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Tech that Teaches: How E-Learning Tools for Franchisees Can Enhance a Business
E-learning tools can help better train and prepare franchisees to launch their franchise and allow for continued education.
As technology continues to evolve, businesses are swapping out their old methods for new and more advanced solutions.
For many brands, this starts with using video and e-learning tools to train franchisees and operators. This method of training can help streamline the training process and assist franchisees with continued education about a brand’s systems. Matt Martin, director of training for Toppers Pizza, said using e-learning tools is an extension of the franchise system itself.
“In a franchise company, systems are what help us replicate success, and when it boils down to it, that’s really what a franchisee is buying. The stronger our systems are, the better ability we have to develop great people and teams that execute at high levels, which promotes growth. E-learning is, of course, one of those systems,” Martin said.
E-learning has gained popularity over the last few years, and industry experts believe that this technique is only in its beginning stages. Data from eLearning Industry showed that 77 percent of companies offer online corporate training to improve professional development, and the online corporate market is expected to increase by 13 percent per year until 2017.
Martin went on to say that one of the benefits of e-learning systems is that you can improve them as the years go on. He said Toppers Pizza's e-learning system, Toppers University, is constantly being retooled to be able to adapt to new trends in the industry and the changing landscape of the business.
“Over the last couple years, we’ve begun to focus more on ongoing training through our e-learning site, with the intent that it becomes the hub for all things training related, regardless of your role,” Martin said. “There are currently very clear training paths for pizza makers, drivers, shift leaders, and assistant managers. In the coming year, we plan to add more leadership-based content and training paths for general managers, supervisors, and even franchisees.”
One emerging trend is the increased implementation of Learning Management Systems (LMS) software. LMS allows franchisees and employees to access training content from anywhere in the world on virtually any device with an internet connection. The software also ensures accurate and in-depth performance reporting on course completion and assessments, allowing the administrator to easily breakdown reports at an individual, team or organization-wide level.
Ultimately, Martin said that e-learning is a great tool for brands to use to teach their franchisees while simultaneously giving the brand an opportunity to continue to educate them about new systems and promotions.
“The system has to be intuitive, simple, and deliver training in an interesting and fun way while resulting in well-trained team members,” Martin said. “In addition, our training paths are set up using a blended training approach, including one-on-one verbal and hands-on demonstration, video driven content, and online testing.”
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About the Author
Nick Powills
FollowNick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.
