Choosing the Right Software Solution
2.21.06

If you’ve made it this far after reading the title of this column knowing that I work at Helios, I give you a lot of credit. Either you are really interested in what I have to say or you want to see if I’ve been able to sneak a Helios biased article past the watchful eye of Sharron and the gang at IST. Believe me, I’ve tried in the past to fly under the radar only to find myself in a rewrite situation on a Sunday afternoon when I could be enjoying another grey, cold day here in the great Midwest!

I would be remiss not to offer my personal opinion based on my 10+ years of experience in the tanning industry, much of it at the retail level, to say that Helios offers the most comprehensive software package, bar none. I am also not too naïve to know that there are other vendors who feel their product is the best so with that being said, I say,”Let the software shoot out begin!”

I truly feel that having the right software operating your tanning salon is THE most important decision facing a salon owner who will be successful and around this industry 2 years from now.

I always recommend that people do their due diligence when deciding on their salon software. Salon professional should call and get a demo from the 3 or 4 major vendors in our industry, but should not stop there. As you receive the demos you should begin reviewing them immediately while writing down any questions that you come across for each product. When you finish the review process, call each vendor’s sales department and have them answer the questions that you came up with and give you a walk through of their product.

Once you’ve finished the review process of each product it’s time to look at the financial impact that the purchase will have on your business. Ask each vendor the following cost questions:

• What does the software cost to purchase up front?
• How much is technical support and what are their hours?
• How much do they charge for updates and upgrades when they are released?

And by all means do yourself a favor and give yourself plenty of time to get acclimated to the new technology before you start using it in your salon. Too many people either wait until the day before they open and want the software overnighted in time for their grand opening or don’t expect any hiccups along the way. Without the proper phase-in time or training period the software, whosever you choose, is set up to fail from the very beginning.

Choosing the right software is a lot like choosing the right spouse. Expectations for a long and happy relationship is shared equally and no successful marriage ever started off by having its spouse overnighted!