Automate Your Hair

By Author: Moshe Goldberg
Total Articles: 4717
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In pre-computer days, POS (Point Of Sale) systems used to be easy to buy. They were called cash registers. As the high-technology revolution that started in the late 1970s brought us ever faster and more capable computing and communications, POS systems modernized right alongside the PCs and iPods. Today there is a wide selection of systems - standalone devices, software you can run on generic or specially-built PCs, Web-based tools, etc. - and there are enough vendors in this business sector to produce specially-configured ones for restaurants, bookstores and other kinds of firms. Whether you plug in a pre-made solution or develop it yourself, you have a lots ways to automate your hair and nail salon with a POS.

Perhaps the most common way to get a POS system set up in a hair and nail salon, especially when time is a critical factor, is with an all-in-one solution. With this kind of prepackaged system you can handle all the credit card processing, electronic calculations, automated billing, inventory control and other daily activities with just a few clicks of a mouse. Many owners use these "salon systems" as they help ...
... simplify transactions, benefit from the speed and accuracy of barcode scanners when selling packaged items, and can be set up easily to produce various reports at the end of the day.

Easy does it
All-in-one salon POS systems begin with the hardware, typically a PC and often one that has all the drives, parts and ports encased in the monitor (or on the rear like a backpack). What makes it a functional POS system, of course, is the software. There are many salon POS systems available today but you should make your buying decision with the same amount of thinking and care as you would give to any other major purchase. In this case, you will want the flexibility to add/remove items, adjust prices or even schedule a future appointment - all while the customer is paying, and taking no extra time.

Making change (by the way, you can have a cash drawer connected and controlled by the POS system, or a standalone one) is not all your system will be doing for you, not even in just the area of transactions. A comprehensive system will also offer invoicing options, customer tracking and order history, while keeping customer checkouts fast and accurate. You will also want a system that is easy and intuitive to use, one that has been customized sufficiently to operate easily, even for people who are not computer-literate.

Price considerations
Cost is always a concern, as it should be, but the fortunate thing is that there are several firms making good POS systems specifically for salons. The competition has been good for product development and keeping prices down. A salon POS system that has multiple functions, first-rate components and customized/customizable software is just not that expensive, and the challenge is not finding a good deal, but finding the right combination of performance, price and potential personalization. Off the top, of course, data entry should be straightforward and convenient, the reporting features robust and expandable, and transactions simple to edit or cancel.

Salon POS systems can also be used to automate some of your most tedious business functions and protect your business from theft and inventory loss at the same time. With these functions in place, the bottles of conditioner the customer buys while paying for their haircut can be deducted from your inventory in the time it takes for their receipt to print. This integration with other business tasks is done in hair and nail salons, tanning spas, day spas and other businesses that sell products, perform service and also maintain appointment books for customer visits.

Don't just automate, enhance
By buying and customizing the right salon POS system you will be able to conduct a lot of business-building functions that will let you offer improved customer service and client-friendly operations. You should consider what kind of barcode scanner you want with your salon POS system, as there are different types. The single line scanners need to be oriented in a particular way to work correctly, while omni-directional units can read the barcodes at any angle. In-counter scanners, of course, are omni-directional.

Using a salon POS system is pretty much a no-brainer. You can process credit card transactions, keep records and issue receipts on every sale, have an accurate appointment book, link to customer records, maintain accurate inventory, log employee hours as needed and customize the system to get exactly what you need from it. Naturally, you need to do a little homework to find out just where you will get the best hardware, software, personalized attention and advice - but once you find the right source for your salon POS system, you are on the verge of taking a truly giant step for your business.
About Author:
Home Security equipment and timeslips software are only the beginning of what we have to offer at Gemini Computers. Visit online to peruse our spectrum of products including POS System, Point Of Sale Software, ELO Touch Screens, symbol Barcode Scanners, Printers, Cash Registers, MSR, Scales, Intercom/Video Phones, IP Cameras, Accounting Software, and much more.