The franchisor has worked hard to overcome uncertainty with positivity – adapting and embracing up-to-date technology to continue serving customers safely whilst delivering essential pet supplies with certainty
OSCAR Pet Foods is no stranger to technology. As one of the UK’s top pet industry franchisors, it actively supports its franchisees by promoting digital connectivity and cooperation, nationwide.
Supporting customers
As COVID-19 triggered a national lockdown, OSCAR’s thoughts quickly turned to protecting its staff, franchisees, and customers. The franchisor has worked hard to overcome uncertainty with positivity – adapting and embracing up-to-date technology to continue serving customers safely whilst delivering essential pet supplies with certainty.
Moving staff out of offices as quickly as possible and facilitating remote home working to minimise the risk of infection turned out to be relatively easy using bespoke software. This has allowed the brand to supply franchisees with the same level of service and has enabled them to keep up with the increased demand for OSCAR products as customers began to self-isolate at home.
The customer centre and product centre – processing and dispatching orders for both franchisee and customer orders – has continued to work efficiently using personal protective equipment.
While face-to-face contact remains limited, franchisees have continued to trade with safe, new delivery practices, contactless payments and social distancing whilst generating sales by making the most of social media as well as keeping customers updated with delivery dates and offers via text and e-mail.
Supporting franchisees
Remote working is easier for everyone with cloud meeting and team collaboration tools. OSCAR provides a collection of integrated online solutions and social networking services for franchisees – supporting extensive customisation whilst keeping everyone focused on brand expectations.
The scrutiny of bfa membership lends valuable credit to the brand and the OSCAR network community ensures franchisees and employees have easy and streamlined access to the most up-to-date company communications and marketing support. Keeping franchisees in the know about everything the company is doing and enabling them to meet online, share files, chat, manage projects and network with potential clients anywhere, anytime is key to OSCAR’s belief that success and resilience are driven by the strength of connectivity.
Thanks to technology, the brand has successfully switched learning from classroom to ‘front room’ with new franchisees completing the entire in-house course using technology online from the comfort of their own homes.
Brian Hulme from Stockport says: “I have always been realistic about my business, which has helped me to stay focused and also helped me to succeed and meet my targets. From the start, I exceeded my expectations and OSCAR kept me in touch with changes, of which, over 15 years, there have been more than a few.”
Looking to the future
Coronavirus has turned technology into a necessity, and companies that use technology well will stay ahead in their field. Technology has enabled OSCAR to deliver an essential business service amidst pandemic forces with confidence and safety. The brand will keep an eye out for when it can return to supporting franchisees face-to-face, but until then it will continue to explore how technology can help grow the business and secure its franchise network for the future ahead.
Beyond COVID-19 there is only one certainty: the unique role that pets play in meeting the vital human need for comfort and companionship will always be in demand.