Hands-On, Relationship-Driven Brands Can Adapt To New Tech and Stay AI Resilient
If you are evaluating franchise business ownership, ask yourself some honest questions about what AI will realistically be able to do over the next ten years. Can AI groom a dog? Fix a burst pipe? Power wash a house? Teach a room full of preschoolers? Perform esthetic services? For the foreseeable future, the answer is no. AI cannot solve physical problems in the physical world and it cannot replace the human judgment required to run a service business on the ground.
It is certainly difficult to see around corners. The internet disrupted and eliminated countless jobs and industries — but it also gave birth to entirely new careers, services and brands that did not exist before. AI will almost certainly follow a similar path. The nature of work will change. Some roles will be automated. New opportunities will emerge. But someone will still need to own the business, lead the team and oversee the technology.
The Washington Post recently researched which jobs will be most affected by artificial intelligence. This is not a new conversation. There have been endless discussions, debates and predictions about which careers are most at risk and which ones will be left standing. What makes this research different is the specificity — it hones in on which careers are most and least exposed to AI, and perhaps more importantly, which ones are most and least adaptable.
One finding deserves particular attention: the most vulnerable occupations are disproportionately held by women. This should not come as a surprise. Women’s careers were the hardest hit during the pandemic, and unfortunately, history appears to be repeating itself in a new form. It is a sobering data point worth acknowledging. But here is where things get interesting — especially if you are exploring franchise business ownership.
The Physical World Is AI’s Blind Spot
The careers and industries that are least vulnerable to AI share something in common. They require people to solve physical problems in the real world, or they require business owners to manage the people doing that work. That is not a small category. In fact, it describes a significant portion of the franchise industry. A few examples of less vulnerable roles highlighted in the research include salon stylists, painters, janitors, child care workers and skilled laborers such as roofers, electricians and plumbers. Sound familiar? Franchising spans more than 90 distinct industries, and many of them live squarely in this space. Think food, trades, beauty, pet care, child education and services for seniors. These are hands-on, relationship-driven businesses. They require real people, real skills, and real presence. That is a meaningful competitive advantage in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
The Urgency Is Real
For several months, entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban has been sounding the alarm. He predicts that AI will end the way we do business including the demise of the 40-hour work week. He has stated plainly and repeatedly that small business owners who do not begin working with AI will be in serious trouble. With more than 30 million small businesses in the U.S. according to the Small Business Administration, the stakes are enormous — and many owners still have no plan for integrating AI into their business model. In fact, just last week I had dinner with a CPA who shared something that stopped me in my tracks — many of her small business clients came to her, still not cloud-based for their bookkeeping. She had to bring them up to speed and into this century before they could even begin to think about growth. The resistance to adopting new technology is not ancient history. It is happening right now, which makes the urgency of embracing AI even more pressing.
Good News for the Franchise Community
Here is where franchising has a distinct advantage. Many franchise brands have not been sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what happens. They have been quietly and methodically putting AI to work — and the results are already meaningful. AI is being used to identify better locations, analyze foot traffic patterns, manage costs and power more targeted marketing.
In the quick service restaurant space, several major brands are testing AI-driven drive-thru order taking. Early results show measurable improvements in speed and accuracy — two variables with a direct impact on profitability. Fewer errors and faster service equal happier customers and a healthier bottom line.
Training is another frontier. A growing number of franchise systems have implemented virtual reality training that works hand in hand with AI. This allows brands to simulate real-world environments and deliver consistent training on food preparation, safety protocols and customer service — all of which strengthens compliance across the entire system.
Additionally, AI-powered dashboards are giving franchisees real-time access to business data that was once difficult or expensive to obtain. Making informed, data-driven decisions quickly is no longer reserved for large corporate operators. It is becoming standard practice in franchising.
Franchise systems have a proven track record of adapting. The pandemic tested that resilience in ways no one anticipated, and the industry rose to the occasion. There is every reason to believe the franchise world will navigate the AI era with that same resourcefulness. The question is not whether AI will change business. It already is. The question is whether you will be ahead of it or behind it.
“Artificial intelligence is not a strategy, but a means to rethink your strategy.” — Jeroen De Flander
