Not that long ago, people used to think the safest way to store anything was at home. Put it in a box, shove it under the bed, and hide it away for safekeeping!
Well, those days are gone. In fact, most of our most of the information we use on a daily basis lives in the cloud, stored behind a password, easily searchable, and accessible from our phones, computers, and other apps we use to get through our lives.
So, why do so many dog walking and pet sitting businesses still keep their client information on paper? Usually, it is because it “feels” easier and is free, or it is “just the way I have always done it.” But the reality is that it is also very risky.
Whether you realize it or not, your client information is the lifeblood of the business and needs to be just as safe as your online banking credentials and as accessible as your latest Spotify playlist!
What do we mean by client information?
When we think about the types of information you need to store for your clients, it breaks down into three main categories.
Background and behavioral information. These are the basics that would normally be gathered at a meet and greet session. Things like access instructions to a home, factual information about a pet like their birthday, gender, and whether they are spayed and neutered. Also, what types of animals and people do they get along with, what fears do they have, and what commands do they know?
Emergency information. This is the information you only need when you need it, usually because something has gone wrong. Veterinary information, allergies, vaccinations, emergency contacts.
Real-time, appointment-centric information. This is the information about a specific appointment or a temporary change in circumstances. For example, what time is an appointment? Is the pet acting like they are sick? Do they need a different walk than their normal route for some reason?
Why should you move your pet family information to the cloud?
You might be thinking, “sure, but I know everything I need to know to go about my day-to-day.” And you might be right, for now. But as your business grows or in the event of an emergency, there are a few key reasons why you should centralize your information in the cloud.
1. It is available from anywhere, for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it. As a regular walker or pet sitter, you may have committed a pet’s background and behavioral information to memory, but as your business grows it becomes harder to stay on top of everyone. And if you have someone helping you out, accessing that information becomes impossible without lots of texts or emails back and forth. When your information is stored centrally, your new walker can quickly get whatever information they need while they in the field, as they need it.
2. It is easy to update. With your client information stored safely in the cloud, it is easy for you and your clients to make quick changes to all sorts of information. New vaccinations? Changes to where a key is hidden? A new vet or emergency contact? It’s all a couple of taps away on a phone or clicks on a computer, and requires no back and forth to make sure the information is captured correctly.
3. It is impossible to lose. For even the most organized pet sitter or dog walker, pieces of paper can easily go missing over time. When your information is stored in the cloud, however, it is organized, constantly backed up, and not subject to the mess of day-to-day life.
Are you ready to move your client information to the cloud? Sign up for a demo of PetPocketbook today.