By
Jyoti Tejpal
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Salon software helps in automating and managing salon and spa operations. It often helps in providing easy integration with cash registers, barcode readers, and other point of sale hardware. Hair salons, tanning salons, beauty parlors, nail salons, massage therapists, and day spas utilize the salon software systems to add efficiency and value to a variety of business processes, including appointment scheduling, client management and marketing, employee data, commission calculations, inventory management, payroll, and more.
Automating and streamlining the appointment-booking process: Salon software lets businesses offer appointment-booking online, and can decrease pressures due to no-shows by sending automated reminders and alerts about upcoming appointments to clients.
Ensure more from the in-store inventory: Salon software help tracking your inventory and order new products automatically when stock levels are low. They can also provide a helping hand in maintaining accurate client profiles and buying histories to facilitate product upselling with greater success.
Bringing more clients thru targeted marketing: Salon software provides automate marketing campaigns and helps in communicating with clients via email or on social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.
Appointment scheduling: Lets clients book appointments through an online calendar that tracks and helps in managing available/reserved slots.
Client profiles: Recording of client information and feedback for tracking things such as stylist preference and product buying history.
Employee management: Tracking employee schedules, availability, and performance.
Inventory management: Tracking and managing product quantities, and determining when to reorder at a glance.
Point of sale (POS): Accepting and processing financial transactions, and feeding sales data straight into your system. The salon software directory gives you filter by feature(s) to only view options which provides to your business requirements, that can assist you narrow the software shortlist.
Most of the products in the market are priced on a “per month” basis, or charge a one-time licensing fee. Additional cost factors can include number of locations, and user number. The most common pricing structure, “per month” pricing, can be divided into three tiers based on starting price.
Considerations while Buying Salon Software
The level of training and technical support the salon software asks for: Some software companies provide unlimited training and support, while others have a pay-to-train facility and charge their clients a flat fee or usage fee. If the business and/or employees need technical training and support, it is better to evaluate seller offerings to ensure they provide such services during the business hours.
Pricing structures: Carefully review seller pricing structures, as some salon system charge by stylist/user, computer, or location. Others charge monthly fees, while still others need a one-time licensing fee. Determine the budget, and build a shortlist accordingly.
Think beyond the immediate requirements: Salon software offers more than just day-to-day operational assistance. It can also assist the work strategically and plan for long-term growth. Some salon software assist in doing marketing campaigns around client discounts, or reminding eligible customers about follow-up appointments at predetermined times. Determining the salon’s long-term goals, and looking for software that will assist you meet them.
AI-based conversational user replaces appointment booking calls: A conversational user interface offers the user the ability to use natural language while trying to do something with a computer or software system. Some salon software is already using AI-driven conversational user interfaces to assist customer book and helps in managing appointments via text, without involving a stylist or employee. This is an advanced way of saving time and eliminatin the back-and-forth of rescheduling. A considerable number of small and midsize businesses are using or have a plan to use conversational user interfaces within the next one to two years.
Visual-based social media marketing takes over: Social media platforms such as Snapchat, Pinterest, and Instagram are beginning to dominate the salon marketing space. With their appealing, visual-focused setup, the above said tools are virtually purpose-built to assist salon and spa owners for showcasing their services, products, and client results. In coming years, it will deeply integrate these social channels into salon software, to include metrics to assist you measure the performance of each social platform.
