Unless you are still using a card system to track your customers and their active services, the software program you employ in your salon is one of your most important business assets. There are many ways to maximize the return on investment of the software products and associated services that you’ve implemented. Taking advantage of available version upgrades is not only an easy way to accomplish this task, but will prove to be fruitful for your business as well.
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I understand that you might be thinking to yourself right now, “but what about that old adage, ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’?” It’s human nature to be averse to change from time to time – I get it. Once you learn a program, there is a level of comfort that comes with knowing how to operate it with your eyes closed. But, there is a level of risk in delaying an upgrade to new software versions that are available, as well as benefits that you may be missing out on.
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One of the most important reasons to step outside of your comfort zone and upgrade your software version is to ensure that you have implemented the most recent security updates. As a business owner, you have a responsibility to protect not only yourself, but also your customers. Do you accept credit cards as a form of payment at the point of sale or for monthly recurring EFT memberships? If so, have you implemented encryption and tokenization in order to secure your customers’ sensitive card data? Does the software version you are running support the latest EMV technology? If not, I bet that I’ve at least got you thinking about a potential system upgrade.
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There is a level of risk in delaying a software upgrade, as well as benefits that you may be missing out on.
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Even with extensive quality assurance and rigorous testing, because the environments in which software is installed and the ways that it is used can be so varied, “bugs” will present themselves at some point after the release of a new software version. Once a software company identifies an issue, they work to resolve it as quickly as possible. If you delay an upgrade, there is a chance that you will experience an issue that has already been resolved. Newer versions will also typically include better logging, allowing the support team to more quickly and efficiently identify why you might be experiencing an issue and ultimately resolve it – yet another reason that you shouldn’t delay an upgrade.
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Now, on to the fun stuff! When upgrading your software, you will likely see that performance is faster, you will gain heightened stability, and the overall user experience is enhanced. Many software companies will listen to their customers’ suggestions for enhancements, so a better reason than ever to upgrade is to take advantage of new and improved features and functionality that will likely benefit you directly. And, don’t forget that technology is ever-evolving – staying up-to-date with software allows you to utilize new hardware.
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If you are at all apprehensive about upgrading, there is a simple and effective way to ease your concern. Before deploying in a live environment, it is a good idea to evaluate a new version in a test setting. Doing so will allow you to ensure that your peripherals function, that there are no issues with your configuration, and to try out all of the new features so that you understand their capability ahead of time. This is also a good opportunity to allow your staff to train on the new functionality.
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Take advantage of software upgrades – you will thank yourself in the long-run and your customers and staff alike will appreciate it, too!
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