Thanks to innovative spa software, access to valuable information about your business is just a few quick keystrokes away. Want to know what treatments are standouts on your menu or what therapists are superstars in your spa? The right software can tell you that and more. It's your spa, and nobody is better qualified than you to decide if a particular software program can help you run your business better. As you survey the many options vying for your attention, here are some things to consider.
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Intuitive Interface
If the computer screen looks complicated, people will shy away from it. Information should be presented in recognizable and meaningful ways. The appointment schedule should look like an appointment schedule. The cash register should gather and show all necessary information at a glance and not require you to click button after button to get to the total. Look at the programs you're considering, and choose one that is easy to follow and feels comfortable to you.
Time-Efficient Scheduling
Scheduling for spas and salons is more complicated than for most other businesses. Good scheduling software keeps track of the time necessary for different services and automatically provides appointment options to allow for that time. Your software should be able to manage each service provider, each chair, and each treatment room to make the most efficient use of your entire staff and facility.
Scheduling by computer gives you the ability to use the information in your appointment "book" in ways that paper books never could. Look for software with easy-to-use scheduling tools that allow you to view and analyze appointment information to assess specific areas, such as client activity, staff productivity, and overall use of your facilities.
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Smart Marketing Tools
Marketing is all about managing information, and nothing does that better than a solid software program with smart marketing options. Because you can keep detailed client records, including birthdays, service and product purchase histories, and personal preferences, you can target your marketing where it will do the most good and get the highest returns. Look for software with user-friendly marketing tools that can select clients based on different criteria, such as age, sex, level of expenditures, frequency of appointments, types of services, or any of hundreds of possible combinations.
Comprehensive Reports
You will truly know the joy of a great software program when you can find reports that answer your questions about how your business is doing and help you plan for the future. A good reporting system offers a wide selection of useful reports with calculations and analyses that show you exactly how your clients, staff, products, and services are benefiting your bottom line. Look for software with reports that are concise and comprehensive and that provide clear analysis of your information, rather than just listing it on a page. Software with numerous reports is not as useful as software with the right reports—reports that actually show you how your business is doing.
Software Budget
In most cases, the license to use a software package will cost thousands of dollars up front, depending upon how comprehensive it is. After the initial expenditure, you will need to budget for the cost of program upgrades, which usually occur about every six months, and because you're in the spa business and not the computer business, you're going to want access to technical support, which is usually charged by contract or by the call. Another way to license software is by "subscription." Subscriptions do not require a large up-front cost, and the monthly subscription cost is often surprisingly low. Subscriptions generally include the cost of upgrades, automatically come with technical support, and may offer other benefits as well. Look for software with a payment structure that works for you.
Add-on Capability
While you may start out with a basic spa management package, you will find yourself doing more and more as you get used to using your computer and as your business grows. Look for software that makes it easy for you to add features and functions as you need them, such as credit and debit card processing, payroll, gift cards and certificates, networking, and more.
Training and Technical Support
Software training is important for you and your staff. Consider software that includes training in person, by phone, or via the internet. Going over the program's features and getting guidance on entering information will get you up and running a lot sooner.
As you and your staff become accustomed to your new software, you will inevitably have questions. At those times, you'll want access to expert advice and consultation without having to jump through hoops to get it. Look for a software company that provides easy access to phone-based support, and make sure you're comfortable with the way its service fits your needs.
Necessary Features
Most spa software already includes scheduling and check-out, the two primary operations your business does every hour of every day. In addition, software can handle almost any information management task, so you need only decide which tasks you want done and, with today's range of affordable options, you'll find a program that will do it.
Most spas need software that can manage the following basic operations: client records, cash register, scheduling, marketing, and inventory, plus some type of reporting and analysis. While you may choose additional functions based on your needs, don't be swayed by bells and whistles that don't make sense for your way of doing business. Look for software that will help you now. Over time, as software technology changes, you will discover new and different benefits for your evolving and expanding business. In the end, the right software will pay for itself many times over. It is one of the best investments you can make toward your growth and success.—Marc Mataya
Resources
In the market for new software? Check out the following companies to find the software that is right for your spa.
ClienTrak! Software
(800) 397-4582
www.clientrak.com
Elite Software
(800) 662-3548
www.elitesoftware.com
Envision Salon, Spa & MedSpa Software
(800) 231-9445, ext. 302
www.ennoview.com
Floydware
(630) 469-1078
www.floydware.biz
Harms Software
(888) 813-2141
www.harms-software.com
Leprechaun Software
(800) 373-1684
www.leprechaun-software.com
Mack Software Solutions
(800) 450-6225
www.macksoftware.com
Milano Software
(800) 667-1596
www.milanosoftware.com
Orchid Medical Spa Software
(888) 803-4747
www.medicalspa software.com
ProSolutions Software
(800) 710-3879
www.prosolutions software.com
Quick Plan
(800) 417-7017
www.quickplan.com
ResortSuite
(866) 477-8483
www.resortsuite.com
Salon Pro
(800) 830-9992
www.salonpro.com
Salon Spaware
(888) 260 8181
www.salonspaware.com
Shortcuts Software
(866) 678-7324
www.shortcuts.net
Spa Biz/Extended Technologies
(800) 632 5527
www.spabiz.com
Spa Soft/PAR Springer Miller
(905) 752-1800
www.spasoft.com
The Spa/Salon Manager
(800) 223-5827
www.spasalon.com
Unique Software
(800) 586-4783
www.salonpages.com
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Marc Mataya is vice president of sales and marketing for ClienTrak! Spa and Salon Software. Mataya grew up in the beauty industry, working in and helping to manage his family's multiple spas and salons. ClienTrak! grew out of a need for specialized software in the Matayas' businesses and is now a top-selling spa and salon system. You can contact ClienTrak! at (800) 397-4582, [email protected] , or log onto www.clientrak.com.