AGT, a publisher of management tools for companies, provides independent retailer networks with solutions for consolidating information and relayingit from sales outlets to the network head office, before analyzing it. " A franchisee is first and foremost a retailer, not a manager," explains Laurent Dubernais, AGT's president. "Our aim is to simplify management tasks and help the retailer situate his outlet in relation to the network: monitor profitability, stock and cash flow using dashboards."
To integrate these tools into an existing network, Laurent Dubernais recommends "not making a revolution" and proceeding in stages: "First, you need to take stock of the network and gradually build up sales information until you reach a daily rhythm". Finally, AGT's Chairman warns thatsupport in the field must not be underestimated: sales promoters must help franchisees to take the plunge, and present the changes in an educational way.
