I was chatting with my barber the other day about technology and the way we use it now. This was as he was changing his Spotify playlist o his Bluetooth speaker. He then said:

Technology won’t change what a barber does

I thought long and hard about this and he is, in many ways, correct. However, it will (and has) changed EVERYTHING around the job:

• Photos of what people want will be on their phone, not faded photos on the wall
• LLMs will be able to describe these images for the barber if the user wants to explain it.
• This will be at an appointment pre-booked on a mobile phone and paid for with the same mobile.
• The music will be streamed, not a transistor radio in the corner; that’s assuming the customers don’t have earbuds in.
• The barber’s finances will be electronic with online software managing his accounts.
• Customer records and notes of past styles, allergies and preferences can be stored digitally
• Reminders can be sent on a 4-6 week basis to bring business back
• Instagram and TikTok for marketing with before and after videos
• Google reviews encouraged to drive profile
• Loyalty points and programmes managed electronically with offers and discounts attached

The art of barbering is ancient, analogue and tactile. But the ecosystem? It’s digital, data-driven, and rapidly innovating.

If this industry can change – how is yours moving? Let me know in the comments.