Similar to other business-oriented software, a typical tanning salon software makes use of a computer. The salon staff interacts with the software through a graphical interface. This interface usually includes elements like buttons, lists, text boxes, and scroll bars. The user needs each element in typing, modifying, viewing, and saving data. After the user is done entering the data, the software will then proceed in verifying the data. Oftentimes, this is done through confirmation messages which may flash in the monitor screen.

Moving on, once the confirmation has been finished, the software will then store the data inside a database. A database is defined as a collection of tables wherein information is saved. These information may consist of customer profile, schedules of tanning sessions, and transaction records. As opposed to the graphical interface which is visible to the user, the database acts as the back end of the software which cannot be seen.

In addition, software are most of the time accompanied by hardware such as biometric and bar code devices. These devices act as means to get information from the customer or staff which shall be needed in the completion of the software process. Tanning salons, for instance, can give their clients ID cards which can be swiped through a certain hardware to verify their identity or determine how much time or credits they have left.