What are the best practices for innovation in multi-unit operations?

2 Franchisee engagement

The second step for innovation in multi-unit operations is to engage your franchisees and leverage their insights and feedback. Your franchisees are the ones who interact with your customers and understand their needs and preferences. They can also provide valuable suggestions and solutions for improving your products, services, processes, or systems. You should create a culture of collaboration and trust among your franchisees, and encourage them to share their ideas and best practices with you and each other. You should also reward and recognize your franchisees for their contributions to innovation.

3 Customer involvement

The third step for innovation in multi-unit operations is to involve your customers and listen to their voice. Your customers are the ultimate source of innovation, as they can tell you what they want, what they like, and what they don't like about your offerings. You should use various methods to collect customer feedback, such as surveys, reviews, focus groups, or social media. You should also co-create with your customers, and invite them to participate in your innovation process, such as by testing your prototypes, providing suggestions, or joining your online communities.

4 Experimentation and validation

The fourth step for innovation in multi-unit operations is to experiment and validate your ideas before implementing them. You should use a lean and agile approach to innovation, and test your assumptions and hypotheses with minimal resources and time. You should use tools such as prototypes, pilots, or MVPs (minimum viable products) to test your ideas with real customers and measure their response. You should also use data and analytics to evaluate your results and learn from your failures.

5 Scaling and diffusion

The fifth step for innovation in multi-unit operations is to scale and diffuse your successful ideas across your network. You should use a systematic and structured approach to scaling and diffusion, and consider the factors that affect the adoption and adaptation of your innovations, such as the readiness, capability, and motivation of your franchisees and employees. You should also provide adequate support and training to your franchisees and employees, and monitor and track the performance and impact of your innovations.

6 Continuous improvement

The sixth and final step for innovation in multi-unit operations is to continuously improve your innovations and adapt to the changing market conditions. You should not rest on your laurels, but rather seek new opportunities and challenges for innovation. You should also solicit and act on the feedback from your franchisees, employees, and customers, and make adjustments and enhancements to your innovations. You should also review and update your vision and strategy, and align your innovation efforts with your brand identity and values.