The Future of Art Gallery Software Is Connectedness

If you were to add one feature to your art gallery’s software, what would it be? It’s a difficult question since we expect much more from our technology than ever before. When you first started looking for art gallery software, you may have just wanted an inventory management system. But as time passed, you probably needed tools for things like financials, communication, security, and more. 

This scenario has presented many art professionals, possibly including yourself, with a frustrating challenge — too many disconnected software solutions. What do we mean when we say disconnected systems, and why is it a problem?

Disconnected Systems Kill Team Efficiency

Disconnected software is software that can’t communicate with other applications. Say you have a CRM that tracks customer interactions, but the CRM doesn’t connect with your invoicing platform. So, whenever a new invoice is generated, someone has to enter that data into your CRM manually. On the other hand, connected software either has all the functionality you need in a single platform or uses third-party integrations to allow applications to communicate data seamlessly. 

We could use many metrics to measure the value of connected software, like increased accuracy, better follow-up rates, and improved customer service. But let’s look at one of the most basic metrics: time-saving. A Slack survey done with over 2,000 knowledge workers found that employees were losing up to 10 weeks of productivity a year simply from app switching. Even if your team’s situation isn’t quite so dire, what would it mean to take back even a week of productivity?

For Art Professionals on the Move,
Connected Software Is Even More Important

Imagine you’re opening a new exhibition and, in the course of the opening night, you meet several prospects. You then proceed to add them to your CRM later that night or next day when you are back at your computer. Later they become clients, and you need to invoice them. Unfortunately, you have to re-enter their data in your invoicing software. And after payment, you have to update your inventory system. Finally, you need to update your CRM system another time with the updated sales information. 

This workflow represents the tedium that connected software can help you avoid. Busy art professionals like yourself are on the move, and updating separate systems with the same data increases the frequency of errors, forgotten messages, and other costly mistakes. The solution is to take the standard step-by-step workflow that looks something like this: 

And turn it into a fully integrated system where you only have to input data once:

Today’s art galleries need more than a simple inventory database. They need complete sales systems that save them time, help them close deals, and facilitate collaboration. 

Supercharge Your Business’ Workflow
With a Connected Art Gallery Sales Solution

Data is a crucial element for improving your art gallery’s performance. With insightful data, you can personalize client communications and the buying experience, set up repeatable processes, and showcase the right art at the right time. ARTERNAL is a complete sales solution that enables your team with collaborative tools and data insights. Consider three ways it does this. 

Integrations that streamline work and communication. Whether you’re using email, Mailchimp, WhatsApp, or iMessage, ARTERNAL has built-in integrations that help you work without leaving the platform. That way, you can communicate with clients with context at your fingertips — allowing you to track customer interactions and keep up with them on the fly. 
Cloud-based software that’s accessible from anywhere. ARTERNAL is available on the web and as an iOS mobile app. Mobile access gives you access to Smart Mail, inventory management, and more, whether you’re in the gallery, at an art fair, or working from home. Updates (such as artwork inventory) are done in real-time, so your entire team has the latest information.  
Smart mail that allows you to personalize at scale. Studies show that companies using personalization see up to a $20 return on every $1 spent. By simply personalizing emails, many directors see noticeable improvements in their open rates. Our Smart Mail solution helps you personalize emails at scale so you can spend less time in your inbox while increasing conversions. 

Our connected sales solution integrates with many of the tools you use daily, so you can enter data once and be confident it’s shared across systems. It also helps you manage many of the critical components of your business, such as client relationship management, inventory management, and finances. If you want to preview what the future of art gallery software looks like, schedule a demo today.