How to Make the Transition to Salon Software

As the beauty industry continues to transform and grow, so do the opportunities for salon professionals. In a world where clients are finding stylists via social media, it only makes sense that beauty pros welcome technology into every aspect of their business.

Vibrant color specialist Sydney Lopez @sydneyannlopezhair has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, but up until a few months ago, she was still running her Denton, Texas, salon using pen and paper.

“When I graduated cosmetology school, I tried to use my phone’s built-in scheduler, but it was really hard to only see my schedule one day at a time,” Lopez says. “I switched back to paper books because I could see the entire week at a glance and easily flip through it.”

Although there is something to be said about the tried-and-true method of writing and muscle memory, paper calendars can be time-consuming, and the margin for error can be greater. Salon Iris is a business-management platform for hair and nail salons, and barbershops. It aims to simplify scheduling, automate client communications and allow clients to book appointments directly from an Instagram business page.

“I knew transitioning to a salon software would be time-consuming initially as I worked to input each client into the system,” Lopez says. “Once I sat down and did that though, I immediately saw all the benefits. With Salon Iris, I’ve spent so much less time than when I was erasing and rewriting things in my paper book.”

Another benefit of making the transition is increased bookings. So often in the professional beauty industry, time equals money. With a growing field of educational events, trade shows and brand opportunities throughout the country, salon professionals are tasked with making the most of the time they have with clients in their chairs.

“My favorite thing about the Salon Iris software is the ability to easily spot processing opportunities where I can book extra clients,” Lopez says. “The software also sends out text message reminders, which helps prevent situations like double booking. My clients are able to check appointments, rebook and change without having to wait to hear back from me.”

Having salon software in place means tapping into data. Salon Iris gives its users the ability to know in a matter of minutes which services are performing the best while also offering targeted marketing.

“One of my biggest concerns with switching to software was a fear of losing data,” Lopez says. “Salon Iris allows me to sign in on any device, anywhere I need to with the confidence of knowing it’s all saved. Having made the transition to Salon Iris is definitely going to help me to better utilize every moment this year!”