Thinking Outside the Box

A New Future for Pet Licensing and BarkPass

As the proud new owner of BarkPass, I’m thrilled to share my vision for the future of pet licensing. I am committed to transforming the way pet licensing programs operate, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly. While at the same time, seeing this community function thrive by revitalizing interest in the value of pet licensing and driving compliance.

Goal 1: Driving Down Costs with Innovation

At BarkPass, we will continue to harness cutting-edge technology to optimize operations, minimize labor costs, and deliver a seamless, user-friendly experience for both administrators and pet owners.

Here's how we plan to achieve this:

• User-Friendly Design: At BarkPass, our software is crafted with the user in mind. Featuring intuitive interfaces and straightforward navigation, BarkPass empowers both administrators and pet owners to effortlessly manage licensing tasks. Say goodbye to cumbersome processes and confusing paperwork, our system is simple, efficient, and effective. We are committed to continuously expanding our features, making as many functions as possible self-service.

• Workflow Automation: Automation is the key to efficiency. BarkPass automates repetitive tasks, freeing up valuable time for administrators to focus on more important responsibilities. From automatic renewal reminders to free upload functionality, our software takes the hassle out of pet licensing. We will continue to expand this through API development linking systems, eliminating double work.

• Artificial Intelligence: The future is here, and AI is at the forefront of our strategy. Behind the scenes, BarkPass has already incorporated AI-driven insights and predictive analytics to identify trends, optimize workflows, and make data-driven decisions. We will continue to seek AI tools, not only to enhance the overall efficiency of the licensing process, but to assist in reducing operational costs.

Goal 2: Changing the Perception of Pet Licensing

Pet licensing is often viewed as a tedious and unnecessary task. However, I believe that by changing this perception, we can truly transform pet licensing into a vital resource for pets in need. While our first goal is very product-focused, getting the industry and the public reenergized about pet licensing is a way larger and more daunting task. And ultimately something we can’t do alone. Most say you will never get “everyone” to license their pet. But here is the thing, we don’t need to. Research shows that the average compliance rate is 12%; what if it was 25% or 40%? This would double or triple the community’s revenue, and the number of pets accounted for.

From a national perspective, pet licensing faces a unique challenge; there is no single national body representing the work.  That’s because pet licensing has always been relegated as the ugly stepchild of different agencies, whether animal services, health departments, law enforcement, or clerks’ offices. Or they outsource the function to humane societies or private companies.  Many communities committed to doing better have few resources to learn best practices or share ideas.

As an industry, let’s change that! At BarkPass, we are going to start by building connections. As part of BarkPass’ outreach to all these communities, we will look to spotlight the great work being done around the country, no matter the product they are using. This is where your insights and experiences are invaluable to us; we know there are communities with thriving programs, and we want to make sure people know about them.   

Join Us on This Journey

I am excited about the future of BarkPass and the impact we can make on pet licensing at large. By focusing on cost reduction through technology and changing the perception of pet licensing, we can create a system that benefits both administrators and pet owners alike. Contact me at steve@barkpass.com to share your thoughts and ideas. Together, let's usher in a new era of pet licensing—one that is efficient, affordable, and valued by all.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Stay tuned for more updates and innovations from BarkPass!