A better place to search, share and collaborate: Patrice & Associates and Ziik

About Company

Patrice & Associates is a North American executive search and recruitment firm specialising in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, the company operates as a large franchise network, with around 185 franchisees and hundreds of recruiters working across the United States and Canada.

Each franchisee runs their own business, but success depends heavily on being part of a connected network: Sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and working together to match candidates with opportunities.

That means internal communication is more than just a support function, it’s part of how the business works.

Challenges before Ziik

Before Ziik, Patrice & Associates relied on an internal system that had gradually become difficult to use.

“It was kind of stuck in the dark ages,” Jason Miller says.

The biggest issue wasn’t a lack of information, in fact it was quite the opposite.

“There was so much material in there, and it wasn’t organised in a way that made it easy to find what you needed.”

For franchisees, that meant spending time searching for documents, second-guessing whether information was up to date, and relying on other channels to get answers. At the same time, collaboration between franchisees wasn’t as smooth as it could be.

“They wanted a better way to collaborate with fellow franchisees — to share ideas, best practices, and information.”

Requirements for a new solution

The brief for a better solution was clear. The new platform had to:

• Make it easier to find information
• Provide a better structure for documents and resources
• Enable collaboration across the franchise network
• Be simple to use and easy to manage

“We needed something that was intuitive, easy to administer, and actually useful for our franchisees.”

Jason Miller also brought a valuable perspective into the decision process. Before becoming CEO, he had been VP of Development. That meant he understood firsthand how the tools were used in day-to-day work, and where they fell short.

Results

A more organised and searchable knowledge base

The most immediate improvement has been the ability to find information quickly.

“What I like most is the search functionality and the way documents are organised,” explains Jason Miller

Instead of navigating through layers of outdated material, franchisees now have a clearer, more structured system where information is easier to locate and trust.

Stronger collaboration across the network

Ziik has also created a more natural space for franchisees to connect with each other.

“They can collaborate with fellow franchisees. They use Ziik to share ideas, best practices, and information,” says Jason.

In a network where each franchisee operates independently, that kind of interaction makes a real difference, turning individual businesses into a more connected system.

A simple tool that people actually use 

Ease of use was a priority, and today that shows in how the platform is used.

“It’s intuitive, it’s easy to use, and it’s very easy to administer,” Jason Miller sums up.

That simplicity reduces friction, both for franchisees using the platform and for the team managing it. And from a central perspective, administration has also become easier. That matters in a large franchise network, where keeping information up to date and accessible is an ongoing task.

A small but telling moment of engagement

One early example stood out: A new franchisee introduced herself on the platform, and other franchisees quickly reached out to welcome her and connect.

“That was pretty cool to see,” Jason Miller says

It’s a small detail, but it reflects a broader shift: a network that is not just connected in theory, but interacting in practice.

Favourite Features

Search and document organisation

For Jason Miller, the biggest improvement is the ability to find information quickly and reliably.

“The search functionality and the way documents are organised stand out,” he explains.

In a system that previously held large amounts of content without clear structure, this has made a significant difference in day-to-day work.

Collaboration across franchisees

Ziik provides a space where franchisees can interact directly, rather than working in isolation.

“They can share ideas, best practices and information with each other on Ziik.” 

This strengthens the network as a whole and makes it easier to learn from one another.

Simple administration

Managing the platform from a central perspective is straightforward.

“It’s very easy to administer.”

That simplicity helps ensure that information stays up to date and the system remains useful over time.

Polls and quick feedback

The ability to gather input from franchisees quickly is another useful feature.

“It gives us a way to get feedback and understand what people think.”

In a distributed network, that kind of visibility is valuable.