10 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Kennel Management Software

Running a pet-care business is hard enough. Between managing staff, keeping pets safe, communicating with pet parents, and trying to grow your revenue, the last thing you need is outdated kennel management software slowing you down.

And yet… many boarding facilities are still relying on systems that were never built for the ways modern pet-care businesses operate today.

If your system feels clunky, limited, or frustrating, that’s not “just part of the job.” It’s a sign you’ve outgrown your current tools. Below are 10 clear signs it’s time to upgrade your kennel management software, plus what modern pet-care software should be doing for you instead.

1. Your Kennel Software Requires Manual Reservations

If you’re still manually taking reservations via phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, or texts, your software is actively working against you.

Pet parents expect:

• Online booking
• Real-time availability
• Fast confirmations

Outdated kennel software forces staff to act as human middlemen all day long.

Modern kennel management software allows pet parents to:

• Submit booking requests online
• Receive automated confirmations or approvals
• Book 24/7 without tying up your front desk

2. You’re Using Multiple Systems to Run One Business

Scheduling in one tool, payments in another, texting somewhere else, reports in spreadsheets.... This patchwork approach leads to:

• Data errors
• Missed details
• Wasted staff time

All-in-one kennel management software combines:

• Scheduling
• Payments
• Staff notes
• Customer communication
• Reporting

One login. One system. Fewer mistakes.

3. You’re Still Using Paper Waivers and Contracts

Paper agreements aren’t just annoying (and costly), they’re risky. Lost paperwork, outdated forms, and unsigned waivers can all turn into major issues no pet business owner wants to face down the road.

Modern kennel software includes:

• Digital contracts
• Mobile-friendly signatures
• Automatic storage in each pet profile

This protects your business and improves the pet parent experience.

4. Managing Vaccination Records Is a Full-Time Job

If your team is constantly:

• Chasing vaccine records
• Manually checking expiration dates
• Calling vets for documentation

Your software isn’t doing its job.

The best kennel management systems let pet parents:

• Upload vaccination records themselves
• Receive automatic expiration reminders
• Request vet records with one click

Your staff stays focused on pets, not paperwork.

5. Important Pet Notes Are Scattered Everywhere

If feeding instructions are left on sticky notes, behavior warnings are locked in someone’s memory, and grooming preferences buried in old files.... you've got a disjointed mess and potential safety issues on your hands.

Upgraded kennel software centralizes:

• Feeding and medication instructions
• Behavioral alerts
• Grooming and training notes

With clear icons and alerts, staff never miss critical details on each pet in your care.

6. You’re Losing Money to No-Shows

No-shows hurt your revenue, staffing efficiency, and sanity. If appointment reminders are manual — or nonexistent — you’re leaving money on the table.

Modern pet-care software includes:

• Automated email and SMS reminders
• Confirmation workflows
• Optional deposits or prepayments

The result: Fewer no-shows and a more predictable schedule.

7. You Can’t Access Crucial Business Information Remotely

If your kennel management software only works on-site or on a specific computer, it’s outdated. Pet-care business owners need visibility, even when they’re not physically at the facility.

Cloud-based kennel software allows you to:

• Check schedules from anywhere
• Review reports in real time
• Control staff access by role

Running a pet-care business chained to the front desk is impossible. Flexibility allows you to be out with the pups while still keeping tabs on reservations, capacity, client communication, and important pet details.

8. Payments and Reporting Don’t Match Up

If reconciling payments requires detective work, your systems aren’t integrated properly.

Modern kennel management software should:

• Connect payments directly to reservations
• Simplify refunds and adjustments
• Provide clear, accurate financial reports

Clean data = smarter decisions and less end-of-day stress.

9. Upselling Services Feels Awkward (or Never Happens)

Add-ons like enrichment, grooming upgrades, or extra playtime shouldn’t rely on staff remembering to ask during busy check-ins.

Better kennel software:

• Prompts pet parents to select add-ons during online booking
• Reminds staff at check-in
• Tracks add-on performance in reports

This increases average tickets without pressure or awkward conversations.

10. Your Software Doesn’t Help You Grow (It Just Helps You Get Through the Day)

If your kennel management software only helps you survive the day but offers zero insight into how to grow... that’s a problem.

Many older systems stop at basic scheduling and record-keeping. They don’t show you:

• Which services are most profitable
• Which add-ons actually sell
• Which customers book repeatedly (and which disappear)
• Where staff time is being wasted

In other words, they store data… but don’t do anything useful with it.

Modern kennel management software should help you make smarter business decisions with:

• Built-in reports and analytics
• Visibility into revenue, capacity, and trends
• Insights that help you optimize pricing, staffing, and services

Because running a successful pet-care business isn’t just about making it through today—it’s about setting yourself up for the next 6 months, the next year, and beyond.

If your software can’t grow with you, it’s already holding you back.

The Bottom Line: Your Software Should Make Your Day Easier

If your systems are slow, clunky, outdated, or unorganized, you're not only stuck with a roadblock in your routine, you're also limitingg your growth and revenue potential. Any new tool you adopt and implement should be designed to streamline your day and make it easier to focus on caring for pets, not scrambling with busywork.

Your kennel management software should:

• Save time, not create work
• Support staff, not confuse them
• Improve the pet parent experience
• Help your business grow

Ready to upgrade your kennel management software and simplify your day-to-day operations? Book a demo and see what modern pet-care software can really do.