Franchise Expansion Fuelled by FCPs Evolve

AMR the UK-wide property recruitment specialist has implemented Evolve from Managed Service Provider FCP to run all of its workflow online.

The 15-office operation ran a 4-way pitch process before settling on Evolve, a modern internet-based recruitment system. AMR Managing Director, Alan Mead says it was a combination of the people and the product that won the day.

ìFCP are a young company with great professionalism. Evolve is a flexible solution that has been developed with a substantial knowledge of our industry. Being internet-based it gives us total flexibility for expansion. A new office can be up and running in a day. A new person in minutes.î

Another important aspect for Mead was financial security. ìOur previous bespoke system provider went bust leaving the business unsupported, so we were cautious.

Financial checks on FCP gave us real confidence. They are well-backed and have an excellent track-record with significant clients.î

But itís the functionality that really interests Mead. ìEvolve allows us to keep a contact trail in one place. We handle SMS in and out of the system. We e-mail and e-fax out of the system and Evolve has already been integrated into our website so that candidate and vacancy data is always real-time - 100% up-to-date.î

ìEvolve allows me to keep an eye on the operation as a whole. We are also getting FCP to add a function that displays one officeís results on the desktop of another for motivation.î

Finally, it is the fact that FCP is a Managed Service Provider, hosting, maintaining and serving Evolve to its client that may provide the biggest pay-off for AMR.

ìWith our bespoke system, we had to handle all the technical issues through head office and it could be quite time-consuming,î Alan Mead says. ìWith Evolve, FCP has a stable system; they proactively maintain the systems and database, which has taken a huge responsibility and hidden cost out of our operation.î

Christine Fuller, Operations Director at FCP, says that AMR is one of a growing number of franchise operations switching to Evolve. ìIf you need the flexibility to expand quickly, Evolve is ideal. Itís cost-effective from start-up to 300 seats, it cuts the technology overhead, improves efficiency and security, provides total business visibility in real-time and its proven both nationally and internationally.î

And how does Alan Mead see AMRís prospects for 2005? ìWe are inextricably linked to the property market and that is weak at the moment, but I can still see potential expansion into new geographical areas as a very real possibility; we have an eye on taking the model to both Europe and to North America. Again Evolve will support that move, so itís just a matter of deciding when the time is right.î