New Technology Boosts Franchise Development, Customer Service and In-Store Efficiency
- Batteries Plus has introduced three AI-powered tools to improve customer service, support employees and streamline franchise development.
- The new technology helps franchisees save time, answer customer questions and capture more business opportunities.
- With more than 800 locations, Batteries Plus continues to invest in innovation and expand its franchise network.
Batteries Plus, a leading battery and power solutions brand, has just rolled out three AI-powered tools designed to improve the customer experience and better support its franchisees.
The brand, which provides commercial and residential products and services including batteries, lighting, and repair services across 800 locations, introduced three AI-powered solutions called Savannah, Edison and Wattson.
The tech, designed through a combination of vendor partners, consultants and an in-house research team, is aimed at streamlining the franchise development pipeline and enhancing the store experience for associates and customers alike.
CEO Scott Williams says the rollout is not just about chasing trends.
“This is not creating AI for the sake of breaking into the world of AI,” he says. “This is creating tools that genuinely assist our entire proprietary business model, so that everyone from the corporate level to our store associates can work efficiently and confidently as the experts in charge dedicated to serving our customers.”
Meet the AI Team
Savannah
Developed under the leadership of Chief Development Officer Joe Malmuth, the goal of this SMS AI voice agent is to turn qualified franchise leads into growth opportunities.
How It Works: Savannah takes calls from aspiring entrepreneurs, providing answers to any question related to the franchising opportunity, then follows up with an email that includes a link to the company history and a franchise application, then schedules a discovery call.
Malmuth says Savannah is already having an impact.
“By the time we get on a discovery call now, we’re speaking with someone who genuinely understands the Batteries Plus franchise opportunity, changing what our team spends its time on and who ultimately ends up in our system,” he says.
“The result has been a dramatic increase in overall engagement and franchise development activity – a true win-win.”
Edison
Savannah’s customer-facing counterpart answers calls to retail stores concerning hours, directions, service inquiries and more.
Why It’s Important: The technology, offered in both English and Spanish, ensures no call to any of Batteries Plus’ 800-plus locations goes unanswered.
“We’re capturing business we were previously leaving on the table,” says Jon Sica, president of Batteries Plus.
“And we’re giving our store teams the ability to devote their undivided attention to the people who walk through our doors. We see this as a multi-million dollar move.”
Wattson
Connected to Batteries Plus’ point-of-sale system, this tool allows new store associates to quickly operate like a tenured employee by making it possible to quickly navigate products.
Why It’s Important: In the past, associates faced a lengthy process to find, for example, the right automotive battery in terms of engine size, sub-model, etc. With Watsson the solution is instantaneous.
These tech efforts highlight leadership’s emphasis on leveraging innovation.
“As a brand deeply rooted in the technology space, Batteries Plus is proud to be leading the charge in the age of AI,” says CEO Williams.
Fully Charged for the Future
Batteries Plus continues to build on its 40-year legacy of quality franchise growth. The company operates in every U.S. state and in Puerto Rico and just signed 19 new franchise agreements, opening 13 new locations across six states in the third quarter of 2026.
“The continued pace of growth we’re seeing clearly reflects power and connectivity and Batteries Plus is uniquely positioned to deliver both,” says Victor Daher, vice president of global franchise development.
“Entrepreneurs recognize that, and our pipeline of new franchisees and existing operators shows continued confidence in our brand, our innovation and the strong returns our model can deliver.”
More than Just Batteries
For those considering a buy-in, Batteries Plus is a nationally recognized brand that provides in-demand products and services in an essential industry.
It’s a low-barrier, turnkey business with a small footprint and lower personnel costs.
The model offers diversified, recurring revenue streams from a broad mix of products and services across several industries, including batteries, cell phone repair and lighting, for the direct-to-consumer and commercial customers.
Revenue opportunities can include in-store sales, an e-commerce site, B2B and national sales accounts.
Ownership does not require specific expertise in the industry.
Instead, Batteries Plus provides a training program to educate owners on how to leverage the many systems already in place, including AI tech, to get the doors open within 60 to 120 days. The company provides ongoing support to keep its franchisees up to date on consumer trends, best practices, as well as new products and services.
Powering a Growing Industry
From smartphones and laptops to power tools and everyday electronics, batteries are an essential part of modern life. And the industry continues to grow. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global consumer battery market is expected to grow from $30.5 billion in 2026 to $45.4 billion by 2034.
For businesses like Batteries Plus, this growing demand creates opportunities beyond traditional battery sales, including device repairs, specialty batteries and commercial power solutions. As consumers and businesses rely on more technology, the need for convenient, knowledgeable service continues to grow.
Visit Batteries Plus for more information.
