Shortcuts Software

It was simply to use and easier to get staff to use it quicker. Training was minimal.

Pros

Features are not as robust as other POS systems, so manuevering around is quite simple. It is easy to learn.

Cons

Features are limited, therefore we cannot get everything running the way we wanted. We had to do some workarounds to get the software where we wanted it to be. Some reports we wanted are not available.

Pros

Easy to use, highly known so lots of new staff already know how to use. Online booking on Facebook and Instagram and marketing are great and I love the consultation forms on my tablet that my customers can sign. Report and manage staff from home and staff have access of their diaries on their phones.

Cons

I'd like more webinars weekly instead of monthly they are good but I would like more of them. It's good to go back over the things that I sometimes forget

more clients.

Pros

has to be the text message service. very useful, i find that my clients never miss an appointment when the texts are sent out.

Cons

i cant really fault the system, if i had to i would say that its annoying when clients cant book an appointment via the app once the computer is turned off.

Pros

once you have it set up you can almost forget about it, the program runs itself without having to work at it daily

Cons

I would like a little more business reports especially on staff performance and product usage. Some of the function for online do not work here in Canada

It does everything i want!

Pros

Anyone can learn it. From computer literate to computer illiterate everyone can get it sorted out. I find it bery easy to use

Helps to organize my business

Pros

I love how easy this program is to use, and I love all of the reports available to help me keep my salon running smoothly

Cons

The thing I like least about shortcuts, and it's not really a problem at all is that if my main computer goes down it renders all of my computers useless. I wish there was a way that it could be run remotely without having an on-site main terminal needed

Easy to customize appointments and services. Online booking is great and different log in securities are a plus.

Pros

Easy to maneuver and customize, the training sessions are great and super helpful, customer support is always quick to respond

Cons

Had issues with the second license that couldn't be worked out. Followed their instructions and spent money to have a direct line installed and it still didn't fix it.

Absolutely disgusting service. Have not been able to operate properly for over 2 and a half weeks, keep getting told that it's been escalated, but still nothing has happened!

Pros

Great when it works, which is rarely

Cons

Hardly ever runs properly, takes weeks to fix issues, staff are rude.

Advice to Others

AVOID!!

The remind texts the system will send out to your customers are nice. Most things are easy to navigate through but can get pretty confusing at times.

Easy to use, manages all aspects of my business and keeps up with industry changes with regular functionality updates!

I wouldn't recommend shortcuts to any salon and Ive made this clearly obvious to shortcuts. this software is not right for any non basic salon business. After spending numerous hours/days/years on extra extra extra training, encountering daily and constant system errors and issues. I managed to get help from someone who was efficient and she spent over and hour reprogramming our software after it had been set up incorrectly (by shortcuts). Then everything she spent her time doing was wasted because the system that is shortcuts managed to not save any of her updates. So suffice to say our next 3 training sessions revolved around reprogramming it again.
Please please please do your research before signing up to a shortcuts contract. Perhaps do a trial with them first. Because I am signed to a 3 year contract and would honestly have been better off using a paper and pen system.
Shortcuts is awkward, cluncky and constantly times out. When id had it over a year i was told extra training would require payment and i even paid for my receptionist to do a course which didnt even touch on the system and turned out to be nothing related to shortcuts at all. The help desk is impossible to get through to. Their systems constantly goes offline. Its very sticky and cluncky. Its not user friendly and it duplicates clients contacts and if you ask shortcuts to fix most issue they will charge you unless you nearly have a nervous breakdown.
The marketing tool requires a degree in software programming to be able to use as its completely random and not user friendly.
Before i bought S/C I couldn't have been clearer about my needs before I agreed to this system and ive lived to regret it. It was supposed to make booking easier for me and my clients but its been a complete nightmare. Other software companies were honest about what their systems couldn't do but shortcuts promised theirs could do everything on my list and more. And the truth is its not right for some. But it's not even capable of managing my stock which is extensions and Ive given up. I hate leaving reviews like this but after they fasley used a feedback they asked me to do after a training session I feel its my duty to be honest about this system and prevent others from being duped.

Pros

It looks nice

Cons

Its useless, not user friendly, over priced and very basic

Advice to Others

Yes try it before you commit to 3 years and £7500 for something that's Google mail could do better for free

I had worked with Shortcuts for years when I was managing a chain salon. It was super user friendly. What I really loved were the training videos that were loaded on it, and available through a quick click for teaching new stylists and receptionists how to use every feature.
There were lots of reports to access that give data on every aspect of the business and for individual stylists. The stylists loved being able to easily ruin a report to make sure they were on top of their goals.

Pros

Reports, customer service, personalization

Advice to Others

If you ever have any problems, you just call and they take over through remote access and can solve anything

I have been in the beauty industry for 30 years and I have worked with many software companys. I have for 1 year now had shortcuts live..And it is the worst program ever and I would never recommend it. But to make matters worst Shortcuts has been the most unprofessional to deal with when I have addressed my concerns with them . I now have requested my data and they tell me they cant provide to me.. And now they have said they can but it will come at a price.. Please be aware as they dont tell you this when you sign up. Do yourself A FAVOUR AND STAY AWAY.

We been using shortcuts going on to six years and it's been a blessing to have such a powerful operating system to support our business growth.

I have researched other point-of-sale systems including salon biz, salon Iris, mind body, millennium - hands down Shortcuts remains the best for the following reasons.

1) simple user interface
The touch option and visual layout is easy on the eyes. This works with our barbers as our staff are spatially and visually oriented. The icons are self explanatory and predictable.

2) shared credit among staff
As a team-based environment an important feature was for us to be able to give credit to multiple team members for one ticket.

3) benchmarking
A great feature is that shortcuts allows us to benchmark ourselves against other businesses operating within the same threshold. This helps us gauge the health of our business.

4) built-in marketing
Shortcuts also has a built in marketing tool in which we can compile customer information based on a variety of demographics and variables. This information can be exported into an email campaign and sent directly to the customer at no additional cost. Comparatively other softwares outsources this feature thus resulting in added cost/each campaign.

5) genuine and enthusiastic
The truth is, just with all other technology- bugs and hiccups do happen from time to time. What is important is that we are confident that someone at helpdesk is always there to resolve the problem.

We just ranked top 200 salons in North America by Salon Today under growth category. We couldn't have done it without a strong management system. Thanks Shortcuts! Keep up the great work. Lets continue to grow together!

I wish I didn't have to fill in any stars. In all my years of working with software companies Shortcuts is the worst in customer service. All they were interested in was to get my business at the risk of not being truthful about supporting my operations. It wasn't until I got my training did I learn that they could not configure the software to meet my needs, after the sales team and the scheduler promised they could take care of my request. The hours I wasted on the phone for problems running the software, adding information, ConnectMe (was the worst) failed online booking cost me considerable time and money. No matter how much I complained it was the same story, "I'm so sorry, we will do our best to help you resolve your problem" Updated to Windows 10, then it got worse. ConnectMe could not function without error messages popping up. Their tech group could not figure out how to fix it.

Love how easy it is to use! It is perfect for our company's needs. Every report you can think of is right at your fingertips. Hands down the easiest transition between software I have ever gone through.

I cannot tell you how amazing SC is! From the ease of use by our staff to the support team at the head office. The wait times are minimal, the issue is always corrected and they have support 24/7! I did do some shopping around awhile back and had the worst experience with another software company that promised the world and delivered nothing. Needless to say I came crawling back to SC. We have them in all 5 locations and the team they have are long term employees (this says allot about a company) when we reach out for support its like talking to family. The company's vison and views are on point! There is no one better out there!

This system is not user friendly, fails consistently, tech support is always overwhelmed with many issues with credit card processing. I would have not purchased this system but it was recommended by the franchise I belong with. Stay away until failure issues are addressed!

Pros:
Sales staff and pre sales technical staff are amazing. They went above and beyond to get us up and running under very challenging timelines and circumstances. We have more than one location and the ability to share client information is great.

Cons:
Lack of flexibility in reporting, billing and data capture.
We lost all our client history during conversion.

Our Experience:
When we expanded from a small boutique Spa to a second bigger location at a resort it was obvious that we needed a better application for our Spa and Salon.
Shortcuts went above and beyond to work with our bank (not in US) to get CC billing working and get us up and running in a very short time.
Because of the time restraints we might have dropped the ball on our end in testing that Shortcuts could handle some of our special reporting and data capture request.
I wanted information like new client reports (three different categories of clients and consolidated) with our setup if a new client requested a special employee we have to choose if they are tagged as New or request..
Services in the resort have a Gratuity added but some guest also add an extra Tip.. This causes reporting challenges.
They offer some amazing reports that are built around their experience and what owners/managers need. But try to get something like..
All treatments done by an employee with a breakdown of treatment cost, was any discount applied, Gratuity, additional tips
All on one report.. Think Not..

Don't want to sound over critical, its a very good product but might not have been the best choice for us.

Shortcuts is the best people, dont waste any more of your time. It does everything and I mean everything better than all the others. It really comes down to price why i bothered to look at all the options. But when you think it might cost you a couple of dollars a day to probably make 100 times more per day, then its worth every cent,.