to the franchisees (one-to-many).
- Analyze suitable, future-proof systems
- Advice on a new application landscape for communication
Phase 3: Realization
- Process assurance
- Achieving acceptance among employees and franchisees
- Successful implementation and training
- Ensure responsibilities and define roles (for example, according to the RASCI model)
