The proper operation of an indoor tanning salon can mean the difference between a lean and fruitful season. Thankfully, software is here to help. Whether it’s through security, EFT processing or a number of Internet-based management tools, software lets operators unlock the potential of their salons.
The most important aspect of salon management software is management. Software should be able perform theft prevention, detailed reporting, inventory tracking, client-data management, appointment scheduling, bed control and lamp-usage tracking; as well as supply marketing information, a complete point-of-sales system and growth potential; and contain options for Internet integration.
Software organizes your business and defines your production. It’s easier to keep track of the number of packages sold, new members enrolled, prospects who came in, inventory levels, beds that are clean or not clean, beds that are in use or not in use, and which ones are being used the most. It can also help you monitor staff and maintain their accountability. In addition, it can help you to see what promotions are working based on usage, products sold, etc.
Since so much is riding on the proper function of salon management software, the decision of which program to buy—and which company to buy from—should not be taken lightly.
There are many fine providers of salon management software. The service and support they give to their salon customers can be as important as the functions of their programs. These are the people who you have entrusted with your most valuable asset. Be sure to ask the company, “Are you in a position to be my most trusted partner?”
A software vendor must be focused on its products in the indoor tanning industry. Companies that only dabble in tanning-salon-management software can be risky. Will they stay on the cutting edge of technology in the industry? Can they dedicate the time to solve problems? Will they be around when the salon owner needs them most?
By contrast, those with a proven track record in the industry will give a salon owner great peace of mind knowing the company will be around in years to come.
Security
Computers put all files in one centralized electronic location, hence making all of the salon’s crucial information particularly susceptible to damage or theft. Even client-card salons that think they’re safe from computer bugs have fire, theft and vandalism to deal with. If something were to happen to the information, the salon literally would have to start from day one. This includes rebuilding the entire tanning history of each client, as well as their package histories and balances, and more.
The Internet has made remote storage a cost-effective reality. Manually backing up key files with tapes and CD-ROMs still is a viable solution for many salons, but it requires a diligent routine by day, week and/or month. Plus, if the backups are kept in the salon, they do little good when disaster strikes.
Protection from external factors such as fire and weather is just one angle of concern for tanning salons. Wise salon owners know not to overlook the security risks their own customers and employees bring every day. It’s a sad fact, but unscrupulous staff members can steal minutes from tanning packages as well as time on the clock with a few clever keystrokes. Management software should have safeguards in place to limit employees’ access to certain functions.
Devices such as biometric (thumbprint) scanners are being integrated into more and more software programs. Veterans agree that the fingerprint device, if implemented properly, can reduce employee theft, expedite client verification, secure management sections of the software, track employee use within the software, and even identify employees as they clock in and out.
Information
Management software can generate reports and identify trends in an instant, putting power at the fingertips of salon owners that can’t be harnessed by a manual system. All of this is designed to improve efficiency for the salon and increase its profit margins.
In addition to security and protection, the Internet is being used for connectivity. This is the ability of a computer in a salon to be hooked up to another computer in that salon or, on a larger scale, for a computer at one salon to be hooked up to a computer at another salon—down the street or across the country.
Through management software utilizing an Internet connection, salon owners or operators can log in to the system from anywhere in the world and grab real-time snapshots of the business such as how many beds are in use at any given time, up-to-the-minute sales for the day, number of guests for the day, and number of appointments scheduled for the next day.
Furthermore, remote management lets salon owners perform day-to-day tasks such as replenishing inventory, arranging for maintenance of equipment and lamp usage, and issuing requirements to employees.
