Future Plans
As well as installing a second computer at reception, Sue is looking at eventually fitting all of the workstations with a computer so that technicians will not have to "finish off" their clients at the reception area, cutting down further on the congestion that currently causes some problems for the staff and clients.
An add-on that is available for Hair Ware 2000 is an SMS interface that automatically sends a reminder text message to the cell phones of clients who have appointments the next day. The client then texts "A" back to the computer, which changes the colour of the appointment on the screen, showing that confirmation has been received. Currently, the receptionist does up to 20 reminder calls daily, so automation of this task could potentially save over an hour of administrative time each day. However, this option would obviously not work for all clients, as some do not have cell phones; others may have them but not use them frequently; and others simply may not be comfortable with this form of communication. The feasibility of using this feature is being investigated, with Sue looking at how many clients it could potentially work for. One of Ian's software clients achieved a phone bill saving of $600 in one month by using the SMS interface because it cut out multiple calls to cell phones.
Another feature that is not currently being used, but is available on the software is the wage option. At the moment wages are managed on a computer, but by using an Excel spreadsheet rather than Hair Ware 2000. Not using the wage feature has been a strategic decision, as Sue has prioritised computerisation of the manual processes at Planet Skin. Now that the firm is reaching the end of the consolidation stage, there are plans to make use of this feature in the near future. Using Hair Ware 2000's wages feature could help to make paying staff members (which, for the technicians, is on a commission basis) easier, and might help with IRD compliance too, as printouts of tax information could be produced instantly. As the system was designed in Australia, there has been some concern over whether the wage option would handle New Zealand tax and ACC.
Currently the business is operating at very close to maximum capacity due to the size of the premises. The next step in expanding the business would be acquiring a new site. When the business is located in multiple premises, Sue hopes to manage the business from home, concentrating on the marketing side of the business. This off-site management would not be possible under the manual system.
According to Ian, there is huge growth potential in the beauty market for males. For example, a few years ago most men who visited the salon would just use the sun beds, but now a lot of them are also having waxing done. Ways to increase use in this market are another avenue currently being looked into. Development of the website is being explored for this purpose, with a "user friendly" way for potential male customers to explore the range of services available, or to encourage them to purchase products or vouchers for services as gifts, without having to physically come into the clinic.
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