Salon Software Litmus Test: Is Your Management Platform Future-Proof?

Here’s how to make sure the software you use to run your salon helps push you forward instead of holding you back.

The personal care industry is ripe for disruption; legacy systems and outdated technologies have been holding many beauty businesses back for too long. Modernization is overdue and within reach, thanks to marketing automation, machine learning, and other contemporary technologies.

As the industry starts to make strides in the right direction, there are multiple management software solutions to choose from. But some platforms come outfitted with generic tools that can’t handle the specific needs and systems of your business, while others don’t pack the punch required to impact your business at every level. In the end, platforms that aren’t equipped to scale as you grow can end up holding you back.

How can you avoid those pitfalls? By looking for solutions that are designed to support every element of your ongoing business evolution and grow with you over time. Use this quick checklist as a litmus test to make sure your salon management platform has all the next-level features necessary to future-proof your business.

Personalized services

While consumers in virtually every industry have come to expect personalized attention, it’s fair to say that beauty customers have an even stronger desire to feel unique and special. Your chosen management platform should make it easy to offer your customers a personalized experience at every step along the way, from booking their services all the way through to payment. 

Here are a few ways you can use salon management software to increase personalization:

• Client profiles should capture personal details and important dates, record past services and purchases, and link to social profiles

• Make booking as easy as possible for your staff and your clients by offering self-booking online and automating pre-appointment reminders

• Allow customers to store their preferred credit card information with you, enabling stress-free and transparent transactions.

Scheduling automation

You’ve made booking easier for clients, now make scheduling easier for your staff. Optimizing your team’s time requires complex calculations due to the many different overlapping phases of appointments over the course of a day. Find a salon management solution that takes care of the calculus for you, handling everything from calculating stylist’s availability to incorporating transition, processing, and finishing times in each booking. Your team should have real-time access to a customized, color-coded view of the schedule, with no surprises and no headaches.

Secure payments

Processing transactions comes with a lot of responsibility; business owners are ultimately responsible for keeping client’s personal information secure. Make sure your salon management software offers integrated payments that satisfy customers, support your sales, and keep everyone’s data safe. Additionally, when you need to issue payments to vendors or partners, your payment solution should make it easy to pay merchants quickly and correctly.

Branding customization

You worked hard to create branding that represents your company values and tells your story to the world. Why would you limit that message to physical spaces? It’s important that your branding lives everywhere customers interact with your business, including the digital realm. Make sure your salon management platform allows you to customize public-facing features. By improving your branding consistency, you’ll offer customers a seamless experience of your brand that will linger with them long after they leave the salon.

API support

Don’t be fooled into thinking that working with salon management software means giving up on custom experiences. Instead of squeezing yourself into someone else’s idea of one-size-fits-all, look for APIs that let you build out the specific tech features your business needs. For example, Boulevard offers three different APIs: 

• Client API: Create completely unique experiences that match your branding, design custom interactions, and drive customer loyalty

• Admin API: Access and sync all your data to identify client insights, increase productivity, and identify new marketing opportunities

• Reporting API: Combine multiple datasets and business insight tools for a full, real-time picture of your business numbers.

Software may not be at the top of every salon owners’ list of priorities. But beauty professionals who embrace technology have a chance to improve operational efficiencies, increase revenue, and provide exceptional client experiences that delight their customers. Taking the time to find the right salon management software for your needs is worth it in the long run.

At Boulevard, we offer a customer-centric platform for salons and spas, not a one-size-fits-all product. From Precision Scheduling™ to integrated payment processing and three unique APIs, we embrace your success and scale with you as you grow. See for yourself! Get a free demo today.