Since first introducing its Intranet system in 1996, IFX Online has evolved into the most recognizable technology solutions provider in franchising.

“We’ve come a long way since the days when we had to explain to franchisors what `real-time’ means, and why an Intranet is more efficient than sending new franchise manuals through U.S. mail every month with sticky notes on the updated pages,” recalls Dan Martin, founder and president of IFX Online. “Now, our Intranets are literally a way of life for a significant share of franchise brands in the marketplace, and an increasing number of those brands are taking full advantage of the new modules that we’ve introduced to help them better manage their franchise systems, from top to bottom.”

Martin, with 24 years of franchise structuring and management experience, including being an area developer for a food franchise concept in Southern California, attributes much of IFX Online’s success to his own hands-on knowledge of franchising and his ability to understand the real-world needs of both franchisees and franchisors. 

“There are certain political, practical and legal needs involved with franchisor-franchisee communications, and we are sensitive to that because we have been there ourselves,” Martin said. “All of that experience went into the creation of our evolving technology solutions for franchisors.”

IFX develops and hosts Intranet and Extranet systems to help franchise companies manage their communications and support operations. With IFX Online, franchise systems can post their operations and marketing manuals, newsletters, marketing and advertising materials, forms, calendars, opinion polls and products on a secure Intranet site available only to authorized participants. In addition, IFX Online provides registered email and discussion forum modules for message receipt verification and private online chats, as well as modules to manage Sales and Royalty Reporting, Financial Data Analysis and Franchise Lead Management.

 Also available are online ad creation systems and Web site development/hosting services for franchise owners. In the past year alone, IFX has equipped the following franchise brands with a series of technology solutions to support their operations.

  These include:

• Great Wraps
  
• Rent-n-Roll
  
• BrightStar Healthcare
  
• Pollo Campero
  
• New World Restaurant Group (Einstein Bros. Bagels and Manhattan Bagel)
  
• Panda Restaurant Group (Panda Express)
  
• Shakey’s Pizza
  
• Shoes-n-Feet
  
• The Dinner A’Fare
  
• Knuckleheads
  
• Salads Creations
  
• My Girlfriend’s Kitchen
   

IFX Online recently introduced two new modules, including a contact management system that tracks the various stages of the franchise agreement process, and another that allows franchisors, franchisees and other interested parties to check the progress of the build-out phase for new franchise locations. The introduction of the new modules came on the heels of an announcement that IFX and Franchise Payments Network (FPN), the only electronic payments processing company to focus solely on the franchise segment, joined forces to create comprehensive technology solutions to streamline online ordering, royalty reporting and payment, and monetary transaction of purchases. 

About IFX Online

IFX Online is an applications service provider specializing in the development of fully integrated web-based management solutions for franchise organizations IFX International develops, hosts and maintains web-based management systems for more than 200 franchise brands internationally. Since debuting its system in 1996, IFX International has developed a strong global presence in the franchise industry, representing such industry leaders as Ben & Jerry’s, Chem-Dry, IHOP Restaurants, GNC, Papa John’s, and McAllister’s Deli.