PetExec vs. Pet Manager: Which Cloud-Based Software Is the Right Fit for Your Growing Pet Facility?

Welcome to the big leagues. Your pet care business is thriving, and you’ve moved past spreadsheets and paper diaries. You’re in the world of cloud-based management software, and you’re looking for the perfect fit. In your search, you’ve almost certainly encountered two prominent names: PetExec and Pet Manager.

Both are comprehensive systems designed to manage the complexities of a modern pet facility, from doggy daycare to boarding, grooming, and training. They both live in the cloud, offering you access from anywhere, at any time. PetExec has been a staple in the industry for years, known for its extensive feature list and established presence. Pet Manager is a powerful contender, praised for its intuitive design and deep customisation capabilities.

So, which one deserves to be the new command centre for your business? Let’s compare them across a few key areas that are critical for a growing pet facility.

User Experience and Interface Design

Let’s be honest: you and your staff will be staring at this software all day, every day. It needs to be intuitive and, dare we say, enjoyable to use. A clunky, confusing interface can lead to frustration and costly mistakes.

PetExec offers a wide array of features, but some users have noted that the interface can feel dated and require a significant number of clicks to perform common tasks. While powerful, the learning curve can be steep for new staff members.

Pet Manager has been developed with a strong focus on a modern, clean, and intuitive user experience. Users often comment on how easy it is to navigate. The system uses a series of dashboards that provide an at-a-glance overview of your entire operation. The main dashboard features interactive tiles for critical information like check-ins, check-outs, and new portal bookings, so you know exactly what needs your attention the moment you log in.

The design philosophy is about making complex tasks simple. For example, the drag-and-drop functionality in the schedulers allows you to move bookings between pens or rooms effortlessly. According to one user’s Google review, “The transition was so smooth because the software is just so logical to use. Our new staff pick it up in no time.” When you’re running a busy facility, minimizing training time is a significant financial and operational advantage.

Flexibility in Pricing and Invoicing

As your business grows, your pricing models may become more sophisticated. You might introduce seasonal rates, membership discounts, or package deals. Your software must be able to keep up without causing accounting headaches.

PetExec provides robust financial tools, including recurring billing and package management, which are essential for daycare and training businesses.

Pet Manager distinguishes itself with an exceptionally flexible and powerful rules-based pricing engine. This isn’t just about setting a price for a service; it’s about creating a smart system that thinks for you. Consider these scenarios that Pet Manager can automate:

• A 10% surcharge is automatically added for all bookings during the December peak season.
• A client with the ‘Rescue Partner’ customer type automatically receives a 15% discount on all boarding stays.
• An additional “daycare day” fee is automatically added to the invoice if a boarding pet checks out after 11 AM.
• A pre-paid daycare package is purchased, but the ‘tokens’ for the daycare days only become usable by the client once their invoice for the package is paid in full.

This level of automation eliminates manual errors, ensures consistency, and captures all potential revenue. It’s a system designed to grow with your business’s financial complexity. Plus, with seamless Xero integration, your bookkeeping becomes dramatically simplified.

All-in-One vs. All-in-One: A True Integrated Solution

Both platforms market themselves as all-in-one solutions. But what does that truly mean in practice?

PetExec combines various functionalities into its platform, allowing you to manage different services from one system.

Pet Manager is architected from the ground up with distinct, yet fully integrated, modules for each part of your business. It has separate, purpose-built schedulers and dashboards for Boarding, Daycare, Grooming, Training, Walking, and more. This structure is crucial for larger or multi-faceted businesses. It means your grooming staff has a clean, uncluttered view of their appointments, while your kennel manager can focus solely on kennel occupancy and logistics.

This integrated approach extends to every corner of the software. A single customer profile holds their entire history with your business—every boarding stay, grooming appointment, and daycare visit. Their financial history, including all invoices and payments across all services, is in one place. This 360-degree view is invaluable for providing personalized customer service and understanding your clients’ value to your business.

Reporting and Business Insights

Making strategic decisions requires data. You need to know your busiest days, your most popular services, and your most valuable clients.

PetExec offers a suite of reports to help you track your business’s performance.

Pet Manager provides a vast and detailed reporting suite designed to give you actionable insights. Beyond standard financial reports, you can delve into things like:

• Occupancy Reports and Graphs: To visually track your capacity and forecast future availability.
• Lapsed Customers Report: Identify clients who haven’t booked in a while so you can target them with a “we miss you!” promotion.
• Revenue Estimate Report: Get a projection of future income based on confirmed bookings.
• Pet Taxi Reports: For businesses that offer transport, you can generate daily pickup/dropoff lists, optimize routes on a map, and assign drivers.

The choice between established power and modern flexibility is a classic business dilemma. Both PetExec and Pet Manager are capable platforms that can run a successful pet business. The decision rests on what you value most: an interface that empowers your staff, a financial system that adapts to your unique rules, and a truly integrated platform built for the diverse and growing pet businesses of tomorrow.