Why You need a Software Upgrade in Your Salon or Spa

Small Business Salon Software and Virtual Desktop Management Solutions

Back in the 19th century and early 20th century, managing a shop or small business of any kind was much less technologically reliant than it is in today's age of information. In the beauty industry, a hair salon, tanning salon, or beauty salon business would only require an appointment book of clients, stylists, a pair of scissors, and a tanning bed. Nowadays, the day-to-day running of a business by a salon owner has totally changed. Today, we live in the midst of a technological information revolution and computer software has been a defining moment in how businesses operate.

Any technological innovation which makes its way into the administrative operations of a small business is ultimately an upgrade to the practices which have been a part of running a business for many years. Businesses have always needed a way to do bookkeeping, accounting, customer service reporting, inventory management, and organizational marketing. Originally, this was done with ink and quill on papyrus rolls.

​Managing small business with Technology

Today, we use electronic organizational tools. This could include all areas of salon management, such as appointment software, point-of-sale software, cloud software and salon management software.

The advent of the personal computer changed the way in which human beings interact with information. The ability to store data on an electronic device was the first milestone. The second milestone, built upon the infrastructure of the computational innovations of computing, was the conception and creation of the Internet. Through the tech pipeline of the Internet, a cornerstone in history was laid out for the manner in which content is stored.
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Cloud software computing and storage is the modern standard for businesses and individuals alike. It wasn't too long ago it seemed astronomically expensive to buy a 500-gigabyte hard drive for your computer. Nowadays, twice that storage capacity is half the price. This mark down in price is partly due to the advent of cloud computing in business.

No longer do you have to carry any physical devices which locally stores data. Instead, content and data are stored in a “cloud” of information which exists in the exact same way in which the Internet does. Information is stored over the broad network of servers which makes up the infrastructural web of the Internet. Content stays safely secure in the non-localized vicinity of the Internet's web-based structure. If your business computers all fry at the same time (for whatever reason), all you need are new computers and all of your businesses data and content are retrievable from your cloud storage.

Business Management Innovations, Automation, and Organization

Walk into a modern restaurant in a big city and odds are waiters will take your order with an iPad or tablet. Similarly, walk into any factory that is at the cutting edge of manufacturing and you will see the widespread touch of a technological organization in people's hands.

​To better control equipment, organize workers, and maintain quality standards across a wide spectrum, factories and manufacturing facilities are enabling their shop foremen with a wireless, all-inclusive management software interface that runs from a handheld electronic computing device like an iPad, tablet, or one of the many other custom-made tablet devices.
 
Even in the world of the theatrical arts on Broadway, designers used to operate lights and sound from separately controlled boards in the theater, which contained dozens of physical sliders and dials. They were not able to travel to any other area in the theater while balancing the sound or lights. With the advent of using wireless tablets to control lighting and sound equipment, the quality of the experienced is heightened through better quality control. This same concept, true for manufacturing industries, is also prevalent in the salon, tanning, and spa industries.

Virtual Desktop Office Management

Computer networking efficiencies and innovative software designs have made desktop virtualization possible. A virtual desktop is a software program, working within a user virtualization management system infrastructure, which gives total oversight and remote utility to an administrator.

For example, imagine an office filled with work cubicles and one big office for the boss. Each cubicle workstation has a desktop computer, which is wired into the office’s private network. The network may be hard-lined, wireless, or a combination of both, allowing for a connection of all devices on the network to run through a controlled server. All activity on the network can be monitored and accessed from the boss’ office, at the administrator's computer.

The administrator can also access the administrative functions for the network from any device connected to the Internet in the world. Likewise, in our office example, it would also be possible to limit administrative access to an individual computer, multiple computers, a server, or an IP address.

Virtual desktop environments are essentially virtual clones of an administrator's desktop. Instead of localizing the stored data and application content to an individual machine, a virtual desktop network allows an administrator to access application information from every physical client device connected to the network. It also gives administrators the ability to control client devices, connected to the network remotely.

Instead of installing software on multiple physical devices, desktop virtualization networks allow an administrator to connect all devices to the same operating system sharing software. This creates a secure digital security fence against malicious software finding its way into your network, by mitigating weak links and backdoors.

​Benefits of Virtual Desktops for Salons

Most salons, spas, and tanning salons are small businesses and, as of last year, 60% of small businesses who suffer a cyber attack on their network will go out of business within six months. These attacks can cost over $600,000 to recover a business. In the event of a network breach, consolidating network access to a virtual desktop system is the most reliable method of data recovery. When an individual device shows indicators of a security breach, replacement of the machine, and the restoration of application data is simple and efficient. All information is backed up by an on-site, redundant infrastructure, as well as digitally using cloud storage.
 
Combining a virtual desktop network with good salon point-of-sale software like SalonTouch Studio management software will allow your salon to thrive and save you time. We live in a world of information and data. Our world turns on the axis of the Internet, which can be an obstacle or an opportunity. The most successful salons and spas have found that networking and software like SalonTouch Studio enable businesses to care for the well-being of their customers by organizing the administrative processes.

For beauty salons, spas, and tanning salon owners, it is time to throw away that old paper-based appointment book. By utilizing the many technologies and best spa and salon management software that’s available on the market will improve services, heighten the joy and peace of mind you have in your daily routine, as well as to create a more profitable structure on which to build your business.