Waterstreet developed its modular software system to help field-service franchisors grow.
By Staci Davidson, Managing Editor, Knighthouse Media
The speed of technology evolution is often lightning-fast, but that does not daunt Waterstreet Technology Group Inc. It is happy to evolve the strengths of its solutions, but always with the features and speed required by its franchise clients. About 20 years ago, Waterstreet started by offering a travel franchise a simple file system with permission-based user accounts.
By working alongside its many franchise clients and listening, the company has grown to offer brand management tools, operational management solutions, performance reports, intranet systems and more – all shaped to meet the needs of its customers.
“Our development was very organic,” President and CEO Jeff Dumont explains. “It was very much based on when franchises came to us, saying, ‘we need this, we need that.’ We developed our solution by franchisors for franchisors, and today it includes a diverse set of systems that come in all shapes and sizes. There are very few aspects of franchising that we have yet to experience and address. We are unique in that we offer a tailored solution to each client, using different modules to address things like sales, overall operations, day-to-day operations – it’s a full and complete solution.”
Read more: Waterstreet Technology Group Inc.
Applebee’s franchisor RMH Franchise’s culture is built on a strong set of core values.
With more than 140 restaurants, RMH Franchise is the nation’s second largest Applebee’s franchisor. The company credits its success to its team of employee and internal culture, which is built around a strong set of core values.
“We strive to be a company with a dynamic culture, focused on operational excellence and engaged team members who create value for our guests and deliver a superior return to our investors,” the Lincoln, Neb.-based company says. “We grow and promote our talent from within, and we live our mission and values every day. We create restaurants where team members want to be and guests want to go.”
The company’s core values are performance, which it defines as owning its actions and being accountable for its results; respect; integrity; development; and engagement, collectively known as “PRIDE.”
“From the chairman to the line cook, we reflect our core values every day through our behavior, our decisions, our service, and the way we treat our teammates,” the company says.
Superior Experiences
RMH Franchise acquired its first Applebee’s location in 2012. The company oversees Applebee’s franchises in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming.
All of the company’s restaurants strive to create superior guest experiences. “With so many choices available for dining out, we strive to exceed guests’ expectations from the moment they walk in the door,” it says. “We operate clean and safe restaurants and deliver quality food and beverages with authentic, friendly and cheerful service.”
‘An All-Star Team’
RMH Franchise employees have the opportunity to advance in their career path from hourly team member to trainer, team leader, assistant manager, general manager and beyond.
“We create an all-star team at every one of our restaurants and throughout our support organization,” the company says.
“We take the time to get to know our team members, their unique strengths and skills, and work to maximize their career growth with us.”
Each quarter, RMH Franchise recognizes the work of employees on levels of the company with its Bright Award. Winners receive $1,000. “The award is intended to recognize those individuals who have made a contribution to a restaurant, a community or potentially all of RMH that provides long-term, positive and sustainable change,” the company says.
Supporting Veterans
Since 2015, the company has recruited and hired more than 65 U.S. Armed Forces veterans for managerial positions. “No one understands leadership, teamwork or dedication like the men and women who have served our great country, who we call our heroes,” the company says. “We are proudly committed to being an employer of choice for military personnel and their families.
RMH Franchise has established a culture of opportunity for military personnel. “Our hiring process is tailored to understand and identify military personnel’s strengths and the key leadership skills that will make them successful in our restaurants,” it adds. “We maintain a constant presence at military job fairs and have developed strong relationships with military transition resources. We take pride in our partnership with the military and consider it an honor to provide opportunities to the men and women who serve our country.”
The company also honors service men and women during its annual Veterans Day celebrations, when veterans eat free of charge. “This is just one small way we can give something back to [veterans],” the company says.
Community Events
RMH Franchise’s work with veterans is just one way in which the company gives back to the communities where its team members and guests live and work.
The company regularly supports local schools, teams and area charities through its “Flapjack Fundraisers,” which have raised more than $900,000 for local charities since 2013.
Participating organizations sell tickets for a pancake breakfast on a Saturday and Sunday and volunteer to serve as greeters, seaters, servers and bussers during the event.
RMH Applebee’s locations assist organizations with promotional materials and an online page for the event.
RMH Franchise says the most successful “Flapjack Fundraiser” events are held in conjunction with other activities and events such as bake sales, raffles and silent auctions, which raise additional funds. Restaurants also encourage participating organizations to be creative with their event, show their organizational pride with matching uniforms or t-shirts, and use social media and other methods of communication to spread the word about their event.
Giving Back
RMH Franchise’s additional community outreach programs include offering “A is for Apple” award cards to teachers. The cards are given to students under the age of 12 who excel at academics. Teachers can request the cards, which can be redeemed for a free meal from the restaurant’s kid’s menu, online.
Every December, RMH restaurants participate in The Giving Tree program. “Each location partners with a local charity to put up a tree hung with gift requests,” the company says. “Guests and team members can purchase the items and return the gifts to the restaurant. These gifts are then distributed to the recipients by the local charity.”
RMH Franchise restaurants also conduct regular fundraisers for local and national charities. This includes raising nearly $1 million for Make-A-Wish International and more than $125,000 in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments and cures for all children battling cancer, the company says.
Team members also contribute to The Jackson Fund, which was established following the death of Jon Jackson, a former Applebee’s assistant manager in Lincoln, Neb., who was killed in an automobile accident in 2015. Jackson’s coworkers and community members raised more than $4,500 to support his family.
The Jackson Fund today provides financial assistance to RMH team members who find themselves in a financial crisis brought on by a catastrophic life event. The fund is supported solely by and used for RMH team members, the company says.
Image: Mike Mozart via Wikimedia Commons
