As we approach the fall season and the last quarter of the year, salon traffic likely looks a bit different than it did during the heart of the busy season. If you’ve been considering upgrading one of the most valuable tools in your toolbox – your salon management system – the time is now.
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Even if you know, without a doubt, that implementing a new program will reap measurable benefits to your business in the long term, leaving your comfort zone and the fear of change may cause you to be hesitant to take any sort of action. Apprehension to a change in your software system is certainly understandable, but you can ease some of the fear by making a change while you’re not in the heart of busy season.
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If you’ve been considering upgrading one of the most valuable tools in your toolbox – your salon management system – the time is now.
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The first step to using this slower time of year to your advantage is to do your research on what alternate options are available. A great software solution will prove to be an operations manager, security guard, administrative assistant, and even a cheerleader for your staff. As a business owner, you simply can’t fulfill all of these roles on your own, nor can the most superb member of your staff – so why not employ a single software product that can? Knowing what a new system will achieve for your salon will aid you in making the right decision for your business, so it’s a good idea to have a list of wants and needs prepared beforehand.
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As an example, if employee security is especially important to you, you might consider looking for a program that will motivate your staff and empower them to do their jobs effectively while limiting access to sensitive areas. Are you and your staff constantly spending unnecessary time on tasks like data entry or manually creating reports? If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to make sure that the programs you are evaluating provide automation of tasks. If the ability to manage your business remotely is a necessity, then make sure that this feature is at the top of your list of questions.
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Before you make a final decision on which program to implement, in addition to the features and functionality included, it’s important to research what type of implementation and conversion services are offered by the software vendor. Will you have a dedicated project manager who will set your expectations for the scope of the project, oversee the entire process, and follow a detailed project plan while doing so? Is training on the system provided, and is the training methodology based on your specific business model to ensure that configuration is accurate and that you are getting the most out of the system? Are you currently using a software program? If so, will you require a data conversion and does the vendor have experience with and offer conversion services? These are all important questions that you will want to ask upfront, as making an informed decision will help to minimize any adversity to change that you may have.
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Above all, imagine what it will be like heading into the next busy season knowing that you’ve armed yourself and your staff with the tools needed to hit it out of the park. You’ll be glad that you did!
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