Nowadays, having a computerized barbershop is the most important part of having clients. People usually search for the name of a shop before visiting it. Technology has made things much easier for us, so in order to have a barbershop that runs with time, you need to computerize it. If you want a barbershop that is first-come, first-serve, then you don’t need to computerize your barbershop.
However, having a traditional barbershop can only get you a limited amount of customers. Anyways, without any further due, let’s jump on to the article.
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When Should I Get a Computer for My Salon or Barbershop?
Now, if you want to know why you should invest in computerization, then keep on reading. You should embrace technology just as the world has so that you can have the best odds when starting a barbershop. Some more reasons that you should invest in computerization are listed below.
A computerized barbershop will serve your customers better and more efficiently than a barbershop that isn’t computerized at all.
A computerized barbershop will store everything about your client, like name, mailing address, phone number, and emails. So you can get this client information within seconds.
Get more bookings as booking will be much easier for your clients. They can book an appointment with the tap of a finger.
Once the client’s information is within the database, it can automatically pre-book the client’s next appointment according to their schedule.
It will help you generate more revenue in many ways. Computer software is designed to maximize your profits and reduce the number of no-shows as it will send notifications about the appointment 24 hours earlier.
It is easier for you to make changes to the appointments when needed, and you will be able to see the percentage of booked seats, pre-booked appointments, and other important things. Moreover, it will be color-coded, so it will be easier to decipher.
Computerized barbershops or salons are much more safe and secure. They will store your customer’s information in a very careful way, which will also increase your client’s trust.
Which Software Should I Get for My Salon or Barbershop?
Computerization is important in solving many problems and making many things much easier to operate. With proper training, a computerized barbershop or salon can bring much more benefit to your shop. But in order to do this, first, you need to make sure about the software that will fit your shop’s needs and wants.
You need to start worrying about computerization (if you want a computerized barbershop) as soon as possible. This job should not be left till the last moment. In fact, you should worry about this aspect of a barbershop before you make any construction changes or buy furniture. This is because computers, receipt printers, keyboards, and other parts, including wires, need a proper placement plan. Let’s say that you have done this; now, you need to find appropriate software that will meet all your needs. Software is relatively cheap with their monthly subscriptions, so you just need to search them up and find the one that suits you. You need to look for when purchasing software if it is able to-
count the new clients per month that your shop gets
show your schedule on any device and should be easy to use
keep a record of new and old client retentions
make the loyalty reward system easier to operate if you offer a loyalty program
manage all administrative areas of your business, like managing payroll, bonuses, and commissions
count the frequency of visits to your salon or barbershop
help you track your salon to know how well your salon is doing each month
send automated notifications or reminders to the clients
manage client satisfaction, so you know what things to improve on
The software might not have all these features, but having even 5 features out of this list will be an indication of good software. Of course, you might have some other additional needs, and you need to choose a good and reputable software company for them.
Hair Salon Computer System
If you want to know how to select an appropriate computer system or software for your barbershop, then here are the steps.
Research: First, you need to research according to your salon’s needs. Make sure to search online as well as ask other computerized barbershop owners, as they will have useful insight. The company you choose should be old and trusted, so you get the best of what you want instead of a company that is fleeting.
Testing: Usually, the software you want to choose will have the trial version, or it should. If not, have a live demonstration with the salesperson to see if they know everything about the barbershop business.
Selection: At the end, you should have three or four software that should be the finale. After this, you need to select the software by considering things like the cost, background of the company, usefulness of support staff, and what your heart wants.
Hardware: After you are done with the software part, you will also need appropriate hardware items. They can take a couple of weeks to arrive, and usually, the software company will help you install these items.
Installation: If the computer you buy is from a software company, it will have the software already installed, but if the computer you buy is your own, you will need to install the software yourself.
Data entry: First, you need proper training to know how to do it, and once you are comfortable with it, you should enter all the required data. Make sure to use the help of the staff as well so they can get some training as well.
Finalizing: Once everyone knows how to use the software and all its features properly, you can finally “go live.” This means you can start booking appointments and advertising your barbershop.
Hair Salon with Computer Imaging
Some hair salons provide a feature known as computer imaging on their websites. This is a feature that attracts customers as well. It does require the use of advanced software features, but it can help your revenue as well.
Computer imaging is when the website displays all or most of the hairstyles they can perform, and the customer can use computer software to see how the hairstyle will look on them virtually. They can change and try different hairstyles till they find the one that suits them the best. Moreover, the customer can also compare their image of different hairstyles with each other. This is a great way for the customer to know exactly what they want before even going to a salon. This will save time for customers and the hairdresser as they don’t need to spend time deciding what they want. Needless to say, this is a great technology that can take your salon or barbershop to a new level.
In conclusion, barbershops and hair salons can benefit from technology by computerizing their shops. Of course, not everyone can afford or have the resources to do this. But if you are one of the lucky ones, then choosing computerization over a traditional barbershop system is great.
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