New data from Claromentis, an AI-powered franchise management software provider, reveals that the franchise sector is focused on standardising day-to-day operations across multiple locations, while adopting AI carefully to avoid unintended risk, rising costs, or loss of governance.
The research indicates that the most frequently cited (24%) priority for franchise leaders this year is improving operational efficiency and consistency across their networks. Tellingly for 2026, this is very shortly followed by integrating AI, selected by 22% of respondents. The report also reveals that leaders are prioritising stronger employee engagement and collaboration (17%), and improved compliance and audit readiness (17%), reinforcing the importance of governance and communication in complex multi-site environments.
Nigel Davies, CEO at Claromentis, said: “Our research findings reflect a practical shift in how franchise organisations are approaching transformation. Consistency remains foundational to franchising – protecting brand standards, creating a reliable customer experience, and enabling scale – but leaders now want the supporting systems to work harder too, reducing friction for head office and franchisees alike.
“At the same time, the appetite for AI is clear, but it comes with a caution: franchise organisations want AI that strengthens, rather than undermines, control. That means applying AI in ways that are secure, measurable, and aligned with policies, processes, and training, rather than introducing new complexity into an already distributed operating model.”
The research also points to a growing emphasis on compliance and audit readiness, not as a standalone initiative, but as part of the wider push for consistency. Across franchise networks, compliance often hinges on quick access to the right information and steps – especially when franchisees and frontline staff are busy and not compliance experts. Improving audit readiness, therefore, is as much about clarity and usability as it is about policy. Clear documentation, simple processes, and a reliable way of demonstrating what has been shared, approved, and completed all help reduce risk without slowing the business down.
Davies continued: “The productivity gains from consolidating tools into a single digital workplace go far beyond automation. While streamlining workflows is important, consolidation also improves the everyday, less trackable parts of work that have a major impact across multi-site networks. Such as finding the latest documents quickly, communicating changes faster, reducing duplication, and helping teams work efficiently day-to-day without switching between multiple disconnected systems.”
Findings from the research can be found here, with further data to be released in early 2026: https://www.claromentis.com/blog/
