Learning and development specialists and trainers devote their professional lives to helping employees develop relevant workplace skills. But here’s the rub: they’re so busy training and advocating for their co-workers that they may neglect their own development. (more…)
One only needs to drive in their communities and notice all the “Now Hiring” signs to get a sense of how pervasive the problem of finding employees is regardless of the industry.
Today, there is a serious shortage of workers, and this has resulted in Restaurants and Personal Services businesses modifying their hours (and even their days of operation) to ensure they have enough staff to meet the demand.
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably experiencing a shortage of workers in your own business and are hoping for a silver bullet to help you quickly hire quality employees.
Surveys and research illustrate just how pervasive the labor shortage issue is:
Many franchisors conduct franchise satisfaction surveys, but they are often repeats of previous surveys (perhaps with a few extra questions peppered in there for good measure) and lack unique and specific goals.
As a result, the franchise satisfaction initiative can be a lot of busy work with few results. While some franchisors opt to use a professional service such as Franchise Business Review to stay current, others want to know how to improve their franchise survey process.
The first step to changing how you survey is to have a goal.
For their 3rd annual Workplace Learning Report, LinkedIn surveyed over 1,200 talent developers (L&D and HR professionals) and more than 2,100 workplace learners worldwide to gauge industry trends.
The findings show that Learning and Development are at the forefront. So funds are continuously channeled towards online training solutions like World Manager.
While online training will never phase out in-person training, it is now more important than ever to empower employees to use this tool anywhere, anytime.
Here are some common business challenges and how to solve them using online training.
Attracting and Retaining Top Talent
Emerging trends such as digital migration and the dynamic nature of workplace skills are challenging organizations to keep up with as they work to hire and develop their employees.
So how can organizations remain relevant in a world that won’t stop changing?
Adapt the Training to Millennials.
29% The percentage of Millennials engaged at work.
Millennials are emotionally and behaviorally connected to their job and company.
This is according to a report published by Gallup that cautions employers about the domino effect of these shocking statistics:
“If they are not engaged in those jobs, companies’ profitability, productivity and innovation will suffer. And if they are not thriving in their well-being, they will struggle in life, affecting how they perform as citizens, consumers, and employees.”
Gallup recommends organizations update their cultures to suit their younger workforce by focusing on these functional changes:
Think purpose, not a paycheck. Of course, adequate compensation is important, but it is not the driving force of millennial workers. What they really want to know and internalize is your “why” as an organization. Use the Golden Circle to effectively convey this to your employees in an “Introduction” module in your online training program.
Development over mere job satisfaction. The stereotype that Millennials are lured by incentives such as pool tables and free food won’t cut it! Provide clear pathways to development for each role so that they’re constantly motivated.
More coaches, fewer bosses. Millennials care about being seen as both people and employees. They would like coaches who partner with them in their professional growth rather than bellow orders.
Ongoing conversations instead of annual reviews. Millennials communicate in real-time and on the go. This makes them more inclined towards consistent communication and feedback. So direct specific feedback to them using the contact management software found in our communications suite.
Don’t broadcast their weaknesses, develop their strengths. Gallup has discovered that “weaknesses never develop into strengths, while strengths develop infinitely”. Don’t disregard weaknesses, simply focus more on encouraging their strengths.
It’s not just their job but an integral part of their life. So they actually want to enjoy what they do. And are curious about how much you value their contributions. Make this very clear to them by setting up team leaders who help you monitor individual employees’ progress. Reward individual milestones accordingly.
The heart of sports retail training and development worldwide, for over 15 years. Trusted by 100s of brands. Ask us why
Provide Opportunities for Development
Meet your employees’ expectations by providing:
Visual career paths. Help employees envision themselves rising through the ranks at your organization.
Success profiles that highlight the requirements for each role your employees may aspire towards.
Career development plans that are customized for each individual employee’s career goals. They should review them every so often with their respective supervisors.
Develop a Reward System
What’s the easiest way to capture Millennials’ attention? Gamification! Not only that but also an elaborate reward system will drive their performance through the roof!
Josh Bersin, founder of Bersin by Deloitte, insists that a new set of rewards will enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of employees by offering benefits that cater to their financial wellness, fitness, stress relief, mindfulness, and work-life flexibility.
All this is especially important to Millennials today and can be achieved using our Achievement Awards tool.
Establish a Workplace Learning Culture
L&D managers have never been a more vital component in the workplace now that there is a shift from instructor-led training to online training.
They can quickly identify the most crucial skill gaps within your team and the appropriate programs to help close them.
Wondering whether these talent developers “walk the talk”? The statistics will shock you!
And what better way to meet these same goals in your organization than by designing a suitable online training program using our efficient Learning Management System (LMS)?
The right online program will help you:
Clarify your objectives from the onset to encourage completion rates.
Have you ever thought about marketing your online training program? Be proactive! Spell out all of its amazing benefits for your employees.
Be strategic. Use various channels such as email and videos to highlight how specific modules enhance the skills of different departments in your organization. Scenario-based training will specifically help new employees deepen their understanding of the department they’ll be part of. Bing Lee has experienced this first hand:
“We have used video training and find it very useful and informative for our staff. Pictures do tell a thousand words, just as videos do as well, and I feel that staff are more inclined to remember if they watch a video.”
Don’t forget your CTAs! Include a link that directs your employees to the program. They are more likely to work through the entire training when they have a strong “why”.
Track results and do post-assessment.
Movement For Life shares its experience:
“Once we have employed an individual, we give them access to all the required paperwork and pre-employment reading. By having these documents within learning modules, we are able to track their progress through the documents and ensure they understand the key points. When the module is complete, we know that they have completed all of the required pre-employment paperwork and reading, saving considerable time when they arrive on-site.”
Introduce and manage collaborative learning.
Being one of the most cost-effective team-building strategies for remote teams, collaborative learning can build much-needed team spirit in the workplace.
Today’s online training doesn’t stop at chat features and audio-video conferencing. It surpasses it! It provides your team with collaborative tools like message boards, forums, resource-sharing hubs, etc.
Global Workforce: Cultural Differences and Generational Gaps
A learning style that is particularly effective in one country may not be as successful in another. Add on the age disparity between the employees in your workplace and choosing appropriate education methods can get chaotic!
Simply consider your potential learning audience, and develop resources that are both multilingual and multicultural.
Identify learners’ preferences and styles
Find out the various needs of your learners, particularly how comfortable they are with different types of technology. Use this knowledge to design your online training program.
A user-friendly interface is exactly what all learners need to easily navigate your software. Even with basic computing skills, they shouldn’t struggle to play a video or upload an assignment.
Microlearning has never been more convenient! Provide downloadable reading materials in the form of PDFs, Videos, and Presentations that really help cement the training.
Create and Manage Discussion Forums
Wondering how to create a stronger sense of community within your team? Bras N’ Things know a thing or two:
“In regards to Raving Fans and celebrating the wins, we don’t have to wait for the weekly newsletter, it’s all instant and generates excitement. The teams are also empowered by being able to give direct feedback and receive a response, definitely culture building.”
Here’s an idea! How about setting up an online photo storage gallery that creates excitement for staff events? Watch employee engagement increase as employees share memorable photos from various work events.
As you can see, there are so many learning solutions to choose from! Save yourself the hassle. Book a demo today!
As CTO, Andrew is responsible for Product Architecture, Development and Deployment at FranConnect. Andrew has 30+ years’ experience leading global teams delivering highly scalable SaaS solutions for Telecoms, Media and Payments businesses. Prior to joining FranConnect, Andrew was CTO at Arterra Mobility; he has also held leadership positions at Synchronoss and Neustar.
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Lorena Garcia
Senior Vice President of Marketing
As SVP of Marketing, Lorena Garcia is responsible for the entire end-to-end marketing function at FranConnect, including driving growth through innovative and scalable practices in account-based marketing, lead generation, market analysis, customer segmentation, digital marketing, and brand stewardship. Previously, Lorena led go-to-market teams and demand generation at technology companies including Level Access, Hobsons, Vonage and iCore Networks.
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Paul Sharpe
General Manager A/NZ
As the General Manager of Australia/New Zealand (ANZ), Paul is responsible for all go-to-market activities for FranConnect in ANZ, including strategy, sales, customer success and the continued growth of all FranConnect product lines in ANZ. He has held senior leadership roles at Nexon, IBM, Samsung, and NTT Ltd, with extensive experience leading sales, product, and marketing teams. t, and marketing teams. As the General Manager of Australia/New Zealand (ANZ), Paul is responsible for all go-to-market activities for FranConnect in ANZ, including strategy, sales, customer success and the continued growth of all FranConnect product lines in ANZ.
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Stephanie Opoku
Senior Vice President of People
Stephanie oversees the global people operations across multiple countries including the US, Canada, India, Australia, and Colombia. Over the last five years, Stephanie has led the notable journey of building a solid foundation that supports our hardworking employees. She has successfully built programs that improve employee engagement and efficiency to ensure that FranConnect is a company of choice for top talent. Prior to joining FranConnect, Stephanie started and spent most of her HR career working for a leading tax publisher.
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Vikram Raj
Senior Vice President of Products and Solutions Engineering
Vikram Raj has over 15 years of experience in franchise and multi-location management software. As the Senior Vice President of Products & Sales Engineering at FranConnect, he drives the product roadmap by combining industry insight with customer feedback to foster continuous innovation. His responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams to align product priorities with market trends, guiding clients in evaluating technical solutions, and demonstrating the measurable value FranConnect’s platform provides. During his tenure at FranConnect, Vikram has led the release of new products and offerings that increased user adoption and contributed to double-digit annual revenue growth. He emphasizes data-driven decision-making, transparent collaboration, and a strong focus on measurable results—approaches that have strengthened FranConnect’s market position and delivered sustained value to its growing global customer base.
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Adam Walton
Chief Customer Officer
As Chief Customer Officer, Adam leads FranConnect’s customer success, professional services, and support teams, driving strategic initiatives that maximize customer value and long-term growth. With over 30 years of experience in B2B SaaS, Adam brings a cross-functional leadership approach shaped by roles across Customer, Product, Operations, and Sales.
Adam has held key executive positions at high-growth technology companies including CallMiner and most recently Cresta, where he helped scale customer experience and AI-driven solutions for enterprise clients. His leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to customer outcomes, with Net Retention as his guiding metric. Adam is passionate about building customer-first cultures and delivering innovative solutions that unlock measurable impact.
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Charlie Zhang
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer
As CFO & COO, Charlie Zhang plays a pivotal role in aligning FranConnect’s financial strategy with its operational execution. He is responsible for driving fiscal discipline while enabling scalable growth and innovation across the organization. Charlie’s dual leadership ensures that the company remains agile and resilient as it expands its footprint in the franchise and multi-location technology space.
Charlie brings a wealth of experience in financial strategy, corporate development, and operational leadership, with a background spanning investment banking, private equity, and technology. Prior to joining FranConnect, he served as CFO of ION Analytics, where he led global financial operations for a data and software company serving capital markets.
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Mark Calvillo
Chief Product Officer
As Chief Product Officer, Mark Calvillo is responsible for shaping FranConnect’s product vision and translating it into a strategic roadmap that delivers measurable impact for customers. His leadership will focus on evolving the platform in alignment with market needs, driving innovation, and ensuring product excellence across the board.
Mark brings over two decades of experience in product leadership, most recently at Restaurant365. Known for his customer-first mindset and ability to turn insights into scalable solutions, Mark will guide FranConnect’s product strategy to support growth and deepen value for franchise and multi-location businesses.
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Ayron McLochlin
Chief Revenue Officer
As Chief Revenue Officer, Ayron McLochlin leads FranConnect’s global go‑to‑market and revenue organization. He is responsible for driving new customer acquisition, accelerating customer expansion, developing new markets, and overseeing pre‑sales consulting and revenue operations to support FranConnect’s continued year‑over‑year growth.
With more than 15 years of leadership experience in enterprise software, SaaS, and technology‑enabled services—and over a decade working with Private Equity–backed companies across Vista Equity Partners, K1, and MidOcean Partners—Ayron brings a proven track record of scaling organizations ranging from $10M to $600M in revenue. Known for his ability to transform commercial teams, he specializes in building high‑performing sales, marketing, customer success, and RevOps functions that create predictable and repeatable growth
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Ali Muskett
Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Ali Muskett serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and CFO/COO, supporting critical cross-functional initiatives that advance FranConnect's key organizational priorities. She coordinates high-impact projects spanning multiple departments, ensures organizational alignment, and translates strategic vision into executable plans while maintaining accountability across initiatives.
Ali brings over five years of experience in the franchising space, having worked directly with hundreds of franchisors throughout her career. Her background includes leading high-performing sales teams and executing strategic initiatives that drive measurable results. Known for her ability to align cross-functional teams and support execution, Ali combines franchise industry expertise with strong leadership skills to help accelerate FranConnect's growth and operational excellence.
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