From Computill to iSalon to Salon Manager

Over 30 years of salon software innovation

Salon Manager is the latest generation of salon software from a product journey that began in 1993.

Before Salon Manager, there was iSalon. Before iSalon, there was Computill.

Each generation of the software was created to help salons, spas, clinics, barbershops, colleges and groups manage their business more effectively using the best technology available at the time.

Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager are all part of the same software progression. Each platform represents a new chapter in the development of salon technology, moving from installed Windows applications to today’s cloud-based SaaS software.

Today, these brands are owned by Salon Software Solutions Ltd, the company behind Salon Manager.

One product journey. Three generations of technology.

Salon software has changed dramatically since the early 1990s.

Salons have moved from desktop computers and local installations to online booking, cloud access, automated communication, integrated payments, live reporting and multi-location management.

Our software has evolved alongside those changes.

The journey from Computill to iSalon to Salon Manager reflects one clear mission: to give salon businesses practical, reliable and forward-thinking tools that help them save time, improve client experience and run more efficiently.

The first generation of our salon software

Computill was released in 1993.

At the time, salon software was very different from the systems businesses use today. Computill was an installed Windows application designed to help salons move away from manual processes and start managing appointments, clients and business operations digitally.

Computill gave salon owners a more organised way to manage their day-to-day activity using the technology available at the time.

It marked the beginning of a long-term commitment to building software specifically for the salon and beauty industry.

A new generation of installed salon software

In 1999, iSalon was released as the next major evolution of the software.

Like Computill, iSalon was an installed Windows application. However, it introduced a more advanced and connected approach to salon management, giving businesses new ways to manage clients, appointments, communications and operations.

iSalon became a well-known salon software platform for independent salons, beauty businesses, groups and colleges.

It continued the same product journey started by Computill, while adapting to the changing needs of salon businesses at the time.

Over the years, iSalon introduced and supported several important developments in salon software.

These included:

Integrated text messaging for salon client communication
Online booking for salons
Web-based tools for group and multi-site salon management
Centralised visibility across multiple locations through Command Centre
Release of the miSalon App

These innovations helped salon businesses communicate with clients more effectively, reduce admin, manage bookings more efficiently and gain better control over multiple locations.

The cloud-based SaaS evolution

In 2023, Salon Manager was released as the latest generation of the software.

Salon Manager takes the experience and industry knowledge built through Computill and iSalon and brings it into a modern cloud-based SaaS platform.

Unlike Computill and iSalon, Salon Manager is not an installed Windows application. It is cloud-based software designed for the way salons work today.

That means salon teams can benefit from modern features, easier access, regular updates and a platform built for the future of salon management.

Salon Manager continues the same product journey, but with technology designed for today’s salons, spas, clinics, barbershops, colleges and groups.

Why the move to cloud software matters

The move from installed software to cloud-based SaaS software is one of the biggest changes in salon technology.

Cloud software allows salon businesses to work in a more flexible and connected way. Instead of relying only on a local installation, modern salon teams can use cloud technology to access business tools, manage bookings, view information and support clients more efficiently.

Salon Manager was created to bring the long-standing experience behind Computill and iSalon into this modern cloud environment.

It is the next step in more than 30 years of specialist salon software development.

Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager: how they connect

People may know us by different names depending on when they first used the software.

Some businesses remember Computill.
Some know the platform as iSalon.
Today, the latest generation is Salon Manager.

These are not unrelated products. They are part of the same software journey.

Each generation was developed to match the technology and business needs of its time:

Our salon software journey

Salon Manager is the latest cloud-based evolution of salon software that began with Computill in 1993 and iSalon in 1999.

Year	Product	Type of software	Role in the journey
1993	Computill	Installed Windows application	The original salon software release.
1999	iSalon	Installed Windows application	The next major generation of the platform.
2023	Salon Manager	Cloud-based SaaS software	The modern cloud evolution of the software.

Together, they show how the platform has adapted from desktop-based salon management to modern cloud salon software.

Owned by Salon Software Solutions Ltd

part of Constellation Software Inc.

Salon Software Solutions Ltd is the company behind Salon Manager and the owner of the Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager brands.

The company is part of the wider Constellation Software Inc. group, one of the world’s leading vertical market software companies. This gives Salon Manager the stability of a long-term international software group, while retaining a specialist focus on the salon, spa, beauty, clinic, barbering, education and multi-site sectors.

Salon Manager continues the product journey that began with Computill in 1993 and evolved through iSalon from 1999. Today, it combines decades of salon industry experience with modern cloud-based SaaS technology.

Built on experience, designed for the future

Salon Manager is new in technology, but not new in experience.

It is built on a software journey that started in 1993, evolved through iSalon from 1999, and moved into the cloud with Salon Manager in 2023.

That history matters.

It means Salon Manager has been shaped by decades of real salon industry experience, customer feedback, support knowledge and product development.

The result is a modern salon management platform built by a company that understands how salon businesses operate.

FAQs

Find answers to common questions about Salon Manager, including onboarding, support, switching software, and day-to-day use.

Need more help? Browse our FAQs.

Is Salon Manager the same as iSalon?

Salon Manager is the latest generation of the software journey that previously included iSalon. iSalon was an installed Windows application released in 1999, while Salon Manager is a modern cloud-based SaaS platform released in 2023.

What was Computill?

Computill was the original software release before iSalon. It was released in 1993 as an installed Windows application for salon businesses.

When was iSalon released?

iSalon was released in 1999. It followed Computill and became the next major generation of the salon software platform.

When was Salon Manager released?

Salon Manager was released in 2023 as the cloud-based SaaS evolution of the software.

Are Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager connected?

Yes. Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager are all part of the same software progression, adapting over time as salon technology moved from installed Windows applications to cloud-based SaaS software.

Who owns Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager?

The Computill, iSalon and Salon Manager brands are owned by Salon Software Solutions Ltd.

What was Command Centre?

Command Centre was a web-based tool developed for groups and multi-site salon businesses. It allowed users to view information across multiple salon locations, giving owners and management teams better visibility of their group operations.

Why did the software move from installed applications to the cloud?

The salon industry has changed. Modern businesses need more flexibility, easier access, regular updates, online tools and connected systems. Salon Manager was created as a cloud-based SaaS platform to support the way salons, spas, clinics, barbershops, colleges and groups work today.

A history of salon software innovation

Throughout the Computill and iSalon journey, the software played an important role in bringing new technology into the salon industry.

Notable innovations included integrated text messaging, online booking for salons, and web-based group visibility through Command Centre.

These developments helped salons communicate with clients more effectively, manage bookings more efficiently and give group operators better oversight across multiple locations.