In today’s digital era, automating salon work is more of a necessity than a luxury. Automation eases the management burden for salon owners and managers, makes employees more productive, and injects efficiency into salon operations. That improves service delivery and improves clients’ perception, satisfaction, and eventually retention. It is such improvements that gradually push a salon business ahead of the curve.
Are you a beauty salon owner or manager looking to automate? If yes, allow us to help you find the perfect automation software for you. We will break down salon work automation by explaining the 7 must-have features of a helpful salon management software.
1. Employee management
For optimal salon business growth, you need a team of stylists and technicians who work as hard as you do and value your business as much as you do. You have to identify and expel ineffective workers ASAP. More importantly, you need to motivate enthusiastic and passionate employees to out-perform themselves every single day.
Good software should help you separate joyriders from top performers through powerful reporting insights. It should have tools that:
- Automate goal setting. Your software should help you define the KPIs that benefit your business the most and then set targets around those KPIs. The software should also be able to send automated messages to you and your employees notifying you of how far or close you are to achieving those targets.
- Enable employees to track their own performance metrics such as the appointments they’ve had in a specified timeframe, the products they have sold, and the hours they have put in. That empowers them to stay on top of their career and financial goals.
- Enhances staff feedback processes. It is easier to motivate an employee when you already know where they are at both physically and mentally.
- Helps you set and manage employees’ hours. The software should help you identify your slow hours/days for effective management of off-days and/or leaves.
- Provides easy storage and access to the photos employees take on their personal devices. They need those photos to track their growth as artists while you need them as visual content for your digital marketing.
2. Salon Point of Sale (POS)
A good POS feature enables quick, straightforward, and hassle-free client check-ins and check-outs. It allows you to track sales and payments quickly and to save each client’s transaction history for easy bookkeeping. In addition, it should track and keep a record of the loyalty points a client makes (if any) for each transaction.
A good POS system also helps with suggestive selling. It doesn’t just keep client records. It also analyzes the info it stores and makes relevant product recommendations to clients. That leads to increased sales. Furthermore, your software should provide a touch-free online retail solution for easy integration of an eCommerce shop into your salon.
3. Online scheduling
Modern clients are always in a rush. If they can’t book appointments at the very first contact they have with your business, whether on Google or social media, there is a high chance that they will bounce. That’s why online booking is the primary reason why salon owners invest in salon management software.
Your software should have a hair salon online booking system that avails your schedule to clients so that they can choose for themselves the most appropriate time for their appointments. This convenience is a good way to attract and retain clients, plus it increases efficiency at your front desk.
Another advantage of a good online booking system is easy client database creation, storage, and access. It asks clients for their personal info and saves it for your future reference. And because clients can see which information you have saved, they can update their info in case of changes in their lives. If they changed their phone number or relocated to a new address, for example. A good system should be able to send automated appointment confirmations and reminders once bookings are made.
4. Inventory management
Your software should have an integrated inventory management system that tracks and keeps records of your inventory in real-time. It should record changes in quantities of each of your products when a product is sold or returned, used in-house, or a new shipment arrives. The system should also tell you which products to order, which ones you are over-buying, and which ones you should not stock at all. That optimizes your profits and prevents unwanted clutter on your shelves. What’s more, a good inventory management system should send you running-low alerts, allowing you to order new shipments in good time.
5. Database management
Salons handle lots of data. From client information (name, birthdays, home address, email, and phone numbers), payroll history, client service & retail history, to inventory records- you name it! You need a system that does not only store this data but that also analyzes it, profiles clients based on the data, and then presents the data in an easy-to-consume format. That way, you can know your clients better, engage them on social media from a point of knowledge, and sufficiently prepare for appointments.
6. Automated marketing
We have already mentioned that your software should help you collect and store clients’ personal information and service history. The info helps you know who to target with your advertisements and where to find your target customers.
Your software should also help you automate digital marketing, especially email and SMS marketing. It should be able to customize and send automated greetings, happy birthday messages, and thank you messages. Clients feel special when you send them sweet messages on their special days.
Through bulk SMS marketing software, you'll be able to contact thousands of customers and form a special bond with them. Moreover, you can gain access to any replies to your bulk SMS marketing communication, which will help to not settle for one-way marketing, as you’ll be able to deliver and receive information via the software.
The software should also be able to send mass emails to selected client lists. You can send blog posts, share at-home care tips, or share info about loyalty programs or upcoming offers.
7. HR and Payroll
With a good payroll management system, your software should automate your employees’ financial records including commissions, bonuses, rewards, and deductions. It should track and keep a record of each employee’s hours too. That makes payroll processing easy and accurate. It enables you to pay on time, which is great for staff motivation.
Conclusion
Automation is obviously the way to go for any ambitious salon owner. It makes employees, clients, inventory, and financial management a lot easier. It makes it easy to collect and consume the big data you need for effective business planning. That’s why you should take the bold first step towards automation by investing in a reputable salon management system.