Consider the new possibilities created by rapid advancements in tanning technology, and it’s natural to think of equipment first. Revolutionary sunbed technology has propelled the industry forward in recent years, marking a new era in tanning. The same can be said of spray tanning innovations, new wellness and spa offerings, and an unprecedented range of advanced formulas and ingredients from top tanning and skincare brands.

For salon owners, these are exciting developments, but the practical impact on your business depends on how you implement, price, package, and promote your equipment and products. Fortunately, you’re not navigating this alone. Salon software is another tier of technological innovation that’s helping tanning businesses make smarter decisions. Constant upgrades from the industry’s leading software companies offer salons new ways to streamline operations, increase productivity, and enhance profitability.

These software providers, like the leading tanning product and equipment manufacturers, have extensive experience in the industry and maintain a deep dedication to helping their salon partners succeed.

For over 25 years, TanTrack has been a trusted tool in salons across the country. Designed to give salon owners maximum control, TanTrack combines user-friendly functionality with all the essential features needed to operate and grow a successful tanning business.

“TanTrack has always been an innovator in our industry. We’ve always used the latest tools and languages to develop our software. Primarily, over the years, we’ve been known as being the easiest to use. It is straight-up simple. We also develop our software in-house with our own full-time staff, so we have full control over the features we implement and can generally bring them to market faster than our competitors,” says Jeff Oakes, President of Nichesoft, the parent company of TanTrack.

SunLync is the salon software division of JK Products & Service, the U.S. branch of industry leader JK Ergoline. Known for empowering data-based decision-making, SunLync provides the comprehensive analysis tools needed to plan investments, monitor daily operations, track sales, manage usage, and optimize staffing – covering all facets of a successful salon business.

“SunLync is a complete salon management system that manages all aspects of the business – everything from equipment maintenance and ticketing to inventory maintenance and customer management. We’ve been on the market since 2002, so a lot of extensive research has gone into meeting the needs of salon operators. Most of the features and functionality that you see come from requests from our customers. We’ve got everyone from single salon operations all the way through large multi-salon operations that have scaled and grown with us over the years,” says SunLync Sales Manager Melissa Damiani.

Helios salon software is also backed by one of the tanning industry’s major players. Founded in 1988 and later acquired by ETS, Helios became part of MH Equity’s New Sunshine portfolio in 2006. This strategic alignment has allowed Helios to leverage cross-marketing opportunities across the New Sunshine brands.

“Part of the assignment I was given in taking over the Helios team was to figure out ways we could leverage the strengths of both teams and more wholly integrate Helios into the greater New Sunshine company,” says New Sunshine Vice President of Technology Christian Fordham, who heads the Helios team at the New Sunshine offices in Indianapolis. “It also allows us to be a little more seamless from the sales and marketing perspectives.”

Salon software offers countless, ever-expanding ways to help business owners simplify procedures, save time and money, and boost efficiency. However, perhaps the greatest potential lies in the data these platforms deliver, helping you uncover and execute strategies to increase revenue and sales based on customer behavior, employee performance, membership engagement, purchasing trends, equipment utilization, and much more.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.