Blogs Archives - DaySmart Recreation https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/category/blogs/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:23:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/daysmart-recreation-favicon.svg Blogs Archives - DaySmart Recreation https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/category/blogs/ 32 32 5 Customer Service Complaints Solved by User-Friendly Booking Software https://www.daysmart.com/blog/customer-complaints-solved-by-software/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:23:27 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/customer-complaints-solved-by-software/ 5 Customer Service Complaints Solved by User-Friendly Booking Software When it comes to successfully running any business, most roads lead ...

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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!

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How To Enhance Sustainable Practices at Your Recreation Facility  https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/how-to-enhance-sustainable-practices-at-your-recreation-facility/ Fri, 19 Apr 2024 18:56:04 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/?p=927 How To Enhance Sustainable Practices at Your Recreation Facility  Whether you’re navigating league playoffs or preparing for the upcoming summer ...

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How To Enhance Sustainable Practices at Your Recreation Facility 



Whether you’re navigating league playoffs or preparing for the upcoming summer camp season, every recreation facility has its own set of challenges and goals. But one thing they share? Every facility knows how important it is to run things efficiently.  

But did you know there’s a benefit to efficiency that many administrators and managers aren’t aware of? Efficient recreation facilities are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. 

It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to highlight the important of sustainable operations. Often, eco-friendly business ideas involve subjects such as installing solar power, using zero-emissions delivery vehicles, or ensuring the optimal amount of green space at facility locations- and yours can too.  

Little Known Fact: Running your facility with the right software can have a net positive effect on the environment 

It’s true. In addition to a better experience for athletes and customers—and streamlined operations for your staff—recreation facilities operating on a software platform designed especially with them in mind can help reduce waste and promote sustainable practices.  

Let’s look at some of the benefits, and how the right software can be a game-changer for your facility—promoting both efficient operations and environmental stewardship. 

Unseen Impact: Waste and Inefficiency in Recreation Management 


For recreation professionals, waste and inefficiency don’t just make it difficult to run facilities and programs smoothly. It can have significant consequences, including draining your resources, inflating your budgets, and harming the environment.  

Resource Drain 

Excessive use of paper for waivers and documents is just the start. Inefficient season planning and scheduling can lead to underused spaces in your facility, wasting energy for heating and cooling.  

And surplus concessions inventory can end up contributing to overloaded landfills. Using more resources than necessary—from paper to electricity—can impact your facility’s expenses (and its ecological footprint). 

Budget Bloat 

In addition to being an environmental issue, excess waste is also a financial one. Budgets and resources spent on unnecessary paper usage, energy for unoccupied spaces, and unused food could have been allocated elsewhere.  

The net effect? Increased efficiency can improve your facility’s profitability—and sustainability. 

Environmental Harm 

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Think globally, act locally.” And while it may sound like an overused slogan, think about it this way: Beyond the immediate impact on your facility, inefficient use of finite supplies like papercy can contribute to larger environmental issues—including deforestation, energy waste, and plastics and trash finding their way to streams, lakes and the ocean.  

While increased efficiency at your facility may not solve these global issues, doing your part for the well-being of the planet can make your members and athletes feel better about using your facility—in addition to making it easier to operate.  


How Can Software Solutions Equal Waste Reduction? 


  • Digital Waivers: Transitioning to digital waivers can drastically cut down your facility’s paper usage. This simple switch not only saves trees but also reduces clutter and improves the efficiency of member on-boarding. That can make things easier on your staff, and your members, and allow you to rest assured, knowing all waivers are completed and securely filed.  
  • Concessions and Reporting: With integrated payments and digital inventory tracking, you can keep track of your concessions ordering needs with precision in real time. So you’ll be able to reduce waste—and manage your facility’s expenses and budgets more effectively.  
  • Resource Optimization: We mentioned how scheduling your facility’s spaces more efficiently can save on energy costs. But it can also help you better allocate staff, significantly reducing unnecessary expenditures. DaySmart Recreation’s reporting tool delivers a clear overview of facility usage, so you can make smart decisions—saving time, energy, and expenses. 

Adopting these software solutions doesn’t just mean cost savings for your facility; it represents a step forward in reducing your impact on the environment. 


Time-Saving Benefits for Your Facility 

Beyond reducing waste, software solutions can save another valuable resource: time. The right software solution can transform time-consuming, complex projects such as season planning and scheduling into streamlined, efficient, and repeatable processes.  

The DaySmart Recreation scheduling and resource optimization tool is a prime example, offering features that enable you to… 

  • Automate Repetitive Tasks: From scheduling classes to tracking attendance, automation can save hours of work—so you to focus on your facility, and your staff can focus on serving the members. 
  • Centralize Information: Keeping all your important data—from registrations and waivers to schedules and inventory—in one centralized location will make it easier to manage and access. This can streamline operations and reduce wasted time—as well as the chance of mistakes. 
  • Improve Team Communication: Effective software solutions can enable communication with and within your staff, ensuring everyone is aligned, season planning runs smoothly, and resource optimization is as efficient as possible. 


Reducing Waste and Increasing Efficiency: Real-World Stories of Success 

There are plenty of organizations who have seen dramatic improvements in their efficiency through the use of DaySmart Recreation. One of those is The Plano Sports Authority.  

Founded in 1970, Plano Sports Authority employs a staff of 200—and over 5000 volunteers at their large, non-profit recreation center. In 2010, more than 85% of their administrative work was done face to face. Now, that number is less than 15%. Schedules, registration, waivers, and payments are all now featured on the DaySmart Recreation customer portal. So members can do everything online—from any device. That saves staff time—and helps make operations run more easily than ever.  

DaySmart Recreation has made it easy for their customers like the Plano Sports Authroity, and other recreation facilities and centers, to browse programs and register for them. And scheduling is simplified thanks to drag-and-drop calendar functions.

Reducing Waste Helps the Planet—and Your Bottom Line 


Incorporating a software solution into the daily operations of your recreation facility is a big step—but a simple decision. And since generic small business software isn’t developed with your specific challenges and goals in mind, you should explore solutions designed especially for recreation facilities.  

That’s why DaySmart Recreation was created: because recreation facilities have unique needs that generic software can’t address.  

In the end, the efficiency your facility can achieve with DaySmart Recreation doesn’t stop at saved time, easier operations and better resource optimization. It can also help reduce waste and help you operate a more sustainable, earth-friendly facility.  

And a well-run, earth-friendly business will help make more members feel great about coming to your facility.  

From digital registration, payment, and waivers to streamlined scheduling tools, easier inventory management, smoother season planning and improved resource optimization, the right software can change the game for your facility.  

Are you curious to learn more? See all the ways DaySmart Recreation software solutions can transform your facility. Book a demo with us today and take the first step towards a greener, more efficient future—and continued growth. 



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Integrated Payments: 5 Things Every Business Owner Should Know  https://www.daysmart.com/blog/integrated-payments-for-your-business/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:27:57 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/integrated-payments-for-your-business/ Integrated Payments: 5 Things Every Business Owner Should Know  Owning and operating a business is more complex than ever. In ...

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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. 
  1. Explore Your Solution: DaySmart offers different solutions for different industries. Find the one that best fits your business needs. 
  1. 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  https://www.daysmart.com/blog/3-reasons-why-clients-arent-booking-with-your-business-and-how-to-fix-it/ Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:40:37 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/3-reasons-why-clients-arent-booking-with-your-business-and-how-to-fix-it/ 3 Reasons Why Clients Aren’t Booking with Your Business and How To Fix It  There’s nothing like seeing a full ...

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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 Recreation.

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How to Advertise Your Business Locally https://www.daysmart.com/blog/advertising-small-business-locally/ Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:55:21 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/advertising-small-business-locally/ How to Advertise Your Business Locally If you own a small business, you know how important it is to develop a ...

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How to Advertise Your Business Locally

Advertising your small business.

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!

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Maximize the Value of Recreation Management Software: 4 Reasons To Invest  https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/4-reasons-to-invest-in-recreation-management-software/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 20:35:44 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/?p=787 Maximize the Value of Recreation Management Software: 4 Reasons To Invest  Recreation management software is a must for any recreation ...

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Maximize the Value of Recreation Management Software: 4 Reasons To Invest 


Recreation management software is a must for any recreation facility in order to streamline facility management, scheduling, payments, and community engagement.  In fact, implementing software like DaySmart Recreation can increase efficiency by up to 40%, saving valuable time and resources.Let’s take a look at the four top reasons to invest in a recreation software platform.


1. Recreation Management Software streamlines the registration and booking process

Recreation software makes the registration and booking process easier for both the customers and staff. With DaySmart features like automated online registration and reservation management, your members can sign up for classes or programs and book space in just a few clicks. Your dashboard will show real-time availability and scheduling updates so your staff has the most up-to-date information about class registrations and facility scheduling.

2. It provides an enhanced membership management experience

Using recreation management software takes the guesswork out of how busy your facility is on any given day. DaySmart’s centralized management of programs, classes, and events includes an all-in-one calendar to enable you to view how your facility is being used during business hours. You can also track participant information and attendance to spot trends in your facility’s programming. 

“DaySmart runs our entire sports operations. We use it as our CRM, our calendar, and our primary communication tool. Leagues, birthday parties, programs, you name it. It really is all-encompassing for us,” said Robert Herbst, DaySmart customer and Vice President of recreation facility the Plex. 

Recreation management software can help you allocate resources effectively, allowing you to dedicate your staff, space, and equipment when and where it’s needed most.



3. It generates comprehensive reporting and data analysis

Get access to more than 60 standard reports and create custom reports with DaySmart Recreation. These insights will give you the information you need to evaluate your programs. The reporting tools can also show you details on participant trends and feedback. Reporting and data analysis enables you and your staff to make data-driven decisions that impact planning and resource allocation.

“It’s important to have reliable reporting because you’ll want to know what programs you’ll need to discontinue due to low participation, or which ones to pay more attention to that seem more successful for your facility,” according to Dale Geiger, Vice President of Sales, Recreation, at DaySmart. 



4. It saves you time and money

Every recreation facility prioritizes saving time and money. Using DaySmart’s features means you’ll reduce the number of manual administrative tasks staff complete. Streamlining your facility management will increase operational efficiency, which results in significant cost savings for your recreation facility. 



Don’t wait to invest in the future of your recreation center

Running an efficient recreation facility business starts with the right recreation management software. You’ll be able to streamline processes, easily oversee facility scheduling and usage, communicate effectively with customers and staff, pull the data you need for business decisions, and improve how you spend time and money.

Take the time to explore different software options for recreation management — each platform has a unique combination of features — and choose the software that best fits your facility’s needs. Book a demo with us for a more personalized review of what recreation management software can do for your facility.





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What Recreation Facilities Need to Know When Evaluating Facility Management Software Solutions https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/evaluating-facility-management-software-solutions/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:41:05 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/?p=627 What Recreation Facilities Need to Know When Evaluating Facility Management Software Solutions Recreation facilities need software to help them manage ...

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What Recreation Facilities Need to Know When Evaluating Facility Management Software Solutions


Recreation facilities need software to help them manage many moving pieces for their day-to-day and long-term operations. Does your current recreation facility scheduling and management software meet your needs? 

If you’re using multiple tools, doing administrative tasks manually, or spending time on operations at the cost of offering the best customer experience, it may be time to research a new software solution. The right recreation facility scheduling and management software will improve efficiency, provide better customer service, and boost revenue. 

Don’t feel overwhelmed on your path to searching for a better software solution. We’ve created this buyer’s guide to support your research. The guide covers:

  • Common barriers to adopting new software and how to overcome them
  • Reasons you should consider transitioning to a new software provider
  • How to prepare for conversations with potential recreation facility scheduling and management software companies


Common Barriers That Interfere with the Switch to a New Facility Management Software

It’s natural to be hesitant when making the decision to bring on a new recreation facility scheduling and management platform. But it’s important to remember that these changes may be necessary in order to find a solution that is a better fit in order to meet the needs of your operation.

Let’s take a look at some common barriers that arise when researching a new recreation facility scheduling and management software.

Onboarding uncertainty

The concern: Not knowing how much time onboarding a new software may take and how frequently it will take staff away from their daily tasks.

The opportunity: Many recreation facility scheduling and management software providers work with their customers to find the best options for onboarding. They’ll reach out about scheduling and often have additional resources for recreation employees who need assistance after the initial onboarding, including webinars, blog posts, videos, a frequently asked questions page, and a dedicated support team.

Working with your budget 

The concern: A new recreation facility scheduling and management software won’t work within your budget.

The opportunity: Choosing software that’s a better fit for your recreation facility will actually save you money. An all-in-one solution will eliminate the need to pay for multiple tools. Plus, the features of an up-to-date, cloud-based platform will enable you to streamline and automate tasks, allowing money, time, and other resources to be dedicated to efforts that increase revenue.

Impact on customers and staff

The concern: Onboarding, switching systems, and adapting to change will have an impact on the customer experience and the ability of staff to do their work. 

The opportunity: Software providers have worked with many recreation facilities just like yours. They have a solid plan in place to minimize downtime. One of the benefits of purchasing best-in-class software is that it gives your facility features that make it easier for your staff to streamline their work and for your customers to have a seamless experience.

Why You Should Reevaluate Software Options for Your Recreation Facility

Any of the barriers listed above can be overcome once you assess the opportunities and embrace the benefits of adopting new software for your recreation facility. Focus on the ways that new software can help transform your business.

Here are several reasons to consider researching a better software solution for your recreation facility:

  • Your facility could be running more efficiently
  • New software will help your staff work more efficiently, which prevents burnout
  • You will save time and money
  • You’ll have the top features developed for your industry
  • You can focus on business growth
  • You can provide your customers with a better experience

How to Prepare for Your Conversations with Prospective Recreation Facility Scheduling and Management Software Providers

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to research new options for recreation facility scheduling and management software, you’ll want to schedule interviews with representatives from software providers. 

You might already have questions or need a place to start. We’ve pulled together some questions that will help you seek the information you need to make the best decision when purchasing new facility scheduling and management software.


Ask These Questions of the Recreation Facility Scheduling and Management Software Providers You’re Researching

  • Can you share your typical transition timeline?
    • 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 facility 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 customers?
    • What disruptions should we anticipate?
    • Do you offer a portal for customers to access important information?
    • How do you support appointment booking for customers? 
  • 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 facilities?
    • 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 recreation facility? My customers and employees?
  • Will I be well-supported by this provider during the transition and beyond? 
  • Will this software scale with my facility 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 recreation facility to make a transition at this time? 


Top Features to Look for in Recreation Facility Scheduling and Management Software

As you research facility scheduling and management software providers, take a deep dive into the features they offer. Consider how comprehensive the features are and if they’re flexible and robust enough to support your recreation facility in the short and long term.

These scheduling and management software features should be top of mind for your recreation facility: 

  • Easy-to-use booking and reservation tools
  • Alerts for double-booking
  • Automated registration confirmations and reminders
  • Manage invoices and contacts
  • Pain-free resource management
  • Versatile accessibility from a computer, tablet, or mobile device
  • Seamless online and in-person payment acceptance
  • Available integrations for functions like accounting and marketing
  • Custom reporting for tracking trends, customer engagement,  and growth 
  • Easy navigation for customers to view and register for upcoming events


Seize Your Day with DaySmart Recreation

DaySmart Recreation is the all-in-one recreation management software solution that allows you to engage your community, boost participation, increase member retention, and strengthen customer loyalty. 

A partnership beyond software. We’re committed to providing high-quality services and support so you can focus on managing your facility. No matter your go-live deadline, our dedicated onboarding team professionally trains, tests, and does quality assurance checks to ensure you have a successful product launch. Our in-house customer success and support team will be there to help you with any questions that might arise and can be reached by phone, email, and chat.

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How Facilities Use DaySmart Recreation to Seize Their Day https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/blog/daysmart-recreation-to-sieze-their-day/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:40:13 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/recreation/?p=583 How Facilities Use DaySmart Recreation to Seize Their Day Your recreation facility has hundreds of details that need to be ...

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How Facilities Use DaySmart Recreation to Seize Their Day

Your recreation facility has hundreds of details that need to be taken care of every day, from the moment you open it to the second you turn off the lights at night.

How can you ensure that no detail is overlooked and that every day is successful? A facility management system like DaySmart will help you manage your daily operations, simplify scheduling and registration, increase efficiency, and provide better community engagement.

Take a look at how your facility’s day improves by using DaySmart:

Get an overview of the day.

When you power up your computer in the morning, the first thing you’ll do is open any incoming messages and review your DaySmart Recreation dashboard, messages, and calendar. Because your facility data is all stored in one place, you’ll have a good sense of what to prioritize for the day, how to direct your resources, and where time gaps are available to allow for catching up on other tasks.

Prepare for the day’s events

Having all your data in one DaySmart system takes the guesswork out of what staff and resources you need for the day. So, when it’s time to hit the ground running, you and your team have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips to run events and complete tasks with our mobile-friendly solution.

Keep your programs filled

Your members have busy lives, but upcoming events at your recreation facility won’t get lost in the shuffle. DaySmart features enable members to register and pay for classes and events in just a few clicks. They can add everything to their digital calendars and receive reminders right in their inbox, and you don’t have to worry about no-shows.

Picture of an ice program.

Maximize facility usage

Having a full-picture view of your facility with DaySmart allows you to easily see gaps in facility usage so you can find new ways to fill the space. Rentals and offering new events or additional program times allow you to optimize your facility space while engaging with members and uncovering new revenue opportunities.

Keep members updated

Weather delay, cancellation, or late start? You can quickly let your customers know about any important updates with DaySmart’s CRM feature that stores your customer information so you can automatically message customers about programs and events they are registered for.

Person viewing important reminder on their phone.

Streamline your planning

Your day is going smoothly – tasks are done, and customers are starting to show up for programs. Now it’s time to start planning for the next season. Your DaySmart dashboard provides you with historical data that shows how your programs have performed in the past so you can make data-driven adjustments for the upcoming season — such as offering more team slots for popular leagues or reducing programs with low activity — to fit the demands of your community.

Promote upcoming events

Next season is planned, now it’s time to get the word out for your customers! With all your customer data stored in DaySmart Recreation, you can send promotional emails, newsletters and other email campaigns to your target audience based on customer’s historical activity at your facility.

Offering an adult league next season? Build a report of who registered for previous seasons and let them know registration for the new season is coming up.

Picture of a 5K event.

Wrap up the day

Your workday is ending, but before you leave, get a quick glance at how your facility’s week, month, and quarter are shaping up with 60 standard reports built into the platform. Because you’re using DaySmart Recreation, you can have a clear view into the works of your facility so when you step out of those doors, you can go home and no worry about tomorrow and enjoy time doing what you love outside of work.

Seize Your Day

DaySmart Recreation is an all-in-one recreational facility management software solution complete with tools to help you better manage your operations, streamline your registration processes, and more fully engage with your community.

Owners and operators of recreational facilities take on the demanding responsibilities of variable programming, and DaySmart Recreation is there to simplify it all. With features built to help you easily handle scheduling, sales, resource management, marketing, and more, you can focus on delivering the best programming to the community you care about.

To discover if DaySmart Recreation is the right solution to support your transition into the next season and every season, schedule your free demo.

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DaySmart Acquires Sawyer https://www.daysmart.com/blog/daysmart-acquires-sawyer/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:15:14 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/daysmart-acquires-sawyer/ DaySmart Acquires Sawyer Further expands DaySmart’s support of the recreation vertical DaySmart Software, a leading provider of vertically-focused business management ...

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DaySmart Acquires Sawyer

Further expands DaySmart’s support of the recreation vertical

DaySmart Software, a leading provider of vertically-focused business management software,
today announced the acquisition of Sawyer, a leading provider of business management
software for the children’s activities end market. The acquisition expands DaySmart’s offering
within the recreation market to include scheduling and payments solutions for K-12
extracurricular activities.


Since its founding in 2015, Sawyer has focused on simplifying the discovery of children’s after
school and extracurricular activities. Its two-sided model, offering software solutions for
customers to run and grow their business, as well as a marketplace for parents to discover kids’
activities in their area, provides a unique solution to a segment of the recreation market
otherwise not offered today.


“With the addition of Sawyer, DaySmart offers the broadest range of recreation-focused
business software and services in the market,” said Pat Shanahan, CEO of DaySmart. “We are
delighted to welcome the Sawyer team to DaySmart and serve our customer base together.”

“Sawyer’s mission since day one has been to build best-in-class technology solutions to connect
parents with providers of out-of-school learning opportunities,” said Marissa Evans Alden, CEO
and Co-Founder of Sawyer. “DaySmart’s history within the recreation space and its commitment
to SMB excellence is well aligned with our priorities of providing our customers with best-in-
class technology and support. We are excited to accelerate our growth potential as part of the
DaySmart team.”


About DaySmart


Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, DaySmart Software is committed to providing SMB and
enterprise clients tailored business management solutions to help them run and grow their
businesses. Since 1999, DaySmart has offered vertically focused cloud-based applications and
payment processing solutions to businesses of all sizes, spanning across the recreation, vet,
pet, salon, spa, and body art industries. The company’s comprehensive platform empowers
customers to manage, connect, and grow their client base within a single solution. For more
information about the company and its suite of solutions, visit www.DaySmart.com.


About Sawyer


Sawyer, founded in Brooklyn in 2015, connects children, parents, and providers of the best
enriching childhood experiences through a suite of industry-leading technology solutions with a
goal to ensure every child has the opportunity to discover their own love of learning.

Sawyer reaches thousands of small business owners, enterprise organizations, non-profits, and
traditional educational institutions and gives them the business intelligence tools to drive
decision making. Sawyer also helps over a million parents navigate the intense, fragmented
world of early childhood development by creating tools that manage their children’s day-to-day
lives. Leonis Partners served as financial advisor to Sawyer during the acquisition process.

The post DaySmart Acquires Sawyer appeared first on DaySmart Recreation.

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DaySmart Acquires TeamUp https://www.daysmart.com/blog/daysmart-acquires-teamup/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 19:27:17 +0000 https://www.daysmart.com/blog/daysmart-acquires-teamup/ The post DaySmart Acquires TeamUp appeared first on DaySmart Recreation.

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DaySmart Acquires TeamUp

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Expands portfolio of business management software to further support fitness and recreation vertical

ANN ARBOR, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– DaySmart Software, the leading provider of vertically-focused business management software, announced the acquisition of TeamUp, a leading provider of fitness studio and gym management software. Through this acquisition, DaySmart expands its presence further into the fitness and recreation verticals.

TeamUp is a SaaS-based software solution that empowers fitness facilities and instructors to flexibly manage their businesses in-person, online or on-demand. Supporting more than 3,000 customers, the company has facilitated 50,000,000 class bookings across studios in Europe and the United States. TeamUp is known for its ease of use, superior customer service and broad feature set focused on helping fitness facilities and their customers thrive. As part of this merger, TeamUp will look to grow its presence in North America and invest in accelerated product development.

The combination of TeamUp with DaySmart Recreation (acquired in 2021) positions DaySmart to serve fitness and recreation facilities of all sizes and disciplines. DaySmart is committed to investing in an expansive set of integrated solutions otherwise not offered in the recreation and fitness market today.

“Bringing TeamUp into the DaySmart portfolio allows us to enter a new market segment as we grow and diversify our reach into the fitness and recreation verticals,” said Patrick Shanahan, CEO of DaySmart. “I am thrilled to partner with Matt and the entire TeamUp organization to bring this powerful software to more fitness facilities.”

“Over the last 10 years, TeamUp has established itself as a leading software for studios and gyms by providing best-in-class technology and superior customer support. I am proud of what the team has accomplished and excited to start this next chapter with the support and experience of the DaySmart team,” said Matt Pegler, CEO of TeamUp. “Through this partnership, we will continue to prioritize our customers and provide the seamless experience they are used to while investing in expanding our presence in North America”

About DaySmart

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, DaySmart Software is committed to providing SMB and enterprise clients tailored business management solutions to help them run and grow their businesses. Since 1999, DaySmart has offered vertically focused cloud-based applications and payment processing solutions to businesses of all sizes, spanning across the recreation, vet, pet, salon, spa, and body art industries. The company’s comprehensive platform empowers customers to manage, connect, and grow their client base within a single solution. For more information about the company and its suite of solutions, visit www.DaySmart.com.

About TeamUp

TeamUp is user-friendly management software for fitness businesses. Since 2012, TeamUp has developed a unique customer-centric software and service that has enabled thousands of business owners to build thriving businesses through strong connections with their customers. TeamUp’s people-first approach has led to multiple industry awards and is consistently rated by customers as one of the most recommended solutions for fitness industry businesses. PEAK Technology Partners served as financial advisor to TeamUp during the acquisition process. For more information on TeamUp visit goteamup.com.

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