Managing Distributed Teams Starts With an Execution System That Knows the Field

Introduction

When your team spans time zones, store types and regional operators, communication is table stakes. What really matters is execution.

Distributed teams need more than visibility—they need a way to get campaign kits, print files and signage into the field on time, every time. That’s where most brands fall behind. The plan’s solid. The creative’s ready. But fulfillment still runs on email.

GearBox® by IRIS Strategic Marketing Support (IRIS) closes that gap. It’s the execution platform built for distributed marketing—so franchisees, vendors and field teams can act fast without dropping the brand.

How GearBox® Specifically Supports Distributed Teams

Let’s break down how GearBox® helps at every stage of the campaign lifecycle:

1. Filters Campaigns by Role, Region or Store Type

Distributed teams don't need more content—they need the right content. GearBox® applies logic filters to show only what’s relevant:

• Store managers see assets for their region and store tier
  
  
• Franchisees see co-branded materials tied to their licensing group
  
  
• Regional operators see launch kits for the campaigns they’re assigned
  
  

No one has to sift through shared folders. Everything is personalized on login.

2. Gives Local Teams Editable Templates—With Guardrails

GearBox® allows limited, brand-safe customization. Field teams can edit:

• Store-specific contact info
  
  
• Local pricing
  
  
• Hours of operation
  
  

…but can’t touch locked elements like:

• Logos
  
  
• Legal disclaimers
  
  
• Headline layout
  
  
• Compliance-required content
  
  

So materials stay professional, compliant and ready to launch—no redesign needed.

3. Automates Fulfillment—No Email Threads Required

When materials are finalized in GearBox®, they don’t just sit in a folder. GearBox® automatically routes them to:

• Signage vendors
  
  
• Printers
  
  
• Internal distribution teams
  
  

No attachments. No resends. Just execution.
Franchisees don’t need to figure out who to email. Vendors don’t wait on approvals. Marketing doesn’t babysit fulfillment.

4. Shows Corporate Who’s Ready, Who’s Late and Who Needs Help

GearBox® gives marketing teams real-time insights across distributed markets:

• Who downloaded their campaign kit
  
  
• Which assets were customized
  
  
• Where signage was routed and delivered
  
  
• What’s still pending or delayed
  
  

This isn’t task tracking—it’s operational visibility.

Marketing doesn’t need to ask, “Did that location launch?” They already know.

What Managing Distributed Teams Looks Like With GearBox® in Place

Before GearBox®

• Multiple versions of campaign materials live in drive folders
  
  
• Field teams customize manually, introducing risk
  
  
• Vendors rely on email to get print files
  
  
• No one knows what’s actually live
  
  

After GearBox®

• One login gives each user access to only the materials they need
  
  
• Templates allow for localized updates—no broken branding
  
  
• Fulfillment happens in-platform, not over email
  
  
• Campaign dashboards show what’s launched and where
  
  

Use Case: How Applebee’s Manages Its Distributed Franchise Network

Applebee’s supports hundreds of locations, each with different signage needs, team sizes and regional offers. Without a unified system, campaign execution was inconsistent.

With GearBox®, IRIS helped Applebee’s:

• Create campaign kits by store type and franchise tier
  
  
• Allow field customization only where needed
  
  
• Route print-ready files directly to regional vendors
  
  
• Track campaign usage and signage delivery across every store
  
  

Read the Applebee’s Case Study

Managing Distributed Teams Isn’t About Oversight—It’s About Enablement

Micromanaging won’t fix misalignment. What your teams need is clarity:

• What should I launch?
  
  
• How do I customize it?
  
  
• Where do I send it?
  
  
• Did it arrive?
  
  

GearBox® answers all four in one platform:

• Access
  
  
• Edit
  
  
• Fulfill
  
  
• Track

That’s execution at scale—and that’s what distributed teams really need.

Conclusion

Managing distributed teams means more than staying in sync. It means creating the system that lets every role—from HQ to franchisee to vendor—do their part in a way that’s fast, controlled and fully visible.

GearBox® by IRIS is that system. It was built to support real campaign execution across real markets—not just manage to-do lists.

Talk to IRIS to see how we help brands support execution across every layer of their distributed network.

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