Innovation; (From Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Online)
in·no·va·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌi-nə-ˈvā-shən\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : the introduction of something new
2 : a new idea, method, or device : novelty
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That’s the formal definition of innovation. Interesting. Innovation is certainly a popular word, these days….
I guess it may have a little something to do with technology. I remember thumbing through some Best Buy newspaper circulars in 2000, I think it was. I was trying to decipher some of the new terms in the computer section. I remember saying to myself;
“There’s no way I’ll ever understand, or even need to know anything about RAM, Bytes, or Floppy Discs. The geeks will figure it out. I don’t even know if I’ll ever even get a computer!”
Yeah. Right.
Now, I’m called by various family and friends to come over and help them with their websites, blogs, and even their nasty spyware issues.
Everything we do now seems to involve some type of technology. There’s no escape.
The franchise industry, long known for it’s tight systems, is getting more and more dependent on all sorts of different technologies. Some of it is designed to speed processes up, and some of it’s designed to bring customers into the door. Like this
Anything with the word “mobile” is hot, right now. Being a busy franchise owner has it’s ups and downs. Efficiency is always helpful to the equation.
From OPEN Forum By American Express;
“What
if you’re one of those multi-unit franchise owners that are always on
the run? If you’re an iPhone user, I’ll wager that you use innovative
business technology tools like these.
If you happen to use a Blackberry, don’t despair. There are tons of
innovative business and finance applications for you, too. Try Crackberry.com
The franchise industry needs innovative tools. Some of them are discussed in the rest of that Open Forum article. Read It Do you know of any more?
How to Use a Franchise Opportunity Website
The 10 Commandments of Franchise Research
What You Need To Know About Franchise Consultants/Brokers
I absolutely agree with your post. The first innovation (at least in Spain) is to put the focus on the customers!
The current customers are one of the most valuable marketing channel for franchisors, thanks to the deep social change forced by the new technologies. Services like Fanminder or simple email marketing will help the sales of franchisees AND can turn the customer base into a great source of leads for the francisor. A lot of benefits with a bit of technology and a good dose of innovation.
Thanks for your insights from Spain!
I absolutely agree with your post. The first innovation (at least in Spain) is to put the focus on the customers!
The current customers are one of the most valuable marketing channel for franchisors, thanks to the deep social change forced by the new technologies. Services like Fanminder or simple email marketing will help the sales of franchisees AND can turn the customer base into a great source of leads for the francisor. A lot of benefits with a bit of technology and a good dose of innovation.
Thanks for your insights from Spain!
Alberto,
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. (All the way from Spain, too!)
I agree that current customers can be a great marketing channel..
The Franchise King®