Beauty business owners see AI tools leading to happier customers and more time for creativity
The stylist's chair can be a center for swapping stories and catching up on the latest news or gossip. But when it comes to discussing artificial intelligence and how beauty businesses use it to grow, we're guessing that's not exactly shop talk.
But whether you’re running the glitziest spa or the corner barbershop, AI-powered technology is likely making your business much better.
Square surveyed 296 executives from a range of beauty businesses – including beauty, hair and nail salons, barber shops, and day and med spas – to gauge their thoughts about using artificial intelligence, what types of AI tools they use already, and how AI affects their success.
The respondents split almost evenly into two groups:
The non-AI users: Fifty-one percent of spa and salon respondents say they’ve never used AI at their business. That may not be surprising to those who operate small shops, where, until a decade ago, much of the scheduling was done via phone calls or text and recorded in bound appointment books.
The early AI adopters: Almost half of surveyed salon and spa executives say they’ve used AI-enabled tools, with a small percentage saying they use the technology every day.
Beyond simply using AI tools, 30% of beauty industry pros told us they were excited about the future effects AI could bring to their business.
Why? Two words: happy clients.
Almost all the beauty industry leaders who use AI tools see a path to improving customer satisfaction levels.
In fact, 30% of survey respondents who are already using AI tools said they saw enhanced customer satisfaction rates because of it, and 26% of respondents say they’ve seen increased efficiency or streamlined processes. These are changes customers often notice – whether they come in the form of easier bookings or a more smoothly run business.
Seventy-eight percent of beauty business owners who use AI tools say it’s saving them at least six hours a week, and 76% of that group said the time saved is now being spent on innovation and creative ideation.
Beauty industry executives and practitioners who are freed up to do more research, learn new techniques, and experiment with new styles could have a significant advantage over the competition when it comes to satisfying their clients.
