Optimizing Schedules, Relying on Maps Less

Most grooming scheduling software these days has “mapping” capabilities. Every one has their own interpretations of what mapping does, or should do. We have made our opinions on mapping and other mapping services quite plain:

(see: Common Sense Mapping for Dog Grooming Software and 10 Things to Look for in Your Pet Grooming Software [2021] for more opinions on the subject).

The way we see it, groomers use the mapping functionality for one main goal: to get try to get their appointments closer together, therefore optimizing their day. Yes there is more to it, especially with MethodPet’s mapping capabilities. You may have a few appointments to fill, so you go to maps to find local clients who may need an appointment, or you want to visualize your clients. You also may have an unexpected cancellation and need to find another client close by while you’re in the field. But I still think the main goal we all want is to get clients closer together so we have to drive less, spend less on fuel, maximize the working hours and not jump from town to town.

While developing MethodPet, I realized that maps wasn’t the simplest way to group appointments close together and you reading this may have figured that out too.

That is why I came up with a new system, never before used in grooming software.

Locality Tracking

I call it locality tracking because I couldn’t think up anything more clever at the time, but the use and effect are undeniable and it doesn’t use mapping.

While developing MethodPet, I realized that maps wasn’t the simplest way to group appointments close together

Here’s a sample screenshot of a new appointment being created.

Take note that right under the client’s address (which is preloaded), there is 2 “pill” looking items, one green and one blue.

With MethodPet grooming software, employees get to choose a color that is assigned to them. This allows admins and other users to quickly differentiate in many different screens throughout the app.

The green pill is “Groomer A” and the blue pill is “Groomer B”.

What the system is doing is reading the client’s address, looking through the schedule and letting you (the one who is booking the appointment) know when the next time we’re in the particular town without you even having to press a button.

There will be more sophisticated updates to this functionality, but for now it is a terrific jumping off point. This means without changing screens, looking at maps or employees, I can see what day in the future each of my employees will be in this client’s town.

I’m sure you can see that after a few weeks of using this tech, you’ll have all your clients in the same towns each day, no mapping required.

Of course you can always actively use the mapping to fill holes in schedules and get a jump on future appointments, but now it is just the cherry on top :)