Running a Multi-Site Brand Rollout in Tanzania

A multi-site rollout is a different business from a single sign. It is a programme with a survey, a prototype, a batch, a logistics plan and an installation sequence. The failure modes are different too: a single sign can be remade, and a rollout that starts late can miss a launch date in several cities at once.

The survey comes first. Each site has a different wall, a different height, a different access and a different permit situation. A survey that records the dimensions, the photographs, the power and the access is the basis for the prototype and the quotation. A rollout quoted from a standard drawing will produce surprises on site.

The prototype is the second step. One site is fabricated and installed, photographed and approved before the batch begins. The prototype catches the material, the colour, the fixing and the lighting issues while the cost of a change is still low.

The batch is the third. The approved prototype becomes the specification, and the batch is produced with the same material and the same process. The quality control should check the colour, the dimensions, the finish and the electrical components before the crates leave the workshop.

The logistics is the fourth. A rollout to Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya and Dar es Salaam needs a route, a crate schedule and an installation crew that travels. The crates should be labelled by site, and the installation sequence should match the launch plan.

The installation is the fifth. Each site needs a crew, an access plan and a sign-off. A photograph of the installed sign, the serial number and the completion date is the record that the programme is complete.

The reporting is the sixth. A weekly report with the sites completed, the sites pending and the issues is the tool that keeps the launch on track. A rollout without a report is a rollout that the client discovers at the end.