Top 5 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Software Solution

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This is both an exciting and challenging time to be a salon and spa owner. The opportunities for growth are many but the competition is fierce. Success lies in a balance between offering quality service, creating a positive customer experience, generating a strong loyalty base and using business resources efficiently and effectively.

As a business owner, you depend greatly on the partnerships and integrations your POS brings to your businesses. With countless tools and services out there, you have to trust your Point of Sale and resellers to provide you the best options for generating the greatest success. If that trust is betrayed, you may be forced to move on to someone else.

According to The Point of Sale Software Systems User Research Report, “88% of companies have had their software for less than 5 years.” When broken down this actually becomes even more dramatic. It turns out that larger business stick with their POS software for about 2-5 years, whereas smaller businesses only average about 1-2 years. This reflects a large number of new small to medium-sized businesses, but it also speaks to the ease with which smaller locations can switch as compared to larger ones.

The next obvious questions is…why? The study found that the most pressing reason for switching was that the previous POS didn’t have the right features. This came even before cost, indicating that POS integrations to relevant tools could be a crucial point in the success or failure of a POS/Salon owner relationship.

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As is often the case, simplicity prevails in this realm. You don’t have the time and resources to wade through complicated and difficult integrations with numerous solutions. The point where efficiency meets effectiveness is the ideal state for all involved.

Here are a few factors to consider when choosing an appropriate tool set.

1. Is the solution comprehensive?

There are two different ways to approach this topic.

a. One tool for one job – The benefit to this option is that you often have a well-designed, highly functional tool. However it is important to remember that not all tools will function well together. If you opt for the single-tool approach you will need to be aware that extra time may be required to manage multiple tools, and care will have to be taken when adding new tools to ensure they are compatible.

b. One tool for many jobs – This option eliminates the concern of whether or not tools will be compatible. It can also save time since there is only one tool system to learn as opposed to multiple. The tool might not be as well honed as a single tool, but it often makes up for the deficiency in convenience and saved cost.

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2. Is the solution cloud-based or on-premise/installed?

Further data from the POS Software Systems User Research Report revealed that almost half of business owners (43%) prefer Web-based software, and that number is growing. Web-based tools offer significantly greater flexibility and agility for you to check data remotely and interact with software in ever-changing ways. This does not mean that the on-premise/installed solutions are going anywhere fast, but it’s important to consider the needs and preferences the POS serves.

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3. Does the solution offer significant revenue opportunities?

The value of any integration lies in its ability to offer tremendous value to you while bringing in significant incremental revenue. The tool must be comprehensive, simple, seamless and have a business structure that benefits your bottom line. It seems like common sense, but if the tool can’t bring in revenue then it’s not worth the effort for you.

All of these elements work together to create a complete marketing profile. As customers move seamlessly from one channel to another, generally on their mobile devices, they seek out content that resonates with and interests them, and they remain loyal to those businesses who consistently provide. Give yourself a step up by getting an automated marketing platform that will help you reach your customers in they right way, at the right time with the right message.

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4. Does the solution truly add value?

Again, the worth of any tool depends on its ability to bring added value for your business. If it is burdensome and difficult to use, or does not improve or simplify your day-to-day operations then is the functionality worth the effort? It is important to consider what integrations your POS promotes.

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5. Is there potential for added growth in the future?

Finally, even if the solution being offered is of substantial value, is simple to use and solves a real problem for you, it is important to consider the future significance of the solution. Is there a plan for growth, continued improvement, responsiveness to market growth and change.

You don’t want to be constantly changing solutions to fill gaps, so make sure the growth potential is there. Knowing which tools will best serve you for the long term is crucial to the success of your business.

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Octopi Commerce creates seamless solutions for our partners and their customers. Join us for a personalized demo of Reach CDP, our Connected Customer Data Platform. If giving us a call is more your style, dial 888.796.5755 for the scoop on what we offer and what we’ve been up to lately. Thanks!

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