If you’re running a small business, you may think that your operation is not big enough to warrant using software. However, that’s not the case. Software is not just reserved for large corporations and can benefit even small pet-care businesses serving their community. In fact, it can greatly improve the organization and efficiency of your business while helping you provide superior customer service.
But, not all software is created equal. First and foremost, you’ll want to ensure you choose software that is specifically created for pet-care businesses like yours. To make your final decision, you’ll need to know what features to look for.
With these considerations in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to make a sound investment that will help you focus on what matters in your business—the pets! If you’re ready to start growing your business and improving your operations, let’s get started!
As a business that is serving a community (and its pets!), keeping an open line of communication with your community and sharing important updates is essential to the functioning of your business. When you’re taking care of people’s furry friends, whether you’re grooming, training, or housing them, demonstrating reliable communication will go a long way in building trust with your customer base.
A few helpful communication features to look for in pet-care software include:
As you know, the owners of the pets are just as important as the actual pets themselves, so you want to make sure they’re happy. Providing excellent communication and superior customer service will guarantee you some life-long customers.
A convenient online platform where customers can pay for services and view documents, important information, and updates will really impress your clients. As more and more businesses step up their online presence and implement online portals and services, you don’t want to get left behind! And even if no one else in your community has implemented an online platform yet, being the first will set you apart from your competitors.
Here are a few things your customers could do more conveniently through an online client portal:
Additionally, finding software that allows you to offer a client portal to your customers will be easier for your customers and your staff. Whenever your staff needs to access information about a pet, they can easily find the most up-to-date information. And when it’s time to update a pet’s records or register a new pet and owner, your staff can easily and efficiently have customers fill out and upload any necessary paperwork before they even bring their pet in!
Of course, getting every feature under the sun sounds great. However, we understand that you still need to consider your budget and business plan. Finding an affordable option for pet-care software is crucial, but so is considering the time and money that using software could save you. Automating some of your tasks can help you reduce the hours spent doing menial tasks and better organization can also make your staff more efficient. And that’s not to mention reduced costs when you no longer need to print out and store multiple copies of paperwork.
Another important consideration when picking out software is how well this software will allow your business to grow. More than likely, your goal is to grow your business. As you add more customers, the last thing you want is to be hit with surprise limits placed on your account that ask you to spend more for continued access. To avoid this problem, make sure you really understand the pricing model of the software you’re choosing. You want it to meet your needs now and the greater needs you hope to have in the future.
Whether you’re just now deciding that the pet-care business is right for you or you’re an established small business, understanding how software can help you and how to identify what’s worth the investment is a crucial component to growing your business. Keep the features we outlined in this article in mind when you’re shopping for pet-care software. Good luck!