Adopting and rolling out a digital solution in a franchise network: how long does it really take?
In multi-unit networks, digital transformation is no longer optional. Yet behind the enthusiasm for collaborative tools, network engagement platforms, and performance management solutions, one question remains central: how long does it really take to roll out a digital tool across a franchise network?
A 2024 study highlights a widely underestimated reality: 82% of digital projects fail. Not because of the technology itself, but due to poor implementation, insufficient support, or low adoption.
At Cerca, we’ve already deployed full platforms in just 15 days for some networks. But even though this does happen, it’s not the norm. For most brands, success is built gradually, following very clear and measurable steps. Here’s what we actually observe in the field.
A ready-to-use platform in 30 to 45 days
This is the operational launch phase. It forms the foundation of the project.
Objectives
Structure the onboarding of the head office and project teams.
Configure the platform according to the network’s specific needs.
Integrate the first pieces of content (documentation, knowledge base, templates, records).
Train the head office on module administration.
Expected outcome
At the end of this phase, the platform is fully operational. Teams can start using it without daily assistance, with clearly defined initial workflows.
Observed duration
30 to 45 days, depending on the amount of information to integrate and the network’s digital maturity.
Active adoption: 4 to 5 months to anchor usage
Once the platform is delivered, the essential phase begins: adoption.
So, what happens in practice?
Head office teams integrate the platform into their daily routines.
Franchisees or store managers begin adopting the first habits, particularly for reporting, internal communication, and accessing the document library.
Processes become more streamlined and information more accessible.
Why does this phase take time?
Each network operates with its own habits. Change requires guidance, consistency, and internal champions. Digital tools cannot be imposed; they must be rolled out.
Observed duration
4 to 5 months to reach solid and consistent adoption.
Network reflexes: 10 to 12 months for collective adoption
This is the stage where the platform truly becomes a community-driven tool.
Signs of successful adoption
Franchisees no longer call head office for basic requests: they find the information themselves.
Teams naturally use surveys, forms, and communication or audit modules.
Communication becomes more structured, information flows more efficiently, and data is finally consolidated.
This stage marks the shift from “a tool that is available” to “a tool used daily by the entire network.”
Observed duration
10 to 12 months to reach this balance.
Maturity and reinvention: 18 to 36 months to maximize ROI
Once adoption is widespread, networks enter an optimization phase.
What characterizes this level of maturity
Exploration of advanced or secondary modules.
Evolution of the organization around the tool (processes, reporting, network engagement).
Significant productivity gains thanks to automation and centralization.
Regular efforts to reinvigorate usage and avoid stagnation.
It is often during this period that the impact of digital tools becomes truly measurable: reduced internal costs, improved head office–field communication, more consistent practices across the network, and accelerated development.
Observed duration
Between 18 and 36 months, depending on the network’s size and structure.
Why some projects succeed and others don’t: the underestimated criteria
Many leaders believe that good software is enough. In reality, three factors determine success.
1. Long-term support
A rollout is never a sprint. Without ongoing support, usage stagnates or even regresses.
2. Leading by example at head office
The network adopts what head office uses. If central teams don’t embrace the tool, no one will.
3. Unifying practices
Heterogeneity between franchisees is the main barrier to scaling. A clear framework and shared routines accelerate adoption.
The Cerca method: quarterly monitoring to guarantee real usage
At Cerca, we don’t just install a tool. We work with networks every three months to analyse usage, adjust processes, and re-energize internal momentum. This approach helps avoid the drop in adoption that many digital projects experience after just a few months.
This is also why some networks can become fully operational very quickly: structure, support, and guidance are just as important as the technology itself.
How can you tell if your network is truly using its tool to its full potential?
Here are a few simple indicators to watch for:
The franchisees’ login rate.
The volume of actions performed on key modules (audits, tickets, reporting).
Consultation of the knowledge base.
The field teams’ level of autonomy.
The time saved by head office on repetitive requests.
Participation in communications and surveys.
These elements are often enough to identify optimisation opportunities.
In summary:
On average, it takes 30 to 45 days to make a platform operational, then 4 to 5 months for head office and field teams to adopt the initial uses. Full adoption typically settles in over 10 to 12 months.
According to a 2024 study, 82% of projects fail not because of the technology, but due to poor implementation, lack of oversight, and insufficient adoption in the field.
Head office sets the pace: if it uses and champions the tool, the network follows. Without leadership and regular engagement, franchisees won’t adopt new practices.
By structuring adoption: field champions, usage routines, clear processes, continuous training, regular support, and quarterly follow-ups to keep the momentum going.
ROI becomes truly visible between 18 and 36 months, once usage is stabilised, field autonomy increases, and processes become standardised.
Yes, some highly structured networks can be operational in 10 to 15 days. But these are exceptions: sustainable adoption requires time, support, and real project management.
The deployment of a digital solution in a franchise network cannot be measured only in days or weeks. It is a gradual process that relies as much on project management, support, and guidance as on the tool itself.
Software only has an impact if it is adopted. And it is long-term support that guarantees that adoption.
So the real question is not: “How quickly can we install a tool?”
But rather: “Is my network truly using its tools to 100% of their potential?”
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