Antonio Hondo Parente is not the sort of tech founder who leads from behind a spreadsheet.
Before launching Toronto-based Brand M3dia, he was working the room at festivals, brand activations and global events, pressing the flesh and getting his hands dirty. In that order, you would hope.
All of which matters, because Hondo Parente is now trying to drag franchisors into a more dynamic future with his range of interactive digital display kiosks, AI robots, and software-driven content systems that help franchisors and franchisees increase revenue, improve consistency, and reduce operational friction.
A key differentiator is that Brand M3dia is also a leader in AI robots for live environments in Canada. For franchisors, that matters because robots aren’t just theatre—they can act as consistent brand ambassadors, handle common questions, drive offers, and create a repeatable “welcome + guidance” experience across locations and franchise events.
As Hondo Parente puts it, “If the future of franchising is experience plus efficiency, AI belongs on the floor—not buried in a slide deck.”
And “unit economics” is the key phrase, a theme Hondo Parente returns to frequently. It is also one of the main battlegrounds in franchising right now, and the core of Brand M3dia’s pitch to systems looking for revenue lift rather than gimmicks.
Unit economics inside four walls
Hondo Parente frames the business in deliberately simple terms. “At the simplest level, our job is to improve unit economics inside the four walls,” he says.
It is a point that resonates with an audience that is tired of tech buzzwords and long sales decks. According to Hondo Parente, the tools themselves are not the point. The outcomes are.
Behind the hardware, he has spent nearly three decades building software-driven experiences, which is why Brand M3dia’s approach is not ‘screen rental’—it’s custom, brand-driven software and content designed to move KPIs.
He breaks those outcomes down into familiar financial levers. “Interactive kiosks, digital displays, and AI robots help in three main ways:”
The first lever is ticket size. “Higher average ticket” is how he labels it, before expanding on the operational mechanics behind it.
“Smart digital displays and kiosks can show targeted upsells and bundles at the right moment,” he says, “Whether that’s a QSR combo, a limited-time retail offer, or a service upgrade. The content changes dynamically based on day-part, promo, or campaign, so every guest sees something relevant instead of a static poster that’s out of date in two weeks.”
The second lever is incremental revenue.
“Every screen, kiosk, or robot can carry sponsored content or co-op marketing. Franchisors can sell that presence to suppliers, CPG partners, local sponsors, or cross-promotions. Suddenly, the menu board, welcome screen, or in-store robot is also a small, always-on media channel.”
Much of this runs through Brand M3dia’s proprietary BM3 Suite software – so franchisors can deploy content, offers, sponsor loops, and reporting consistently across locations.
For franchisors familiar with co-op funding and supplier programs, it reframes digital hardware as monetizable real estate, not decoration.
His third is cost control.
“Digital displays and AI robots handle FAQs, promos, and directional info that staff currently repeat hundreds of times a day. That reduces training pressure, shrinks error rates, and lets staff focus on higher-value tasks – service, speed, and problem solving.
“We’ve seen AI robots handle roughly 80–85% of common FAQs in certain deployments,” Hondo Parente adds. “That doesn’t replace staff—it removes repetition, speeds up service, and keeps the experience consistent when teams are stretched.”
In tight labor markets, automation that eliminates repetition rather than headcount and allows employees to focus in on other aspects of their role tends to resonate.
Hondo Parente is also targeting non-store environments where franchisors congregate.
“On top of that, we’re one of the leaders in event, trade show, and vendor-booth activations. A lot of franchisors first meet us on the show floor – franchise expos, industry events, annual conventions – where we turn their booth into a mini revenue and lead engine.”
If tech sells better when it pays for itself, Hondo Parente is happy to supply the numbers.
“In the right campaign, combining branded kiosks, AI robots, digital ad loops, and custom immersive software, we’ve helped brands unlock five-figure and even low six-figure sponsor upsell opportunities on a single event – in the CA$50,000 to CA$150,000 range.
“The same logic then moves back into their locations: every footprint should be doing more than one job – sell, inform, and advertise at the same time.”
From dance floors to digital displays
“The robot isn’t the gimmick,” Hondo Parente says. “The gimmick is thinking static signage still wins attention.”
His experience producing festivals and nightlife activations clearly shapes his view of modern franchising.
“I grew up in this world on the floor, not in a boardroom,” he insists.
“I started throwing events at 12 years old – rollerblade dance parties in my neighbourhood. That turned into nightlife events, festivals, and brand activations, and eventually I produced or was involved in more than 3,000 events worldwide – Toronto, Miami, Ibiza, Italy, Greece, Germany, across Canada and the US.”
He also built a personal media brand along the way.
“I also built my own media platform as an on-camera host and influencer: I created, hosted, and produced Love This City TV and Love This City Magazine, interviewing celebrities, DJs, fashion personalities, WWE/UFC figures and major brands, often around nightlife, fashion, travel, race cars, yachts, and jets. When you’re filming in those environments, the expectations for energy and experience are extremely high.”
It is not nostalgia, however, it is a framing device for franchise CX.
Hondo Parente unpacks four behavioral rules that apply equally to a nightclub and a QSR line.
“ What that world taught me – and what a lot of franchise brands still underestimate – is attention is brutally short. Today’s guest has the attention span of a goldfish with a smartphone. If you don’t grab them, inform them, and make it memorable in seconds, you’ve lost them.
“Environment is a message. Lighting, motion, audio, and pacing all communicate something. A flat, static environment feels like yesterday’s brand. A dynamic one feels current, even if the core product hasn’t changed.
“People want to be guided. On the dance floor, in a festival crowd, or in a store – people want clear, confident cues: ‘Here’s what’s happening, here’s what’s next, here’s what’s worth your time.’”
So how does all that apply to a franchise business or to retail applications?
“Experience and business are not separate,” he says. “In events, if the crowd isn’t engaged, the bar doesn’t sell and the sponsors don’t renew. In franchising, if the in-store experience is flat, basket size, loyalty, and local buzz all suffer.
“Brand M3dia is basically that learning turned into tools for franchisors and franchisees. We design digital displays, kiosks, and AI interactions to match real human behaviour, not just sit on a wall.”
Live, measurable and consistent
When franchises adopt digital displays and kiosks and ai robots, Hondo Parente sees three structural upgrades: messaging becomes live and measurable, brand standards become consistent, and execution speed increases dramatically.
“Sales performance improves because offers are clearer, more visual, and easier to test. You can A/B different promos, highlight high-margin items, and adjust by time of day or season – all without reprinting anything.
“Consistency improves because head office can push brand-correct creative to every location at once, while still allowing local flexibility where it makes sense.”
“Speed of execution jumps dramatically. Instead of a six-to-eight-week cycle for print, shipping, and rollout, you can go from idea to in-store in days – or hours – across the network.”
For franchisors who want to see it before committing, Hondo Parente invites teams to Brand M3dia’s state-of-the-art Toronto showroom to test kiosks, digital displays, AI robots, and interactive flows live.
What Brand M3dia is offering is not just tech solutions but measurable economic improvements. Tech is only the vehicle. Profitability is the destination.
Ready to modernize your franchise network with ROI-driven interactive digital displays, kiosks, and AI robots? Request a Franchise Information Pack from Antonio Hondo Parente and Brand M3dia, including rollout options for franchisors and franchisees, sample use cases, and revenue/operational KPI benchmarks.
Limited-time Elite reader offer*: Rent 1 kiosk, get 1 kiosk free (select models/dates), or 25% off qualifying activations. Prefer ownership? Brand M3dia also offers lease-to-own and purchase programs for scalable rollouts.
To request the pack, visit Brand M3dia and reference ‘Elite Franchise Interview’ Offers subject to availability; select models/dates; limited redemptions
Brand M3dia: https://brandm3dia.com/
Book a Demo / Discovery Call: https://brandm3dia.com/book-a-demo/
Event Solutions: https://brandm3dia.com/event-solutions/
Retail Solutions: https://brandm3dia.com/retail/
