Selecting the right salon software package for your business

Sally Glover of SalonGenius offers advice on choosing thr right salon software package for your business. With the start of a new year, many businesses are setting goals and targets for the months ahead and one of the key factors they are taking into consideration is their investment in software to improve operations and the day to day running of their salons to really get the most from their staff and therefore keep customers happy. Choosing the right software for your salon is crucial for the smooth-running and management of your business operations and client relationships, therefore it is important to ensure certain factors are met to get the possible return on investment. So what should you take into consideration when choosing a software system for your salon? Firstly, I would highly recommend to carry our research on the different packages and features that software companies are offering. It is a new year so definitely shop around for the best deal! A stable and well established Software Company will have been tried and tested in the industry and speaking to your peers to find out what they use will also give you a good indication of companies that have a good reputation in the industry. Once you have found a Software Company that you believe would be the right fit for your hair salon and can help you with the day to day running of your salon, it is important to check that the software is regularly updated. This is to ensure that the programmes are consistently compatible with current trends and growing technologies as well as being able to cater for the requirements of the country or countries you are established in i.e. language, taxes, currencies etc. It is also worth talking to the people at the top when negotiating your software deal so your ideas are heard! Your input should be taken seriously with future developments and remember to also find out if the company offers user group sessions where there is a chance for customers to see new developments and plans. It is important to know whether your staff will receive initial and ongoing training as well as support and no hidden charges should anything go wrong with the software and to keep down time to a minimum. This should be agreed before committing yourself to your chosen company. Finally, what should really stand out when you are making your decision is how much the software will help you to grow your business, streamline your operations and give you the time to spend with your customers. Finding a system that will grow with your salon will avoid additional expense, hassle and prevention of possible data loss further down the line if you ever needed to change your system to suit your growing needs. Choose a company that will enhance your goals and values!   Sally Glover is sales and marketing manager for SalonGenius responsible for business development activities, planning and developing marketing opportunities and the management of the Salon Genius sales team activities.