5 Customer Service Complaints Solved by User-Friendly Booking Software

When it comes to successfully running any business, most roads lead to customer satisfaction.

This is even more true for small businesses. When your business runs well, your customers and clients are usually happy. When things get bumpy, customer satisfaction tends to drop.

In many ways, customer satisfaction is a great way to measure how well your business is doing—no matter how complex your operations become. It’s really that simple. But as you already know, “simple” doesn’t necessarily mean “easy.” 

The good news? There is a single solution that can fix multiple issues, make your customers happier, and help your business grow.

That one thing is user-friendly booking software. It’s a powerful way to turn many common customer complaints into positive customer experiences—instantly.

What does user-friendly really mean?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “user-friendly,” don’t worry. You don’t need to be a computer expert to understand what it means.

Simply put, websites or software are user-friendly when they are easy to use. They feel simple—and getting things done is intuitive. You can quickly accomplish what you need to do without a lot of guesswork.

Put another way, have you ever visited a website and found it difficult to use? Maybe the design made it feel confusing. Or the language and instructions weren’t clear. Whatever the reason, you had to struggle to do what you went to the site for in the first place. All of this is the OPPOSITE of what it means to be “user-friendly.”

Fact is, when the experience with software or a site is difficult to navigate, customers tend to be less satisfied with that business overall. The same goes for the software your staff and customers use.

You can think of your booking software as a digital front-door to your business. A good experience there sets the tone for a great experience overall—and leads to more customer satisfaction, a boost in appointments, and opportunities for your business to grow.

As a bonus, user-friendly booking software can deliver more than happy customers. It can make things easier, more streamlined, and efficient for you and your staff—so you can focus on delivering the best service and experience possible!

And while each small business is different, turning customer complaints into customer satisfaction is key to every business’s success. So let’s look at the top five customer complaints and pain points user-friendly booking software can fix—and turn those frowns upside down.

Customer Pain Point 1: Confusing Online Booking

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and a confusing booking process can quickly turn off potential clients—leading to abandoned bookings and a tarnished first impression. The crux of the issue lies in a design that doesn’t make things easy for your customer—and forces them to jump through unnecessary hoops. The result? They get frustrated. Or worse, they disengage completely.

Consider a scenario where a client visits a booking website, only to be greeted with a cluttered look, vague instructions, and a confusing path to finalizing their appointment.

Just ask the parks department of West Covina, California. They needed a simple, streamlined solution to let visitors register and spend time at their many parks and natural areas.

With a tight, six-week deadline, West Covina was able to implement, learn and fully utilize their DaySmart booking software solution.

The result? Since launching their booking software, West Covina has seen a 10% increase in revenue, more happy customers, and improved communication for their staff.

As Mike Cresap, the Public Services Superintendent of West Covina said, “Customers are doing a lot of things themselves, saving staff because most of the work is done online.”

Implementing user-friendly booking software can transform your customer and client experiences, because intuitive navigation, simple forms, and clear messaging ensure clients can book appointments with ease and confidence—and have a better overall experience.

Customer Pain Point 2: Long Waiting Times

Extended wait times, whether experienced over the phone or during in-person interactions, significantly contribute to customer dissatisfaction. In an age where time and attention are precious commodities, you can’t underestimate the importance of respecting your clients’ time.

To see the impact user-friendly booking software can have, look no further than the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). In the very first year of implementing DaySmart Software, they maximized operations across their offices and minimized customer wait times—to serve 780,000 people.

User-friendly booking software saves your customers’ time and doesn’t feel like a chore to use. Real-time scheduling lets them select the appointment that works best for them without the need to wait on hold or in a physical line.

And if your customers prefer, they can even schedule appointments using two-way texting. The same goes for appointment reminders. It’s all about letting your customer interact with you when and how THEY want to. It shows you respect their time, and if you respect your customers’ time, they’ll know you value them—which leads to a better experience, higher satisfaction—and more repeat business.

Plus, with easy online booking and appointment tracking, you’ll be maximizing the value of your own time as well!

Customer Pain Point 3: Lack of Real-Time Schedule Information

The cornerstone of an efficient online booking system is its ability to provide real-time appointment availability to clients. By doing so, customers can make plans with greater confidence, relying on up-to-date, accurate information.

For Nikki Budaj at Scrubber’s Dog Wash in Michigan, installing and using booking software at all her locations has not only helped her staff and customers—it’s helped her business grow.

In her words, “All our groomers can see what their schedule is for the next day. Since we added online booking to our website, we’ve been able to gain new customers. I knew DaySmart Pet was the software for me, and it has paid for itself.”

When your customers—and staff—have access to real-time information, they’re empowered to make informed decisions. Customers can book appointments—and staff can track and confirm them—effortlessly.

Customer Pain Point 4: Inefficient Appointment Reminders

Without efficient reminders, missed appointments, last-minute cancellations, and scheduling miscommunication can become overwhelming problems very quickly. As a result, daily disruptions, revenue loss, unhappy customers—and stressed employees—will all follow.

With user-friendly booking software, automated appointment reminders can not only reduce no-shows and cancellations, but also make it easy for your staff to track visits.

Whether via email or two-way text, automated appointment reminders can keep your clients informed so they aren’t caught off guard. It helps them have a better experience—and makes it easier for them to plan their time—and stay on schedule. It decreases the chance of a forgotten or missed appointment—which can lead to a longer wait time to get back in to see you.  

Dr. Donita McCants opened her mobile practice, Veterinary Concierge Services, in 2021, and her story offers a compelling example of how appointment reminders can help a business—especially because it’s her staff that visits patient homes (rather than patients coming to her office).

In her words, “Anything that saves us time is crucial.” And solutions from DaySmart help her team “stay on track by not missing out on important calls and reminders that we need to make.”

User-friendly booking software can fix this customer complaint by automating appointment reminders. So your customers and clients get timely notifications to help them stay organized—and are less likely to miss or cancel appointments.

Customer Pain Point 5: Limited Payment Options

Many small businesses don’t think about customer dissatisfaction with their payment process. Because it’s very easy to chalk up limited or outdated payment options as something you just have to live with. But customers notice everything, and this overlooked issue can lead to a bad experience.

Limited payment options can cause many issues, and result in confusion and inconvenience at checkout. It can lead to a slower checkout process and long waits, throwing your customer off schedule. So even if your customer has a great experience with your business, those final moments of checkout can detract from their feelings overall.

Plus, a stable, reliable and efficient payment system also offers your customers peace of mind, knowing their payments and personal information are safe and secure. With all the errors and security issues surrounding other payment systems, your customers will appreciate knowing that your business protects their privacy.

Urban Style Hair Salon in Wisconsin has served customers for more than seventeen years. Like many salons, when pandemic restrictions were lifted, they faced an uphill battle to regain their customer base and deliver a great experience despite new rules and protocols.

With DaySmart Software already in place, their transition back to business was easier and more seamless. While text and email reminders for appointments minimize missed or cancelled visits, automated payments save owner Denise Mackey-Natz, her staff—and their clients—time and hassles.

When asked, Denise said, “What I really love about the software is how efficient and thorough the automated payment processing is. Everything is connected with it; if I run a credit card, it goes right into the system without delays or problems. And the program enables me to complete payroll in about five minutes. I’ve had so many accountants try to convince me to switch to their services, but this is a better program than anything they have.”

Integrated payments partnered with user-friendly booking software can simplify the ENTIRE customer experience—from setting an appointment to final checkout. With more options— including chip cards, contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and online payments—you’ll be offering a smooth, hassle-free conclusion to your customers’ experience. So they’ll leave your business happier and more satisfied—and more likely to come back soon.

In the end, user-friendly booking software can solve many major customer complaints.

And what does that mean for you? Happier customers, more efficient staff—and more chances for your business to thrive.

The journey towards enhanced customer satisfaction and streamlined operations is important for any business—and user-friendly booking software can help. By addressing common customer pain points and complaints—such as confusing booking processes, long waiting times, lack of real-time availability, inefficient appointment reminders, and limited payment options—this technology can be a catalyst for positive change and spark growth.

Fact: Businesses that embrace user-friendly booking software not only improve their efficiency, but also make it clear that client satisfaction is their priority.

This strategic approach will pave the way for sustained growth, allowing you and your staff to focus on your core offerings—while ensuring your clients and customers remain deeply engaged.

What business doesn’t want happier clients, improved efficiency, and a platform for growth? The benefits of incorporating user-friendly booking software into your business puts this all within reach.

To explore software that can transform your customer service experience, visit DaySmart Solutions—or simply book a demo today and see exactly how we can help you. Embrace the future of your business operations with confidence, knowing that your clients are in good hands!

The post 5 Customer Service Complaints Solved by User-Friendly Booking Software appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

Solving Staffing Struggles in the Pet Care Industry

You didn’t start a pet care business to be a bookkeeper, marketer, or scheduler. You did it because you love pets and want them to have the best care. The same is true for your employees.  

Each day promises furry faces and wagging tails—and the life of your staff can be both rewarding and challenging. Working at a well-run pet care business can deliver more than a paycheck. It can mean a satisfying blend of care, skill-building, and continually renewed dedication to the well-being of our four-legged clients. 

But in the competitive, fast-paced industry of pet care, the often-heartwarming task of caring for furry companions can clash with the realities of business operations. So pet care business owners and professionals like you, increasingly face a critical challenge.  

The challenge is not just how to provide exceptional care to pets, but also how to efficiently manage staffing needs in a tight labor market.  

Luckily, the solution may be more straightforward than you might imagine.   

By leveraging the advanced capabilities of software solutions created specifically for pet care businesses, you can reduce the hours your team spends on administrative tasks.  

So your employees can focus on why they work for you—to deliver superior pet care. But that’s not all. You’ll benefit from… 

• Higher quality service from your team 
• Happier employees who are free to do the parts of their job they love 
• Better retention of your best employees 
• Satisfied pet owners—and pets 
• A growing business—so you can attract top talent 

Step One? Address Administrative Challenges Head On 

Regardless of its size or the depth of services offered, every pet care business deals with administrative tasks that threaten to consume a considerable amount of your time and resources: 

• Front Desk Management: The front desk is like the nerve center of your operation—handling appointment scheduling, retail sales, client inquiries, and more. Managing these tasks manually is a recipe for inefficiency and mistakes—impacting client satisfaction and employee happiness. 
• Paperwork Overload: Each pet’s health history needs detailed documentation, and that paperwork can pile up quickly. Managing records manually not only eats up a ton of time, but also increases the risk of lost, misplaced, or incomplete records. 
• Client Communications: Maintaining a continuous, engaging line of communication with pet owners is crucial for client retention and satisfaction. But doing so without a streamlined digital system can be complicated, time-wasting, and inconsistent. 

• Bookkeeping Complexity: Financial management can be a huge strength—or a giant headache. Chances are, you didn’t open your business to become a full-time accountant! Manual processes like managing payroll and inventory can leave you at risk for errors, hassles, and big problems come tax time.  

Scroll down for easy solutions to help you address these issues. 

While these administrative tasks are all  important, they also divert your team’s attention away from what you really hired them to do: make every pet’s visit purr-fectly smooth.   

It’s not an uncommon story. Nikki Budaj, the owner of Scrubbers Dog Wash, has experience with attracting and retaining great employees. As she said when asked: 

“Another challenge is finding good groomers. You need people who are responsible and reliable, especially when your business is growing. When we had two shops, I could run one and my husband could run the other. Now that we have three, we need loyal employees who can manage the shops—which may be the most important thing for running a business and keeping customers happy. I need employees who will give the level of customer service that I would.

With hiring and retaining staff more difficult than ever, can you afford to drive your best employees away with a ton of paperwork and administrative challenges?  

Don’t worry. There’s a simple, powerful way to improve employee morale, ensure happier clients, and grow your business. It’s the transformative power of software solutions designed specifically to streamline the administrative burdens and challenges of pet care businesses.  

Off-the-rack software is designed to be one size fits all. As a result, it doesn’t fit any business perfectly. And the truth is, your business faces challenges unique to pet care. So by embracing technology built for pet care, you can unlock new levels of effectiveness. 

• Front Desk Efficiency: The right software solutions can revolutionize how appointments are booked, managed, and followed up. Online booking systems, digital check-ins, and automated reminders reduce the need for manual work, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience from start to finish—for pet owners and our staff. 
• Streamlined Paperwork: Transitioning to digital record-keeping will eliminate physical file storage, so documents are easy to access, update, and secure. This not only saves you and your staff time—but also significantly reduces the risk of lost or incorrect, out-of-date data. 
• Easier Communications: Automated communication tools allow your team to deliver consistent and personalized client updates, appointment reminders, and marketing campaigns. This keeps pet owners engaged and informed—without the constant need for manual outreach or playing phone tag. 
• Simplified Bookkeeping: Integrated payments and financial tools are more than a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for managing your business’s finances like tracking expenses, revenues, and payroll. These systems also provide accurate, real-time insights into your financial health, inventory, and more—enabling better decision-making. So your business can grow—and more easily attract employees if and when you need to staff up.  

How can all this translate to helping with your staffing concerns? In a few ways: 

1. Utilizing the right software solutions means reduced need for administrative staff to handle manual, repetitive responsibilities.  

2. Simplified, easier task management saves your staff time and headaches—so they can better serve your clients’ pets, feel more fulfilled and productive—and never feel the need to look for a new job.  

3. When your team is happy, your clients are happy, and when your business is growing, you’ll find that it’s easier to attract—and retain—the best employees for your business.  

We’ve talked about how software can help—but what can it NOT do?  

While the right software solutions for your pet care business can vastly improve team efficiency, client satisfaction, and growth, it’s crucial to also acknowledge its limitations.  

Let’s be clear: No technology can replace the human touch, expertise, and care essential in grooming, daycare, or boarding services. The real value of your business comes from the skilled professionals who provide these services. Therefore, your focus should be on recruiting and retaining talented individuals passionate about pet care.  

By choosing software platform designed for your business, you can let it handle the administrative load—and your staff can dedicate their full attention and energy to what they do best—caring for pets. This strategic division of labor ensures your business not only meets—but also exceeds—client expectations. 

Just imagine, for a moment, a day where the administrative load—scheduling appointments, managing point-of-sale transactions, and communicating with pet owners—is lifted for your team. That’s what the seamless integration of the right software can do.  

Deana Deitchler, owner of Dogs Paw Inc. in Minnesota, has been there. Balancing the desire to deliver the best pet care with the realities of running a small business is never easy, but by making the right decision for her software, she—and her employees—have seen amazing success: 

“I love providing quality pet care—that’s number one—but I also love that, as a business owner, I get to choose who I work with, both in terms of clients and employees. I opened my business in 2008 and was doing everything on paper—from booking to billing—and chasing my tail to figure out appointments and financials every day. I was struggling to keep track of my customer base, especially because handwriting everything was getting messy. My employees love how helpful the ticket creation features are, too. DaySmart Pet makes it easy for them to create tickets and enter all the information they need—just like they’re working off a piece of paper in front of them. The software’s search functionality also offers several ways to find a ticket; you can search by customer or pet name and easily pull up the information you need in a timely manner.

Let’s look at a day in the life of an employee empowered by technology designed specifically for your pet care business.  

Appointments are neatly organized and accessible at the click of a button, so your team can spend more time personally welcoming each pet and making it feel more comfortable. Employees can fully engage with pet owners—and gather any valuable insights or updates since their last visit.  

There are no distractions by manual check-ins or paperwork. This uninterrupted interaction not only strengthens your team’s bond with clients, but also sets the stage for a day filled with attentive care tailored to each pet’s needs. That leads to happier pets, satisfied pet owners—and a work environment that feels rewarding.  

Feeding schedules, playtime, and grooming sessions can all be handled with greater ease and efficiency. Point-of-sale transactions and inventory management becomes swift and hassle-free. This all means a smooth and pleasant experience for pets and their owners—and fewer hassles for employees. 

For your team, all of this amplifies the joy they get from working with pets. Employees will be fueled by the satisfaction they get from knowing they’ve provided the best possible care.  

The greater your team’s satisfaction, the more loyal they’ll be to you. That means you’ll have less need to attract, interview, evaluate, hire, onboard, and train new employees.  

This is the reality of a pet care business enhanced by integrated software, where the focus remains on the happiness and well-being of pets and their owners alike. It’s a business that can grow—and retain the best employees possible.  

So how can DaySmart help?  

DaySmart Pet is designed to be easy to implement, train on and use. It’s built for pet care businesses, not for computer scientists. You can transform the way your business functions, leading to increased efficiency, improved client satisfaction, and higher employee morale.  

How important is employee morale? When asked, Mike Conners (owner of Haute Dogge, a pet grooming salon with multiple locations in Tennessee) said,  

“DaySmart Pet’s features stood out among all the other business software that I was comparing it to. It’s very simple, user-friendly and allows us to store useful information on both clients and their pets. Being able to text or email to confirm appointments has been a life saver for us, especially with the mobile unit. Specific to a grooming business, you need to find people who don’t just want a job, but who want to take care of pets. We go through a lot of bathers, for example, because it’s not an easy position. Hiring people who are truly dedicated to the role is key. We give new employees a “trial day” to give them a chance to see if they will enjoy it or not.

Pet care business owners know you can’t underestimate the importance of staffing challenges. But more and more, they are understanding how the right software solutions can be a huge ally in overcoming those challenges.   

By automating administrative tasks, your business can focus on what it’s meant to do—provide exceptional care to pets. As we’ve seen, this can mean happier customers, more fulfilled staff, and plenty of opportunities for growth.  

Adopting DaySmart software is not just a step towards overcoming your current challenges; it’s a leap towards a future where your pet care business is known for efficiency, satisfaction, and success. Your clients will feel it, and so will your staff.  

Interested in learning more? See how you can revolutionize your business at DaySmart Pet—and book a demo at your convenience. Ready to jump in and give it a try? Start your free trial today with no obligation or credit card required.

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Integrated Payments: 5 Things Every Business Owner Should Know 

Owning and operating a business is more complex than ever. In addition to delivering the best for your customers and clients, competition gets fiercer all the time. You want to grow, but you also may not have all the resources, time, and team it takes to stay one step ahead.  

Incorporating integrated payments with your business is a way you can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest players in your market, and it’s simpler than many business owners expect.  

The fact of the matter is, if you aren’t incorporating a modern, seamless payment system in your business, you run the risk of falling behind.  

The good news? It’s not too late to get up to speed.  

The better news? Getting started right now can be simple, and the benefits of integrated payments can deliver exponential opportunities for growth, differentiation from competitors, and an exceptional experience for your clients and customers.  

Read on to understand why customers today expect—and deserve—the simplicity and seamless experience integrated payments deliver. You’ll understand not just why your business should utilize integrated payments—but also the dangers of not using it.  

Finally, you’ll learn practical steps to implement integrated payments, and hear from business owners who took the plunge—and reaped the benefits.  

Let’s dive in and explore everything you need to know about integrated payments and why they are fundamental to growing a successful business.  

Start by understanding what integrated payments are—and what they are not.

The easiest way to explain integrated payments is this: it’s a way to handle payment processing for small businesses. But beyond simple point of sale transactions, it’s a system that enables you to accept electronic and card payments, and works directly with your business management software.  

It’s not just about making checkout easier. It can help streamline many of your business operations and give you more opportunities for growth.  

• Simple Payments: Clients can pay for services and products directly through your website, app, or in your store. That means a faster, easier customer experience that’s consistent online, offline, or on the go. 
• Inventory Management: Every transaction can automatically update your business’s inventory. So keeping track of what you have in stock—and what you need to order—is simpler than ever. 
• Data Insights: See what’s selling, and what’s not. Gain insights into what your customers and clients want more of—and make informed decisions that translate into growth. 

For fitness centers, this could mean managing membership payments, and seeing what classes your members want more of. For a vet, integrated payments can help you understand patient lifetime value—and clearly track revenue per visit. For a spa, it could result in streamlined bookings and staffing—and more satisfied clients..  

No matter what your business offers customers and clients, integrated payments can make your systems run more smoothly.  

And while some small businesses may want to avoid credit card processing fees, but it’s important to look at the big picture. When you look at all the benefits to your business and your customers, a small percentage of revenue going to card payment processing companies won’t seem like a roadblock.  

Beyond transactions, integrated payments help small businesses understand sales trends, provide better service, and put you on equal footing with the largest players in your market. Plus, by making your payment process more efficient, you can focus on what you do best: making customers and clients happy. 

Fact: Your customers will notice if payments aren’t seamless and simple 

Right now, your clients and customers expect the same convenience and efficiency from you that they experience from companies like Amazon, Spotify, Venmo and their bank. If you don’t believe you are competing with the Amazons of the world, let’s stop for a moment. Imagine a new bank was launching. How well would this bank do if they didn’t offer online payments, EFTs and full service in their app. What if they didn’t offer customers a debit card? Imagine if deposits and withdrawals meant having to go to their branch, stand in line, and wait for a person behind a glass to help you.  

Obviously, this bank wouldn’t attract much business.  

Customer expectations of seamless efficiency across all kinds of businesses is often referred to as “Amazonification”. It means that service, speed, convenience, and attentiveness have become the norm across many industries. It also means small businesses must adapt by implementing integrated payments to meet these expectations—and not fall behind. 

And if you think it’s just about credit cards, think again. Online payments and mobile payments make up a huge percentage of transactions. In fact, a recent study stated how forecasts show the total transaction value by the end of the year will be $6.68 trillion. $4.195 trillion will come from Digital Commerce and $2.489 trillion will come from Mobile POS Payments. 

If this all sounds intimidating, take a second and relax. It doesn’t mean you have to be as big or complex as Amazon. Far from it. By adopting integrated payment solutions, your business can offer the same level of seamless service as the best businesses on earth. It’s what your clients expect. It’s what they deserve. And it’s what you can offer thanks to integrated payments.  

Reduce errors, save time and increase growth with payment processing for small businesses 

Any and every business can benefit from simplified transactions, efficient scheduling, and more accurate financial tracking.  

The right system will do all the hard work for you and your team—and make running your business easier. 

• Save Time: Automated processes reduce hours wasted on manual data entries, allowing you to focus more on service, quality, and growth. 
• Increase Accuracy: With integrated payments, the risk of errors goes down significantly, ensuring accurate bookkeeping and records. 
• Deepen Security: Enhanced security features protect both you and your clients from fraud—providing more peace of mind. 
• Avoid Costly Chargebacks: Reduce your risk of financial repercussions from chargebacks to your business. 

Whether you need to automate recurring payments, make POS transactions easier, increase customer trust or just have fewer administrative headaches, integrated payments can deliver the solutions you’re looking for. 

With integrated payments, the efficiency, security, and convenience create a win-win-win scenario for you, your employees, and your clients. 

A hard truth: Without integrated payments, your business will fall behind 

We’ve talked about how integrated payments can be a game-changer for small business owners—significantly saving time and money while delivering a better customer experience. Now let’s discuss the hidden costs of NOT using integrated payments. The price can be steep—and really hurt your business. 

Not incorporating integrated payments means wasted time, lost opportunities and a higher cost of doing business. Manual transactions, ordering, and scheduling will all be more inefficient and time-consuming.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Without integrated payments, transactions will always be slower and inventory management will be harder. The risk of error increases—so staff satisfaction and performance can suffer. That means worse service, increased hassles, and unhappy customers.  

Remember the bank we talked about earlier? It wouldn’t stay in business very long.  

Increased competition. Steeper customer expectations. Supply chain issues. Whether it’s missed salon appointments, lapsed gym memberships—or just not offering the treatment a client is looking for in your spa—things are hard enough today for small businesses to survive and thrive.  

And the sad truth is that many don’t. Not incorporating integrated payments with your systems could be the difference between growing your business—or closing up shop.  

But take a breath. If you’re a small business owner who understands the value of integrated payments to you and your customers—but doesn’t know where to begin or what to choose—getting started is not as difficult as you may think.  

The best small business payment processing choice for you: A practical guide to getting started 

It’s no question that integrated payments are a smart move for small business owners, The next question is this: which solution should you choose?  

Every business is unique—with its own challenges, expectations, and goals. So choosing the right integrated payment system is as important as the decision to use them in the first place.  

To start, ask yourself what kind of transactions you need to process. Do you need to manage recurring payments like gym memberships? Are retail products integral to your bottom line—like a salon’s hair products? Do you need transactions to sync with patient appointments and records for veterinary visits?

  

Choosing a system designed with your specific business type in mind will eliminate a lot of challenges and headaches. Many one-size-fits all payment systems force owners to settle for what they offer everyone—without customizing the solution to specific business needs.  

Think of it this way: It’s not about choosing the best payment processing for small business. It’s about choosing the best payment processing for YOUR small business. 

The best advice? A system designed for your business will be easier to implement and deliver more benefits than an off-the-rack offering.  

That’s where DaySmart can help. Our entire mission is to develop and deliver software solutions designed for specific kinds of businesses, so it’s easier for you to thrive and grow.  

We appreciate that a doggie daycare is different from a body art studio. That a day spa faces challenges a veterinarian doesn’t—and vice versa. A one-person barber shop has different needs than a small chain of mani-pedi salons. That’s why our integrated payment solutions are tailored to your business.  

How to begin?  

1. Visit DaySmart.com: Explore the website to understand how integrated payments can benefit your specific type of business. 

2. Explore Your Solution: DaySmart offers different solutions for different industries. Find the one that best fits your business needs. 

3. Get in touch with a DaySmart Expert: Learn more about DaySmart Integrated payments and if it’s the right fit for your business.
   

If you want to be more efficient, have fewer administrative hassles—and enjoy more opportunities—DaySmart integrated payments can help.  

Learn from other business owners who’ve been there 

You don’t have to look too far to find small business owners who are glad they’ve made the switch to integrated payments.  

Jason Anderson of Wet Paws Mobile Pet Grooming sees value from integrating his payment system with his scheduling and customer data—and the ability to store and track customer cards for easier payment simplifies everything. As Jason explains, “Since we are 100% mobile groomers, we use the app exclusively…Do I want five platforms to manage and keep in sync, or just one?” 

Ursula Augustine, owner of Ursula’s About Phace Rittenhouse Makeup Studio was able to concentrate on delivering the best service to her clients instead of getting bogged down in complicated systems not suited to her business. In addition, Ursula said,  “I’m not great with technology, so it’s reassuring to know that I can always call in and have a human being help me with an issue.” 

Having a seamless integration of payments also helps Public Services Superintendent, Mike Cresap at Plano Sports Authority, manage his parks and recreation center. “In 2010 over 85% of our administrative work was done face to face, requiring staff to explain programs, review schedules/locations, register users, and take payments. Today less than 15% of that work is done face to face. Using the DaySmart Recreation customer portal. Users can research programs of interest, consider a schedule that suits their lifestyle, then register and pay, online.”  

Making the switch to integrated payments is a smart move for any small business. An even smarter one? Choosing a system that’s part of a complete, seamless suite of software that helps you run every aspect of your business—and is designed especially for your business’s unique needs.  

The bottom line? Integrated payments are essential for any small business to succeed 

We hope you’ve learned more about the benefits of integrated payments. How it can deliver a better experience for your clients and customers—and how it can make transactions, inventory, bookkeeping, and customer management easier for you and your team.  

And more than just learning WHY integrated payments are a smart decision for any small business, we talked about what to look for in yours—and outlined some steps on HOW to get started.  

Know this: it’s never too late to make the decision to incorporate integrated payment processing with your business. 

What’s more, integrated payments will help level the playing field between you and the biggest companies on earth—and it’s easier than ever to launch.   

Think of the bank we imagined before. The one that doesn’t offer electronic transactions, debit cards, or an app to manage customer accounts. Ask yourself: is that a bank you would want to do business with? Now think of your customers. If you don’t offer integrated payments to make things more convenient for them—your competition already does.

Want to learn more right now? Fill out the form to get a demo of DaySmart Payments integrated with a software solution built for your business!

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3 Reasons Why Clients Aren’t Booking with Your Business and How To Fix It 

There’s nothing like seeing a full calendar of client bookings. Busy periods of your schedule mean you’re at the top of your game, your employees are giving their all, clients are happy, and revenue is rolling in.

 But what do you do during the slow periods when you open your schedule and see a whole lot of nothing? To help, we’ve got three reasons why clients aren’t booking with your business and the steps you can take to fix them.

1. Ineffective Online Presence

Never underestimate the impact that your website and online listings can have on your small business. Your website serves as a vital platform for engaging with potential clients and providing them with the precise information they seek. From showcasing your services and pricing to offering a seamless appointment booking process, it all boils down to ensuring a seamless user experience that leaves clients satisfied and eager to choose your business.

Having a user-friendly and mobile-responsive website is key to increasing appointments booked. In fact, 82% of clients use mobile devices to book appointments. If they can’t easily make an appointment on their phone, they’re going look for a business that does. Once they find your website or online listing, is the information listed there correct and current? Incomplete and out-of-date information is another roadblock to client bookings. Trying to book a service that is no longer available or seeking days and times that have since changed will cause clients to go elsewhere.

Your online reputation matters as well, reviews can be one of the biggest setbacks – or a great leg up – for many businesses It’s common for reviews and ratings to appear in an online search, and they are pulled from social media and business listings sites. If you’re not using reputation management tools to leverage reviews, clients may look elsewhere when they can’t find recommendations.

2. Inadequate Marketing and Promotion

Marketing goes hand-in-hand with your online presence and its ability to drive client bookings. 

Are you using your online and community presence to promote awareness and visibility? Coming up with marketing promotional strategies is helpful, but not having the right tools for execution and follow-up will make these efforts more challenging. Social media is key for business growth. If you’re not posting photos and videos of the work you do, the trends you’re following, and the knowledge you possess, you won’t be noticed by clients in your community. Scroll down for marketing solutions and recommendations.

3. Subpar Customer Experience 

The customer experience is a key factor in whether or not they’ll come back. Small business owners have the unique challenge of finding unique ways to create positive experiences for everyone who walks in the door. Customers want a personalized, customized experience when they book an appointment. They want staff to acknowledge their individual preferences and expectations, resulting in a service that’s tailored just to them. Lack of soft skills and the ability to build relationships add to the experience, making it unpleasant or unprofessional.

How to Fix It: Solutions and Recommendations for Increasing Appointments Booked

Here’s the good news: these problems are easily solvable. Let’s take a look at some steps you can implement. 

1. Put Time and Effort Into Marketing

The work you put into your marketing will pay off in a full calendar and your business revenue targets. Having marketing plans in place will make it easier to put them into motion when you decide to run campaigns to promote your business. Decide what messaging and platforms you want to use when running a typical campaign. Then target your efforts based on what you’re promoting, who you want to reach, and what you want to accomplish. 

Text and email marketing are particularly helpful in reaching your customers and prospects. You can use both platforms to share special deals, announce new services, and promote your business during busy seasons, such as the holidays. Your clients check their texts and emails multiple times a day, so having a presence in their texts and inbox will make them more aware of what you offer.

Make social media a regular part of your day to highlight the great work you and your staff perform on a daily basis and make your community aware of the services you provide using these tips:

• Leverage social media platforms in your marketing campaigns and general awareness.
• Research competitors and industry experts to get inspiration for your own posts.
• Use hashtags and tag clients, employees, and relevant local businesses and organizations to generate more exposure and engagement. 
  
  

2. Prioritize the Customer Experience

Focusing on excellent customer service and personalization will keep it top of mind for staff. If customers are happy, they’ll book return visits and make referrals. A business management platform lets you keep detailed notes on client preferences and personalize your services. It can also provide a seamless booking and communication experience for your clients and staff.

You might offer the best services in the neighborhood, but if they’re delivered by staff with a negative attitude, that’s all the client will remember. Train your staff to provide professional and friendly interactions and leave the right impression on every client in their chair. Having the right ambiance and a clean space will go a long way toward a positive experience. Make sure your decor, music, and cleaning procedures work together to create an environment for customers to relax and enjoy their visit. 

3. Use the Right Software and Information for Your Online Presence

Choosing the best tools is the first step to improving your online presence. Make it easy for clients to learn more about your business and take action. This starts with your website — invest in a solution that provides a mobile-friendly and user-friendly website experience. Your clients need to seamlessly navigate your site no matter what device they’re using. 

Update and optimize your online booking platforms with accurate information. When you’re making changes to your staff, scheduling availability, and services, make sure your booking platforms and business listings reflect the new information. Create a checklist of your web pages and online listings for when these changes are made so you don’t forget where you need to make updates.

Ask them to shout their love from the (digital) rooftops. Make it easy for customers to write a review so you can publish them to your website, social media, and listing sites to bring in new customers.

Fill Your Calendar and Your Revenue Stream 

Having an ineffective online presence, inadequate marketing, and subpar customer service can create barriers to booking. These problems are getting in the way of new and repeat customers who want to do business with you but can’t get past these roadblocks. Solving these issues is vital to running a successful business, generating revenue, and keeping customers happy and eager to return.

If you’re overwhelmed, tackle one problem at a time. The improvements you see will be motivation enough to keep going and breaking down these barriers to success.

A Successful Business Starts with the Right Management Platform

DaySmart is the software solution that’s helping businesses simplify the way they schedule, take payments, communicate, and manage tasks. Find the solution that’s right for your business and request a demonstration today!

The post 3 Reasons Why Clients Aren’t Booking with Your Business and How To Fix It  appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

How to Advertise Your Business Locally

If you own a small business, you know how important it is to develop a relationship with local customers. Building a relationship with the locals is essential for continued business and growth; for any small business.

After all, if people who live nearby aren’t visiting their local businesses, why would others from further afield make the trip?

Unfortunately, advertising locally is not as simple as you might hope. However, once you understand how to implement effective advertising, the results you will see will be monumental.

Suppose you can successfully separate your offering from the competition and engage with your local customers. In that case, you will see plenty of knock-on effects, such as more business, more positive reviews, and even some more customers that are not local.

This article will guide you on how to advertise your business locally to good effect and help you continue to grow and build your brand.

Key takeaways for your business

From this article, you will learn the following:

1. How to create marketing campaigns that resonate with your local customers and help you stand out from the competition.
2. You can employ a range of digital and physical marketing tactics to experience more local business from local customers.
3. Any business can use several free and cost-effective marketing tools, regardless of size or marketing budget.

Ways You Can Promote Your Local Business

Start a Company Blog

Developing a company blog is one of the most effective marketing strategies available to you. Not only is blogging completely free to execute, but it can also lead to several new potential clients discovering your business.

By writing plenty of blog content surrounding your industry, you will show potential customers just how knowledgeable you are about the field, and it will build your trust and reputation.

Not only that, but Google’s ranking system will also take note. If your content is deemed insightful, engaging, and beneficial, your business will appear at the top of the rankings when local people search for businesses near me them.

However, to achieve this success, your content must be more thought out than simply writing about industry-related topics you anticipate people are searching in Google. To ensure your content has a true impact on where your business ranks on Google, you must implement a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.

An SEO strategy includes keyword research, highlighting which topics are constantly searched by your target audience, which you can then use to write content that answers their query. Google values content that solves users’ questions and offers them useful guidance.

There are plenty of free keyword research tools that you can use to map out your blog content, or you can use more advanced tools like Ahrefs, SEMRush, and SurferSEO if they fall within your marketing budget.

Understanding what your target audience is looking for online is the first step toward building content that will lead to traffic and new local customers.

Keep Your Social Media Channels Updated

Once you have spent time crafting the perfect blog content for your audience, you should start sharing it on social media. 

Social media marketing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, are all excellent ways to interact with potential local customers.

Almost all of your local target audience will use social media platforms to search for the best businesses nearby. Therefore, it is crucial that you remain active on each channel and try to respond to comments, queries, or direct messages, as quickly as possible.

As you will know, first-time customers often have plenty of questions, which is perfectly understandable. 

By being active on social media, you allow potential customers to ask these queries, gain more information about what they are looking for, and also build your relationship, making you more trustworthy. The more trustworthy you are, the more likely they are to choose your business.

Each social media platform offers its own unique benefits. Instagram and TikTok offer excellent opportunities to showcase your work and get potential local customers excited over what you can do. Obviously, some social media channels are better than others when it comes to industry; Tattoo artists, stylists, and groomers tend to get much more of their business from Instagram than Facebook or LinkedIn, due to the nature of the industry.

Just remember to keep your social media posts relevant to your local audience, and you will quickly see your follower count grow.

Sign Up for Local Listings or Local Directory

Another important way that you can advertise your small business locally is to submit your contact details and business profile to local listings, ones that are specific to your industry.

Often these local listings are run by professional organizations, such as local directories like Yelp or review sites like Tripadvisor.

By locally listing your business, you allow potential customers to research your business before making a commitment.

Implement Locally Targeted Ads

While some businesses believe that digital marketing is only beneficial for brands that focus on a nationwide or worldwide audience, that isn’t the case.

Facebook advertising has become incredibly popular as a local advertising option for businesses due to the extensive details they have on their users.

You can create digital ads for your business and then personalize them to only target a specific audience, using several targeting options to narrow down your audience:

• Geofencing
• Demographic
• Address
• Interests
• Page likes
• Age

These are just some of the options you can use to identify your local target audience with your advertisements.

Don’t be put off if your audience volume drops significantly; that is always going to happen when you start hyper-targeting. 

It is much better to spend advertising money promoting your product or service to people that want to hear about it and are potential buyers rather than focusing on sending it to a large group that doesn’t fit your target audience.

Geofencing allows you to only target people within a certain radius of your business, ensuring you are only targeting local people.

From there, you can also add rules surrounding the demographic, their interests, what pages they have liked, and even how old they are.

Focusing on people who show an interest in your industry or similar industries is a good way to identify people who are likely interested in getting one at some point.

Create a few very similar audiences, possibly split by age or by interests, and see which ones perform the best.

Once you have identified the best-performing ads, put more of your budget into those groups to reach more similar people, and take money out of the underperforming ads.

Locally targeted ads take a little bit of funding and trial and error, but once you identify your audience, you will quickly see results.

Create a Direct Mail Campaign

While digital marketing campaigns have plenty of value and can be really fun to get your head around, don’t discard traditional local advertising methods like direct mail.

Direct mail might’ve been around for a long time now and may not be the most popular choice, but it is still extremely effective.

Due to how the internet is set up, users are hit with ads almost everywhere they go. While this gives you plenty of advertising opportunities, it also means they lose some of their impact.

One way to stand out from the crowd is to go back to basics and start sending out physical brochures.

You may want to design your own brochure or hire a freelance designer to do it for you. Whichever option you choose, ensure you include your business details and contact information, and possibly a first purchase incentive, such as a discount.

You could also consider posting an advert in the local paper, although that might not be as effective depending on whether or not your target audience is avid readers of the daily newspaper.

Build Your Email List

It might not be quite as traditional as direct marketing, but email marketing is another effective advertising technique that has proven successful over many years.

Email marketing is fantastic for building brand awareness, increasing customer acquisition, convincing customers to repurchase, and so many other benefits.

The bigger your email list, the more opportunities can come from each message you send.

Offer incentives for people to register for your email list, and include them on local flyers, direct marketing, and even on small business cards you have on show at your business.

Take Part in Community Activities

If you are searching for the most organic way to promote your business locally, then showing potential clients you are a contributing member of the local community is a great place to start. 

Showing people you genuinely care about the area will go a long way to showing prospective customers that you are loyal to the area, and they should be loyal to you.

Keep an eye out for volunteering opportunities, fundraisers your business can donate to, or any local events your business can get involved in.

The key to these events is not to heavily promote your brand, as the local people will see through this as fake generosity and loyalty. Instead, offer genuine support and allow people to learn about the brand behind your support organically.

You might even consider partnering with local charities or hosting your own fundraising event for a local cause. Essentially, any opportunity to get involved with the local community should be taken.

Create a Loyalty Program

Another way to advertise your business locally is by promoting a loyalty program for your customers. This type of advertising will help you gain repeat business from locals and develop customer loyalty.

Existing local customers will be more tempted to work with your business again if there is an incentive to do so.

That incentive could be gaining a discount on each purchase or a free gift after a certain amount of purchases are made, for example.

The more you work with existing customers, the more you will build up your local business community and develop a foundation that you can build upon.

Build a Referral Program

Finally, one excellent way to build up your local customer base is by offering a referral program. While some of your customers will willingly share how amazing your business is with their friends and family, others may need a little push.

Offering a discount on their next purchase with you is a great referral option. You can increase the discount the more people they refer to your business. The choice is up to you. 

For any customer who is happy with their experience, they will be more likely to want a second one. Offering them the chance to get a discount will incentivize them to promote your brand to other people, which will carry much more weight than any marketing message you can create.

Studies have shown that over 60% of customers trust recommendations from friends and family over the word of a company.

Therefore you can quickly start to see why this advertising strategy is a fantastic way to develop awareness organically via word of mouth.

Final Thoughts on How to Advertise Your Business Locally

Now you have several ways to advertise your small business efficiently and effectively. Many of these options of easy to implement, and while some do come with an associated cost, they should not be too significant.

However, marketing can take plenty of your time, the time you may not have to spare. To free up time for essential marketing strategies, consider using Daysmart. 

Ditch the pen and paper and embrace tech to manage more of your business. DaySmart software solutions help businesses simplify the way they schedule, take payments, communicate, and manage tasks.

Once you have freed up additional time with this software, you can start implementing your marketing strategies and growing your business.

Find the solution that can help you seize your day, smarter!

The post How to Advertise Your Business Locally appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

From Appointment to Checkout – The Benefits of Using Deposits at Your Pet Care Business

One of the most common changes that occurred post-pandemic for service-based businesses like pet boarding, grooming, and daycare is requiring a deposit when booking an appointment. 

After undergoing a business slowdown or stopping altogether during the COVID lockdown and the height of the pandemic, these businesses needed to find ways to get their revenue back on track. During the industry’s rebirth, mandatory deposits emerged more frequently as a simple yet effective solution to secure cash flow. 

Learn more about the importance of deposits, the benefits of collecting them, and how DaySmart Pet can help you capture deposits, run your pet care business more efficiently, and allow you to do what you love most: taking care of VIPs (Very Important Pets). 

Why are Deposits Important for Your Pet Care Business?

Service-based businesses that depend on appointments can often lose business from clients who fail to show up and don’t rebook. Asking customers for a partial deposit or payment in full before their appointment will protect your business against last-minute cancellations and no-shows. Clients are more likely to keep their dog salon and boarding appointments or rebook rather than lose their deposit. Collecting deposits ensures that appointments will occur as planned and helps prevent empty time slots in your calendar, ensuring a consistent flow of clients and revenue.  

Before implementing deposits, be aware that businesses in the service industry need modern tools to accept modern payments.  For today’s consumer, credit and digital cash are king. A Forbes survey from 2023 found that 81% of consumers typically use a credit or debit card to pay for online and in-person purchases. This means more people are turning to digital wallet payments like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. In fact, McKinsey’s 2023 consumer survey discovered that nine out of 10 consumers reported using a digital wallet payment over the course of the year. This means pet owners might prefer to pay with their smartphone rather than juggle their wallet or purse and their pooch’s leash! 

Also, consider what you could do with the guaranteed revenue and saved time that’s coming your way! Deposits help you build your bank account to expand your pet care business, hire more staff, allow said staff to focus more on grooming tasks and less on administrative tasks so you can work less, and finally, take time for that vacation you’ve been dreaming about but never booked. 

What are the Benefits Of Using Pet Grooming Software to Collect Deposits?

Adopting pet grooming software is the best way to collect deposits for your business. Modern pet grooming software is equipped to work with today’s consumer payment preferences. These solutions offer secure integrated payment processing so you can effortlessly collect deposits, eliminating the need for manual handling of cash or checks. This not only reduces administrative tasks but also enhances the overall efficiency of your operations. Imagine the time and energy you can save by automating your deposit collection process and what you can do instead. 

Modern pet care management software stays up-to-date on industry trends and needs, so they are constantly enhancing the way they accept payments and take deposits. These solutions ensure secure payment processing so you can safely collect revenue while eliminating the need to handle cash and checks. Everything online reduces the need for payment reconciliation and centralizes all your payment details in one location. 

Some business management solutions also offer reporting features that allow you to monitor cash flow and forecast your future revenue, helping you set realistic goals and make informed decisions about your business strategies. By having deposits, you’re adding more payment-related data to your pet grooming software that will help improve visibility into business performance.  

How Does DaySmart Pet Help You Capture Deposits?

DaySmart Pet is the leading business management software solution for pet care businesses looking to simplify how they schedule and manage appointments, take payments, and communicate with customers.  

With integrated payments, you capture deposits during the appointment booking process so you can easily accept and manage payments directly from the software. This enables you to simplify check-in and check-out. Storing credit card information on file makes it easy for you to collect deposits, automate your payment reconciliation process, and give pet parents a no-stress way to collect their best friend and head straight home. You can also accept payments from your clients with modern devices that support transactions via swipe or tap. Every payment is processed securely with industry-leading security standards. 

Get The Right Tools in Place for Deposits And More

Your pet care business can prevent no-shows and lost revenue by requiring deposits from appointment to checkout. You need the right pet care management tools to process payments and help streamline your operations.  

With DaySmart Pet by your side, you’ll be able to start taking deposits so you can continue growing your pet care business. See our deposits feature in action by booking a free demo today. 

The post From Appointment to Checkout – The Benefits of Using Deposits at Your Pet Care Business appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

Best Dog Grooming Software for 2024

For those in the bustling pet grooming industry, leveraging digital tools is not just about streamlining operations—although that helps—but also, about freeing up more quality time to spend with our furry friends.

While hanging with animals might be your favorite part of the job, running a dog grooming business inherently comes with juggling appointments, managing staff, and keeping track of inventory—no wonder you’re exhausted! It’s enough to make even the most dedicated entrepreneur yearn for a break.

What if you could streamline business operations, free up your time, and focus on what truly matters: those four-legged friends who bring wagging tails and unconditional love into our lives?

Enter the world of dog grooming software.

This guide will unleash the best dog grooming software, unpack the benefits that pet grooming software can bring to businesses, and review our top contenders for the best dog grooming software in a way that’s both informative and, dare we say, pawsome.

What is Dog Grooming Software?

Think of dog grooming software as the Swiss Army knife in your grooming toolkit. It’s like a digital butler, handling everything from scheduling appointments to managing customer data, offering online booking capabilities, sending automated reminders, and providing real-time reporting and analytics.

This software allows busy groomers to focus more on snipping fur and less on flipping through scheduling books and reminding pet parents of their appointments.

So, how can dog grooming software become your new best friend?

For small businesses, the most efficient software is not a luxury but a necessity for your business to grow and thrive. It simplifies day-to-day tasks, keeps your customer database organized, ensures timely appointments, and offers insights into your business’s performance. In short, it’s your digital path toward a more organized and profitable grooming business. Below are some of the key benefits of top-tier pet grooming software.

Operational Efficiency

• Goodbye, appointment chaos! Say hello to online booking, automated reminders, and color-coded calendars that make scheduling a breeze. Plus, clients can complete paperwork ahead of time, which means pups are ready to go upon arrival. And the kicker: No more accidental double bookings or frantic phone calls; just smooth sailing and happy clients.
  
• Staff superheroes: Empower your team with tools that track performance, manage schedules, and facilitate seamless communication. Suddenly, everyone’s on the same page, running a well-oiled grooming machine.
  
• No-shows? Not anymore: Automated reminders nudge forgetful pet parents, which keeps schedules aligned and furry clients appropriately pampered.
  

Customer Experience

• Convenience at their paws: Online booking and self-service options put the power in your clients’ hands. Schedule appointments, update pet profiles, and even leave reviews, all from their phones.
  
• Personalized care: Remember Sparky’s sensitive skin or Luna’s love for belly rubs? The best dog grooming software allows you to easily record and store detailed pet profiles and preferences, ensuring every groom is a delightful experience.
  
• Building loyalty: Send birthday greetings, offer special promotions, and keep your clients engaged through targeted marketing tools. Watch those wagging tails turn into loyal, lifelong customers.
  
  

Financial Management

• Know your numbers: The best pet grooming software options allow you to track revenue and expenses with ease, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to boost your bottom line.
  
• Inventory Whiz: Say goodbye to stockouts and surprise bills! Manage your shampoo, clippers, and bandanas with precision so you’ve always got what you need to make every pup sparkle.
  
• Payment Processing? A Walk in The Park: Accept payments online or in-store, manage invoices, and even offer loyalty programs—all within your software.
  

While integrating new dog grooming software does take an initial investment of transition time, the overall benefits far outweigh the frustrations of learning and implementing a new system.

Key Features of Dog Grooming Software

Dog grooming software can become your trusty digital sidekick, automating tasks, organizing chaos, and empowering a thriving pet grooming business. But with so many options barking for your attention, choosing the right software can feel as impossible as picking a favorite puppy.

Worry not, fellow dog lover and business whiz!

Here are a few key features of dog grooming software to keep an eye out for when exploring different solutions:

Appointment Booking

Efficient appointment scheduling is the backbone of any appointment-based business. Features like online booking, calendar integration, and appointment reminders are essential, creating a seamless experience for both groomer and pet parent, minimizing confusion, and maximizing cuddle time.

Customer Management

Maintaining a comprehensive customer database is what creates lifelong customers. Features like detailed customer profiles, pet histories, and effective communication tools offer a personalized and memorable grooming experience for every furry client.

Online Website

Maintaining an online presence is no longer an option for small businesses.

The best pet grooming software options allow groomers to utilize website builders, social media integration, and online booking capabilities to showcase services and attract new clients, acting as a virtual storefront and inviting pet parents to tour your work online before entrusting you with their pet babies.

Automated Reminders

Reduce no-shows and increase engagement with automated text or email reminders. Like a friendly bark, these reminders nudge clients about their upcoming appointments, so they show up right on time every time.

Real-Time Reporting

Make informed decisions with data-driven insights. Features like sales reports, appointment analytics, and inventory tracking provide a comprehensive view of your business’s performance, helping you make strategic decisions that lead to growth.

What is the Best Dog Grooming Software?

With your needs and priorities clear, let’s unleash the top dog grooming software contenders and see how they stack up:

DaySmart Pet: The Best All-In-One Dog Grooming Software

DaySmart Pet is the alpha dog of the software pack. Perfect for mobile as well as brick-and-mortar pet grooming businesses, DaySmart Pet offers a comprehensive business management solution that tackles everything from appointments and staff to inventory and marketing. Users love DaySmart Pet’s robust features, ease of use, and ability to handle all aspects of their pet business, making it a one-stop shop for grooming, boarding, and daycare operations. A versatile choice for businesses of all sizes, DaySmart Pet offers various support options and flexible pricing plans.

Gingr: Built with Love, Made for Growth

With an intuitive interface and features that streamline operations to build lasting client relationships, Gingr empowers users to give both pups and pet parents a great experience. Users enjoy reliable customer support and Gingr’s ability to scale with growing businesses. However, the monthly rates can seem like an overpriced tasty treat for small grooming businesses. If you’re looking to grow, their comprehensive features and marketing tools may justify the initial investment.

MoeGo: The Budget-Friendly Powerhouse

MoeGo is known to pack a punch without draining your wallet. Manage appointments, chat with clients, process payments, and stay organized, all from one cloud-based app. MoeGo shines with its focus on vaccination management and data security, ensuring your furry friends are healthy and your information is safe. While the lack of a free trial might make you sniff your nose, its affordable pricing and strong support system make it a competitive contender.

Pawfinity: The Online Booking Buddy

Boasting the “most advanced online booking system,” Pawfinity offers a sleek booking experience and empowers grooming businesses with a user-friendly mobile app. It also offers robust marketing and communication tools to help you reach new clients and build loyalty. Flexible enough to cater to different business sizes and offering a free trial, Pawfinity is a popular choice for those looking for a mobile, user-friendly option.

PetExec: The Cloud-Based Contender

PetExec isn’t just for pet professionals—it’s a platform for both sides of the leash! With a dual-sided approach and customizable forms, PetExec caters to both pet groomers and parents, streamlining communication. Users appreciate its ability to handle different aspects of their business from the cloud, like scheduling, marketing, inventory, and record management. However, its price tag is a bit steeper and, therefore may not be the best fit for everyone.

Groomsoft: The Mobile-Friendly Choice

An affordable price tag and user-friendly management capabilities make this a popular software option for groomers. Schedule appointments, send automated reminders, and access your calendar from anywhere with their cloud-based platform. Groomsoft is a favorite among on-the-go groomers due to its features like route optimization and auto mileage tracking, making mobile grooming a breeze. Add to that comprehensive support options, and you’ve got software that’s friendly and functional.

Ultimately, the best dog grooming software for you depends on your business’s specific needs and budget. By considering your priorities and comparing these options, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth-running grooming business and happy, pampered pups!

A Summary of the Best Dog Grooming Software for 2024

	DaySmart Pet	Gingr	MoeGo	Pawfinity	PetExec	Groomsoft
Pricing	Free & Paid Plans	$95/month+	$49/month+	$50/month+	$105/month	$24.95/month+
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android, Windows Phone	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Typical Customers	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large	Freelancers, Small, Mid, Large
FEATURES
Online Booking
Appointment Scheduling
Automated Reminders
Payment Processing		Limited				Limited
Marketing Tools			Limited			Limited
Reporting & Analytics			Limited			Limited
Inventory Tracking		Limited		Limited
Point of Sale (POS)
Pet Records
Vaccination Management
Staff Management			Limited			Limited
Customer Portal
Mobile App for Pet Parents
Customer Support	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials	Phone, Online, Knowledge Base, Video Tutorials

How to Choose the Best Dog Grooming Software for You

Now, with the benefits and features barking loud and clear, it’s time to select your software soulmate. But before you dive into the dog pile of options, take a moment to reflect:

• Budget: Are you a scrappy startup or an established pack leader? Choose software that fits your financial reality.
• Scalability: Dreaming of becoming the next big dog in town? Opt for software that can grow with your ambitions.
• Integration: Do you use other business tools? Choose software that plays nicely with your existing tech ecosystem.
• User-friendliness: Is your team tech-savvy or more comfortable with belly rubs? Pick software that’s intuitive and easy to learn.
• Support: Need a helping paw every now and then? Look for software with responsive customer support. Discuss the importance of aligning software choices with specific business needs.

Spend time evaluating your unique business needs when making your final pet grooming software decision. Consider integration with existing tools and the type of customer support you might need. Because the best dog grooming software for you will feel like a natural extension of your business, helping it to thrive and grow.

Ready to unleash your pet pampering potential?

So, which software wags its tail most enthusiastically for your business? Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Read reviews, watch demos, and don’t be afraid to try some free trials. 

Because the right software by your side means you can say goodbye to chaos and hello to a streamlined, thriving business. Your furry friends will thank you, your clients will love you, and you’ll finally have the time to enjoy the simple joys of a wagging tail and a grateful lick on the hand.

So, what are you waiting for? Choose your software, unleash your business potential, and watch your grooming operations grow in 2024.

The post Best Dog Grooming Software for 2024 appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

What You Should Know About the Canine Respiratory Illness

During the holiday season, it’s common knowledge that humans sometimes catch illnesses as they gather in large groups to celebrate. This year, canines are facing the same issue. As humans — and their pups — meet up with their family and friends, there is cause for concern that dogs are spreading a recently identified respiratory illness.

The respiratory illness, referred to as atypical canine respiratory illness, was first identified in the western United States during the summer and has spread to as many as 14 states by the end of November. The illness includes several symptoms, such as coughing and sneezing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and wheezing or nasal whistling. 

Veterinarians have been key to identifying and managing the outbreak, and their findings have been reported to veterinary schools and professional organizations that are then sharing the information throughout the industry.

As a veterinarian, here’s what you should be aware of regarding this illness, how to treat your patients, and how to inform their owners.

What is the canine respiratory virus?

According to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, atypical canine respiratory illness is an acute respiratory infection that ranges from a mild infection to a life-threatening diagnosis accompanied by pneumonia. Veterinarians have identified these common symptoms:

• Breathing issues — difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, coughing and sneezing, and wheezing or nasal whistling
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Decrease in activity — lethargy or difficulty exercising
• Nutrition issues — loss of appetite or weight loss

It is highly contagious and rapidly spreads when dogs come into close contact with other dogs. Their dogs should refrain from sharing dog bowls, toys, or chews.

The respiratory illness is diagnosed by identifying symptoms and through testing. If infected, dogs are prescribed cough suppressants for mild cases. Dogs with more severe cases may be hospitalized due to dehydration and treated with nebulization, IV antibiotics, or ventilatory support. 

How can veterinarians manage the canine respiratory virus outbreak?

Veterinarians should be on the alert for any patients exhibiting the above symptoms that can appear differently depending on the patient. Some may have a mild to moderate cough that persists for six to eight weeks or more that doesn’t lessen with antibiotic treatment. Others can suffer from chronic pneumonia that has no response to antibiotics. Severe cases may present as severe pneumonia that worsens between 24 to 36 hours.

Diagnostic testing and tools are available for atypical canine respiratory illness, such as those offered by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, which include a Canine Respiratory PCR Panel and analysis of several types of samples.

What preventative measures are recommended for veterinary clinics?

It’s important for veterinarians to take preventative measures at their clinics. Make sure that patients are current on all vaccinations and recommend vaccination against canine influenza virus for dogs that are expected to be in custody for long periods of time. 

Keep your clinic clean by sanitizing exam rooms and areas frequented by dogs and typically contaminated surfaces on doorknobs, phones, waiting areas, and office areas.

How should veterinarians inform their clients?

Communicating to clients about atypical canine respiratory illness is a proactive measure that can help inform pet owners about the illness and prevent its spread.

Use a vet practice management software to email and text clients about the respiratory illness and let them know how your practice is taking preventative measures. Set up automated confirmations and reminders to those who have upcoming appointments that they should let you know about any associated symptoms. Track symptoms and diagnosis by keeping detailed notes in patient records and through forms, check-in and check-out procedures, and requests for information via follow up messages.

As news of the respiratory illness changes across the country and in your area, keep your clients up to date by sending emails and texts with the latest information. And share guidelines on the preventative measures owners can take at home. With the busy holiday season in swing, you may want to send a message in early December to remind travelers about contagious situations at boarding kennels and among gatherings where other attendees may be bringing dogs and contribute to the spread of the illness.

Next steps

There is still a lot to learn about the atypical canine respiratory illness, but you and your patients can take the necessary steps to limit infection and provide immediate care for dogs. Share the newest information and remind your patients about the illness with frequent communication. Keep track of what you’re observing in your patient records. And keep on top of symptoms, spread, and treatment information by checking the news and reading blogs from industry publications.

The post What You Should Know About the Canine Respiratory Illness appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

Your pet care business is growing, and your current solution of pen and paper, digital spreadsheets, or manual calendar entries is taking up too much of your time and no longer supports your needs.

You should be working smarter, not harder. It’s time to streamline your operations and supercharge your business growth and profits using the right booking and managing software.

We’ve created this buyer’s guide to assist you in your search for the best software for your pet care business. This guide covers:

• Common barriers to switching software (and how to overcome them)
• Reasons you should consider transitioning to a new provider
• How to prepare for conversations with potential pet business software providers

Common Barriers to Avoiding the Switch to a New Pet Care Business Software

The choice of which software to purchase to run your daily operations is not something you take lightly, and several concerns factor into your decision. However, it’s important to remember that your current software or processes may be costing you time and money.

It takes some time and effort to research, invest in, and adopt new software. In the long run, this decision can help improve efficiencies, create an optimal workflow for employees, and provide better service for your customers.

These are the common barriers that pet business owners encounter when considering new software to streamline their operations:

Fear of change

The concern: You and your staff have been using your current software for some time, and you’re used to all the features. You’ll also have to migrate your data to a new platform.

The opportunity: Adopting up-to-date software will give you access to even better features to run your business. Many companies offer training, user support, and online resources to help you every step of the way.

Spending time onboarding and training

The concern: Purchasing new software means you’ll have to train and learn how to use a different product. 

The opportunity: When you onboard your new booking and management software, you’ll be amazed at all the time you save once you implement features that can automate manual tasks and streamline your entire operation.

Finding the right interface and features

The concern: Your current software covers your needs and you’re comfortable with its usability.

The opportunity: Newer booking and management software platforms are developed with the end user in mind, and software companies offer additional features that manage your day-to-day needs as well as your bottom line, such as customer reviews, payments, and business reporting. 

Feedback from coworkers, customers, and vendors

The concern: Change is hard, and updating your booking and management software may be a concern for your staff and customers.

The opportunity: If you adopt a platform that improves efficiency and is easy to use you can save your stylists time in their day while improving the experience from the moment an appointment is scheduled to the second the client checks out.

Finding budget-friendly software

The concern: New software may be too expensive and not cost-effective for your business’ budget.

The opportunity: Finding the right package of booking and management software may replace other tools you are currently using, which will help offset any costs. 

Why You Should Reevaluate Your Booking and Management Software Options for Your Pet Business

The barriers above shouldn’t prevent you from searching for a better software solution. Focus on the opportunities and benefits to allow yourself to research booking and management software with an open mind. The potential value will surpass any concern or apprehension.

There are several reasons to consider when finding software that’s a better fit for your pet business: 

• Your business operations should be running more efficiently
• You’ll save time and money
• You may be missing out on enhanced features that can help with your needs
• You’ll have the right tools and support to grow your business
• You’ll provide your customers with a better experience

How to Prepare for Your Conversations with Potential Booking and Management Software Providers

Once you’ve decided that now is the right time to look at booking and management software, you’ll want to speak with prospective providers to view a demo of software options and determine if their features address your pet business needs.

There might be a list of questions that come to mind immediately, or you may need help figuring out what to ask. It’s important to have a standard set of questions for this part of the process to help you gather all the information you need based on your priorities.

Ask These Questions of the Booking and Management Software Providers You’re Exploring

• What does a typical transition timeline look like?
  • Do you anticipate anything different for us?
  • Should we expect any delays?
  • How will you support the transition?
• What does your pricing structure look like?
  • Are there hidden fees?
  • How can you save my business money?
• What is the data transfer process like?
  • Will we lose access to key information?
  • Have you ever experienced issues during data transfer?
• How would this transition impact our clients?
  • What disruptions should we anticipate?
• What kind of training would you provide for us to learn your software?
  • What kind of support do you offer?
  • Will we have points of contact we can reach directly for help?
• What successes or challenges have you seen with other businesses?
  • Do you have case studies to share?
  • Do you have references we can contact?

Based on the Information You Receive, Ask Yourself These Questions

• How will the logistics of a transition impact my business? My customers?
• Will I be well-supported by this provider during the transition and beyond?
• Will this software scale with my business as it grows?
• How will my team benefit from a transition?
• Is it financially feasible and/or beneficial to switch?
• Does it make sense for my business to make a transition at this time?

Features to Look for in a Booking and Management Software That’s the Best Fit for Your Pet Business

As you research software options, you’ll want to assess the features that each platform offers. Keep the needs of your business in mind as you learn more about the capabilities included in the platforms.

When speaking with software representatives and meeting for software demos, consider these top features in a pet business booking and management software that will help increase efficiencies and provide the best possible service for your customers:

• Easy-to-use appointment booking and scheduling tools
• Automated appointment confirmations and reminders
• Simple check-in and out
• Quick access to client profiles
• Pain-free inventory management
• Versatile accessibility from a computer, tablet, or mobile device
• Seamless online and in-person payment acceptance
• Available integrations for functions like accounting
• One-way and two-way texting for enhanced communication
• Custom reporting for tracking trends and growth of your business

Seize Your Day

DaySmart Pet is an all-in-one, cloud-based business management software solution for the pet care industry that will provide you with all of these features and more. DaySmart Pet allows you to efficiently manage all aspects of your pet care business within one easy-to-use platform. 

Book a free demo as part of your software research process to find out if DaySmart Pet is right for your pet care business.

The post What Pet Business Owners Need to Know When Evaluating Booking and Management Software appeared first on DaySmart Pet.

It takes passion to run a pet business. It starts with a love for helping animals and providing them with the best products and services you can offer. But you also need to be willing to dive into the business part of running your business. Overseeing daily tasks and the growth of your business is crucial to your success and it can be overwhelming.

Having the right software provider can make running a pet care business easier. DaySmart Pet has the tools and features to improve efficiency, dedicate more time to your clients, and drive more revenue.

Read on to find out how DaySmart Pet supports your day-to-day operations, from the moment you open to the time you lock the doors at night.

Prepare for the day

Know what your day looks like before the first set of paws walks in the door. DaySmart Pet’s digital appointment book can be viewed from your desktop, phone, or tablet to give you a big picture of scheduling, staff hours, your busiest time of day, and when you have breaks to manage the back end of your business. With all of this information in one place, you’ll be aware of where you need to allocate resources to get the most out of your business hours.

Speed up client check-in

DaySmart Pet can create and send forms to clients in advance, allowing them to have everything filled out before their appointments. Document, forms, and credit card information are automatically synced to client profiles and can be taken care of in advance of appointments, providing a paw-sitive experience before they walk in the door. 

Access client details instantly

By digitizing your client records, you can find all of your client’s information in one place. Access details on pet breed, temperament, vaccinations, and notes in advance of appointments so you and your staff know what to expect. 

No more no-shows

Don’t worry about sending appointment reminders and handling no-shows for upcoming clients. DaySmart Pet is already handling it for you with automated text and email reminders to your clients so you can focus on your clients and other priority tasks.

Simplify client communication

Stay connected with your clients without interfering with your schedule. Reduce your time on the phone by using two-way texting to instantly communicate with clients. Built-in texting in the DaySmart Pet solution makes it easy to communicate about appointment requests, style inspiration photos, arrival times, when it’s time for pick-up, and more.

Secure future business

With online booking, you can keep regular clients on the schedule and new clients coming back. DaySmart Pet’s cloud-based platform allows clients to easily book through any device and set up future or recurring appointments. 

Plus, get the word out by leveraging your loyal customers through DaySmart Pet’s reputation management feature that allows you to ask clients for reviews after an appointment and post them to Yelp, Google, Facebook, and other platforms, enabling you to drive new business.

Offer hassle-free payments at checkout

Simplify checkout with integrated payment processing tools that make it easy for clients to make deposits and payments. They can store credit card information and approve payments in just a few clicks. 

Wrapping up the day

You’re last furry client walked out the doors. Now it’s time to review your progress for the day, week, month, and quarter with customizable reports through DaySmart Pet that track sales, bookings, service types, and more.

Seize Your Day

DaySmart Pet is the all-in-one, cloud-based business management software solution that will assist you with administrative tasks so you can focus on providing the best care to your furry clients.

Book a free demo and find out how DaySmart Pet can help you seize your day.

The post How DaySmart Pet Can Help You Run the Day-to-Day Tasks at Your Pet Care Business appeared first on DaySmart Pet.