Designing Software for the Pet Care Industry with Jordy McNamara | Ep. 121

What happens when a pet care business owner decides the industry doesn’t need another scheduling tool, it needs better growth tools?In this episode, I sit down with Jordy McNamara, founder of Critter, to talk about where pet care technology is headed, why marketing remains one of the biggest untapped opportunities in our industry, and how business owners can use automation without sacrificing the relationships that make this work so meaningful.Jordy brings a unique perspective. He entered the pet care industry through technology, started a pet care company to better understand the challenges operators face, and ultimately built Critter after seeing a gap between operational software and true business growth tools.🐾 Learn More About Critter. Jordy and the Critter team will be joining us as the Premium Sponsor of the DogCo Business Summit. If you’d like to learn more about Critter, schedule a demo, or connect directly with Jordy: 🌐 critter.pet - 📧 [email protected] discuss everything from CRM systems and marketing automation to AI, client retention, referral programs, and the evolving role technology will play as pet care businesses continue to grow and mature.One of my favorite parts of this conversation is the shared belief that technology should strengthen relationships, not replace them. As our industry grows, finding that balance may be one of the most important challenges we face.If you’re curious about the future of pet care, marketing, automation, and scaling a service-based business, I think you’ll enjoy this one.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introducing Jordy McNamara and Critter1:21 – How technology led Jordy into pet care5:57 – Why Critter shifted from scheduling to growth tools8:21 – Relationship-driven marketing in pet care12:01 – The state of technology in the pet care industry15:00 – AI, automation, and the future of software18:18 – Why growing businesses need better technology20:21 – Can pet care become over-automated?28:16 – The biggest marketing opportunities for pet care companies33:36 – Critter joins the DogCo Business Summit🚀 Join Us at the DogCo Business SummitIf you’re serious about growing your pet care business, building stronger systems, and connecting with some of the most ambitious operators in the industry, I’d love to have you join us at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available 👉 dogcosummit.com🧠 Key Takeaways• Technology should support relationships, not replace them• Pet care remains early in the technology adoption curve• Marketing and client engagement represent major growth opportunities• Good automation depends on good data• Referral systems remain one of the highest-leverage growth channels• Software should be viewed as a growth investment, not just an expense• AI will likely evolve differently inside pet care than in other industries• Business owners need better visibility into marketing ROI• Scaling businesses requires different tools than solo operators• The future belongs to companies that combine operational excellence with intentional growthMy conversation with Jordy left me feeling optimistic about where our industry is headed. While technology continues to evolve rapidly, the businesses that will thrive are still the ones that build trust, create great experiences, and invest in meaningful relationships. If you’re curious about what the next chapter of pet care could look like, I think you’ll enjoy this discussion.-M