Business Software Trends
The role that data plays in your business Today most salon and spa operations are run using software, but are business owners making the most of what can only be described as the goldmine of information at their fingertips, namely data? Knowing your data is critical – it is not just a luxury for big corporations, it is essential for any business to run successfully, no matter the size. So says Shani Leon of booking app, My Appointment. She continues: “I once asked a prospective client how she measures how well her salon is doing, and her response was: ‘I check if there is money in the bank account at the end of the month’. While this answer was humorous, it was also very honest and true for many business owners. And yes, having money in your bank account at the end of the month is definitely a clear indication of how the month went – so it is a logical thing to check. However, this is a completely re-active approach. What it won’t do is help you make decisions and move the business online @ probeauty.co.za
in a pro-active way. It will also not offer you any insights into why there is (or isn’t) money in the account at the end of the month.” Leon points out that there are so many variables that can influence the revenue of a salon business, such as seasonality, staff complement and staff performance. “When comparing data, it is important to take all of these factors into account so that we compare like with like.”
Tracking trends Gary Halberstadt of Spa Guru notes that while most salons and spas utilise a software solution to help them manage their day-today operations, it’s essential to be able to access all this electronic information in a way that allows managers and staff to track trends and act on this data.
“From a revenue perspective it’s important to keep track of what services and products are the most popular in order to help focus your marketing, and also to ensure that you are keeping up with changing client needs. “Particularly during this global pandemic, utilising data from your system to see what services are still in demand and which are seeing a drop in utilisation is essential. This can ensure you focus on what’s profitable and what clients are still comfortable coming in for, whilst reducing costs on services that are currently seeing low demand,” explains Halberstadt.
‘Living information’ As Chris Parker of ESP Online points out, the term business
Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash
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