As a franchise owner, you want to have every chance to succeed, which means choosing a franchisor that will support you in your quest from day one. One important differentiator is the software that you will use as a franchise owner.
Businesses across all industries need software to manage day-to-day business operations. The software your franchise business uses should be able to meet your unique challenges. And the support team should be able to answer questions and troubleshoot errors.
Too often, you get stuck on customer service lines talking to someone you can barely understand. But business owners deserve more. That's why proprietary software can be a major benefit for new franchise owners.
Let's dive into some of the benefits of choosing a franchise system that owns operating software.
1. It Meets Your Unique Needs
Often, a single operating system doesn't quite fit all the unique needs of your business. So, a franchise company ends up using multiple programs and technology. For inventory management, use this management tool, and for client satisfaction, use another software. It can become exhausting trying to remember how to use each different platform.
But that's not the case when a franchisor works with a software developer to build their own system. The franchisor designs their proprietary software to perfectly meet the needs of the business. So, it should be able to provide those unique statistics you need. Or, it can manage a complicated workflow that other systems couldn't handle.
Proprietary software has the franchise owner in mind from the outset. So, you don't need complicated workarounds. When your needs are in the source code, you can be more efficient franchise management. When you can spend less time struggling with software, you can spend more time helping your business to grow and thrive.
2. Training Is a Priority
Knowing how to use the software you are required to use will help you in every aspect of your new business. But not all technology training is designed the same.
If a franchise uses off-the-shelf, commercial software, they may also rely on that software’s tutorials, documentation, and training. But these tools are not designed for your franchise network. So, they may focus on information and features that simply aren't relevant.
With proprietary software, customized training is part of the package. Your senior home care franchise software will have not only its features customized to your needs but also its training. All of the technology training should be relevant to what you and your team do on a daily basis. And the training will reinforce the franchisor's business model.
Technology training will also be part of the ongoing support you get from your franchisor. Your franchisor will provide training on new features, functionality changes, and more as the franchise management software evolves.
RELATED CONTENT: Evaluating Franchise Training Programs
3. Customer Support Is Always Available
No one likes spending time on the phone or online trying to get a hold of customer support agents. It can be difficult to explain exactly what you're trying to accomplish and what your obstacles are. Too many times, people just hang up, without a satisfactory solution to their problem.
However, if your franchisor creates their own software, then they must also provide the support. You can reach out directly to your franchise support team to get real-time answers to your questions. And this process should feel familiar to you, especially in a smaller franchise system.
But that's not your only resource. Because all franchise locations will use the franchisor's technology, you can reach out to your fellow franchisees for assistance too. It's likely that they have experienced or are experiencing some of the same difficulties. The availability of support will ensure that you always know what you’re doing with your software.
4. You Can Have a Say in Updates
No software iteration is perfect from the beginning. That's why your computer and mobile apps are constantly updating. And it should be not different with your franchisor's proprietary software; it will require updates from time to time.
But when outside systems require updates, the developers most likely don't ask for your personal feedback. And if you do provide input, it's likely ignored. However, as a franchise owner and part of a larger system, you can provide feedback on changes.
As an owner in the franchise system, your experience will be integral in deciding what new updates will include. After all, you are the only audience of your proprietary software. That means your franchisor will want to make the software as efficient as possible for you.
However, it doesn't mean that every request will be implemented in the next update. The franchisor has to consider the costs associated with feature development, impacts to other pieces of the software, and how to incorporate the change into training. So, every idea can't be incorporated.
Caring's Proprietary Home Care Software: Tendio
Caring Senior Service does have its own proprietary software, called Tendio. We created this software after using other home care management tools for years. None of them could do exactly what we needed it to; every system had limitations. And, eventually, we decided that it was worth it to us and to our franchise owners to do better.
Tendio is designed to manage every aspect of a home care business, from caregiver recruitment to client care plans. As a business owner, you have all the data you need at your fingertips. So, you can successfully evaluate your business and make changes as needed.
Within Tendio, staff members also have their own credentials, so they can perform their daily tasks efficiently. This could include running payroll, updating referral source contacts, or sending clients new paperwork. Tendio also allows us to be 100% paperless. And, since it's tablet-based, staff can take it on the go with them as needed.
We've also created a client-facing portal within our software, allowing clients, caregivers, and staff to communicate more easily. It helps keep everyone — including a senior's family members — up-to-date on care. We put the Tendio Family Portal on our own tablets, which are given to each new client offering our owners an additional source of revenue.
While owning our own software has caused a few headaches along the way, it has been completely worth it. Learn more about Tendio and how it could help you run your home care franchise business.
