Multi-Franchise Stays Connected with a Distributed Workforce

It takes hard work and business acumen to reach number 67 on the Mega 99, a ranking list of the largest franchisee organizations in the U.S., but year after year HAMRA Enterprises keeps climbing.

Founded in 1975, HAMRA Enterprises is a dynamic organization of 169 franchise locations that include Wendy’s, Panera Bread, Noodles & Company, and Holiday Inn Express. With over 7,000 employees across nine states, reaching this distributed workforce is no easy feat.

One of HAMRA’s key communication tools is a mobile web app from Engage by Cell. With no downloads required or visits to the app store, HAMRA’s mobile web app contains audio recordings of the We Are HAMRA biweekly podcast, webpages for employees to submit HR forms, employee handbooks, and much more.

Through the mobile web app, employees can register for a training class, check the job board for open positions, and complete forms. What’s the most visited page on the app? HAMRA's Tuition Reimbursement Program.

Employees can find the mobile web app through several access points:

"We promote the site via email, through flyers, with a QR code, and through the option to text the word HAMRA to our unique code.”

—Kristi Dykstra, Chief of Staff, HAMRA Enterprises 

So where did HAMRA house all of these resources prior to developing the mobile web app?

We have a company SharePoint site where many of the topics and documents are stored, but that site is only accessible to our managers and upper-level leadership. Our mobile site is the only resource that is available to all employees at HAMRA.” 

—Kristi Dykstra, Chief of Staff, HAMRA Enterprises

The HAMRA mobile web app provided added benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Our mobile site was very valuable during COVID. It was during this time that we added content and elevated our promotion of the site. We had many employees that were furloughed during the early part of COVID and we found the mobile site to be a great resource to keep our employees connected to the business.” 

—Kristi Dykstra, Chief of Staff, HAMRA Enterprises

So far, employee feedback regarding the mobile web app has been positive. Plus, as more employees access the site, it has proven a time-saver for the HR department. Today, HAMRA uses text message communication in conjunction with the mobile web app to promote even more resources for employees.

For more information about HAMRA, their service to communities, and their inspiring HERO Fund, visit www.hamraenterprises.com.

Curious if a mobile web app or text message communication could help your HR department?