Skimmer product updates

We’ve added new updates to the customer portal, making it a more powerful tool for you and your customers. What is the customer portal?The customer portal is a secure, web-based platform that gives your customers full, 24/7 access to their service and payment details. It allows them to easily view their service history and, if you use Skimmer billing, their payments, invoices and payment methods.What’s newNow your customers can:Access and download their invoices and billing statements for a complete record of all their financial transactionsPay multiple outstanding invoices with a single clickManage quotes* more efficiently by viewing and approving open quotes as well as tracking past requestsNOTE*: Quotes are only available on the Scaling Up and Owning The Market tiers. Watch this video below to see the new customer portal features in action.WATCHHow does the customer portal help your business?Pool service businesses often deal with time-consuming manual processes, from answering customer inquiries about past services to following up on overdue payments. The customer portal was designed to:Enhance your customers’ experience by giving them full access to their service and payment details Improve business efficiency by reducing billing and service-related questions and cutting down your administrative workload  Boost cash flow by making payment management easier through AutoPay and allowing your customers to pay their outstanding invoices easily. Getting startedIf you haven’t set up your customer portal yet, now is the perfect time to start. Check out this getting started guide to help you launch your own portal. It overviews:How to set up the portal What your customers will see when they log in Tips for selecting your portal URL Customizable email invite templates to support your launch Frequently asked questions We’d love to hear how the customer portal is helping your business! Let us know your thoughts, questions, or feedback in the comments below. 

We’re rolling out some enhancements to Skimmer Billing to help you get paid faster, reduce admin work, and improve cash flow. See what’s new below:Introducing AutoPay for work orders: Say goodbye to late payments and better cash flow What is AutoPay?AutoPay automatically charges your customer’s stored payment method for invoices, making payments seamless and reliable.What’s new?Now, AutoPay extends to work orders, so invoices tied to work order types determined by you can be paid automatically—just like regular routine service.How does this work?With AutoPay for work orders, you can now specify which work order types are eligible for automatic payment. Simply visit the settings page and edit your work order types.How does AutoPay for work orders help you?This feature is a win-win for your business and your customers as it:✅ Improves cash flow: Automatically collect payments for work orders, reducing the risk of late or missed payments.✅ Prevents service disruptions: Keep your services running without interruptions caused by unpaid invoices.✅ Simplifies billing: Reduce administrative hassles by automating payments for eligible work orders.Learn more about AutoPay hereImportant notes:This only applies to completed work orders in invoices created through the invoice generator All work orders invoiced together must be eligible for AutoPay for the invoice to be automatically paid. Failed payment notifications We’re introducing failed payment notifications for AutoPay to help you monitor late payments and resolve them quicker.What’s new?✅ Instant alerts: Pool owners will always get an automatic email when an AutoPay fails (no setup needed).  ✅ Daily failed payment reports: Admins can opt-in to receive an email report of failed payments from the previous day ✅ Clearer payment tracking: AutoPay transactions are now labelled on the payments listing page ✅ Direct payment through invoice: Pool owners can review and pay directly from the failed payment notification and the customer portal link in the email. How does this help your business?Previously, failed AutoPay transactions could go unnoticed, causing late payments and service delays. With this update, both you and your customers get real-time notifications, leading to:✔️ Fewer service disruptions from missed payments✔️ Faster collections with automated communication✔️ Easy tracking of problem payments and faster resolutionWatch this short video to learn how it works Next-day payouts are here! 🚀 Faster payouts mean better cash flow. Currently at no cost, Skimmer customers who use our payments and invoicing solution can receive debit and credit card payouts in just one business day—a huge improvement from the previous 3–5 day wait. This gives you more control and predictability over your finances, helping you:Pay bills on time – Stay on top of expenses like payroll & suppliers Invest in growth – Easily reinvest in equipment, marketing, or new hires Operate smoothly – Reduce financial stress with more predictable cash flowPlus, this update includes dispute handling at no cost to your business. We’ve got a number of other exciting releases planned for this year, so look out for new Skimmer features and enhancements.If you’re looking for expert guidance on streamlining your payment and invoicing process, book a complimentary meeting with our team today.BOOK A MEETING Have questions or feedback on any of these features? Please drop a comment below!   

We’ve rolled out a lot over the past ~13 months, so we figured it was about time to do a little recap.In the post below, you’ll find a list of all the new features and significant improvements that we made to the Skimmer mobile and web app throughout 2024 and the start of 2025. We’ve tried to include help center links and how-to videos whenever possible. If you haven’t had a chance to really dive into these features yet, take a moment and see how they could help your business! This post is long (as we said, Skimmer released A LOT in the past year) so we’ve clustered features into the following categories:Billing & invoicing features and improvements Quotes improvements Work order improvements Customer communication & management improvements Mobile app improvements Non-product updates  Billing & invoicing features and improvements: Better billing = healthier cash flow AND happier customers QBO Integration + Payout SyncThe seamless integration with QuickBooks Online (QBO) automatically syncs all your invoices and payments to make accounting way more straightforward. Plus, with the QBO payout sync, you can automatically reconcile all your payments in QuickBooks.  Auto InvoicingAuto invoicing in Skimmer Billing eliminates the repetitive work of invoicing for services and dosages, as well as the tedious task of collecting funds and reconciling payments in QuickBooks Online (QBO). It lets you generate invoices for pool service and dosages for your regular customers on a pre-set date.These enhancements, combined with autopay, fully automate the Skimmer Billing process, empowering you to:Schedule automatic invoices for pool service and dosages on a pre-set date Run the payments for the invoices Automatically reconcile the payments in QBO Pros who use these features spend less time on paperwork and reduce the risk of human error. How to’sHow to set up Auto Invoicing How to generate invoices in Skimmer How to reconcile payments in QuickBooks Online(QBO)On top of these improvements we also introduced the ability to bill ahead and email reminders for outstanding invoices. For the former, the enhanced invoice generator recognizes and tracks monthly service instances, and lets you bill for monthly service at the beginning of the month, even before work is completed. The latter lets you set up automated reminders for customers with outstanding invoices. These reminders can be sent before and after the invoice is due to help you reduce late payments and get paid faster, automate the reminder process, freeing staff to focus on other tasks, and easily manage a higher volume of invoices as your business grows.Learn how here: How to set up automatic email reminders Quotes improvements Related quotes to work orderThis lets you effortlessly create work orders from quotes and easily monitor the status of all work orders associated with a quote, giving you a clear overview of your project's progress.This means a simplified workflow:Send and approve quotesSchedule the work (with new work order enhancements below!) Track the progress of the work Bill accurately for the work doneImprovement to related quotes to invoicesPlus, when you create a related invoice for a quote with finished work orders, those work orders will automatically be marked as invoiced.Here’s how it works:Automatic updates: Finished work orders linked to a newly created invoice are instantly updated to “invoiced.” Flexibility for manual adjustments: If an invoice is deleted, the work orders revert to a “needs invoice” status, and the manual "invoiced" checkbox remains available for any necessary updates Work order improvements: Manage work more efficiently than ever Based on your feedback, we made a number of significant improvements to how work orders are managed in Skimmer. Finish work orders directly from the web app: Manage work orders more effectively regardless of your location and eliminate the need to switch between devices (which greatly reduces the risk of errors). This also speeds up work order completion to get you paid faster for extra projects.How to complete a work orderRecord readings and dosages in work orders: Record readings and dosages using the same settings as routine service stops, ensuring consistent and precise tracking for every job.Repeat recurring work orders in days, weeks, months, and years: Need to schedule regular maintenance? No problem! Now, you can set Work Order reminders to repeat in days, weeks, months, or even years, giving you the ultimate flexibility to match your specific needs.Add needed items to a work order type: Save time by pre-populating work order types with the necessary items to get the job done. After creating the work order, the items will automatically be added to your shopping list.Send service notes from a work order: Techs can now send service notes, including optional alerts, directly from the mobile app.Alert the office when a work order is finished: Improve team communication by enabling automatic notifications to your office whenever a work order is finished, ensuring everyone stays informed.Watch our tutorial videos on how to create a work order from a quote Learn about how to create work orders on web Learn more about how to create work orders via the mobile app Customer communication & management improvements: Happier customers = returning customers! We know that customer communication and management can make or break a pool service business. That’s why we focus a lot on introducing and improving features that help you create a seamless experience for your customers.Bulk customer editsYou asked, we delivered— in 2024, we introduced the ability to easily manage your customer base with bulk actions like making customers active/inactive and adding or removing tags.How-to’sEdit customer tags in bulk Mark customers 'inactive' in bulkService textsThis was another highly anticipated feature that we rolled out in 2024. Service Texts allow you to send automated messages to keep your customers in the loop when it comes to their pool service. Plus, automated messages minimize manual communication, allowing technicians to focus on service delivery. Pros that use this feature include strengthen trust, reduce misunderstandings, and foster positive customer relationships. And texts provide advance notice for residential or commercial pool owners and short-term rental property managers to take any necessary actions before your technician arrives, like putting dogs away, notifying tenants, or providing access.If you haven’t already gotten started with Service Texts, check out our toolkit. **And just a note that customers on our Scaling Up tier get unlimited free texting with their Skimmer package.Customer PortalIn January 2025, we introduced the Customer Portal, a feature designed to enhance your customers’ experience and drive efficiencies across your business. The Customer Portal is a dedicated space for your customers– you can create your own custom URL and add your own logo to the portal. Your customers can use it to set up AutoPay, update their payment information, and view, download, and pay their invoices, reducing payment failures and late fees. We created this because we know pool pros spend loads of time answering billing and service questions and chasing down payments. We hope this portal makes customer communication and getting paid on time so much easier!If you haven’t yet, check out our getting started guide to help you launch your own portal.  Integrated Skimmer with Orenda’s LSI & Dosing Calculator to provide real-time LSI calculations and dosing recommendations directly within the Skimmer app. Partnering with Orenda to integrate their industry-leading LSI & Dosing Calculator into Skimmer was a highlight of 2024. This integration equips you with an LSI & Dosing Calculator within Skimmer’s user-friendly platform to help you achieve optimal water balance and offer your customers guaranteed sparkling pools, minimal repairs, and the peace of mind that comes with scientifically backed pool care.This is an awesome tool to set your business apart from the competition by providing tech-enabled, superior service. If you haven’t gotten started with the LSI calculator yet, we highly recommend checking out the resources below.Admin/Owner toolsWatch our tutorial videos on how to set up and use the LSI & Dosing Calculator via web. Download our step-by-step guide to set up via web. Contact our dedicated support team at support@getskimmer.com for any further assistance.Technician toolsShare this link with your techs to watch tutorial videos on how to use the LSI & Dosing Calculator via the Skimmer app. Download our technician guide to get started. Mobile app improvements In addition to the LSI calculator, we made a number of smaller updates to our mobile app focused on making your technicians’ jobs easier and improving service delivery and communication with the office.Increased photo upload limitYou can now upload more photos of route stops, work orders, and service locations for enhanced accountability, detailed records, and improved communication. Route Stops: Upload up to 10 photos per stop (previously 5) Work Orders: Upload up to 10 photos per work order (previously 5) Service Locations: Upload up to 30 photos per location (previously 20)Required checklist + photo evidenceThis upgrade to our checklist capabilities means admins can now enforce checklist completion to ensure no steps are missed and require photo evidence* for undeniable proof of completed tasks—keeping every job precise and professional.Bonus: photos associated with checklist items do NOT count towards your general photo limit per stop.Default Google Maps for iOS usersWe also pushed a big update for iOS users– when techs are on a route, you can now set up Skimmer to automatically launch directions in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps. Non-product updates On top of constantly working to improve and expand our product to ensure we can support all pool pros, we also made a number of non-product improvements to make the overall experience for Skimmer customers the best in the biz. New product and pricing tiersIn April 2024, Skimmer introduced product & pricing tiers to help us streamline product delivery. With the introduction of our Getting Started, Scaling Up, and Owning the Market Tiers*, we’re able to cater to pool service businesses of all sizes while ensuring our customers are only paying for features that really benefit their businesses. *A note on tiers: If you joined Skimmer before April 2024, we automatically grandfathered you into our Classic Tier. This gives you access to nearly all the same features as Scaling Up but at a discounted price. Introduced The Pool Deck communityIn May 2024, we launched our community, The Pool Deck. It’s a one-stop hub to quickly find answers, industry knowledge, and professional training. You can also connect with contributing business experts to get ideas to help you run your company and achieve your goals. There are now over 1000 pool pros taking advantage of this growing community– join them here!Released the 2024 & 2025 State of Pool Service report In January 2024 we launched our first ever State of Pool Service report. This report was an industry first– a totally free deep dive into trends, challenges and opportunities in the pool service market based on survey responses from thousands of pool pros. The report was a huge success, so we took the hint and followed it up in January 2025 with an even BIGGER industry report. The 2025 edition contains year-over-year comparisons on growth tactics that pool pros are using, how the industry is tackling marketing, how pros are strategically using pricing and so much more. Check out the 2025 State of Pool Service report here. Coming up in 2025 We’ve got a number of exciting releases planned for this year. Keep an eye out for these new Skimmer features and enhancements.ScheduleSkimmer’s new schedule feature gives pool pros everything they need to manage their team’s schedules, routes, and workloads in one simple, powerful tool. With a clear weekly view of technician workloads, drag-and-drop scheduling, and optimized route planning, it empowers pool service businesses to stay organized, maximize their team’s time, and keep customers happy. We’re rolling out an early version of the schedule feature in March, with some initial improvements following shortly after, including:Schedule repeating work orders Assign multiple techs to work orders Schedule multi-day work orders Daily and monthly calendar viewsLaMotte integration This feature allows field technicians to connect to a LaMotte Spin Touch via BlueTooth, and transfer the readings from the Spin Touch to Skimmer automatically.Customer Portal improvementsThis update allows pool owners to pay the total of their outstanding invoice amounts directly through the Customer Portal.AutoPay for work ordersAutoPay for work orders is designed to improve payment collection in Skimmer. This will allow automatic payment of invoices generated from work orders, expanding the existing AutoPay functionality. Failed payment notificationsThis Skimmer Billing enhancement automatically emails pool owners and admins when AutoPay fails. The system also provides a report for pros to easily identify failed payments, improving collection rates and preventing service disruptions due to missed payments. The bottom line We love providing this entire network of resources to the industry– whether it’s product, community, education, or the expertise of our support and success teams. Our sincere hope is that Skimmer continues to be your go-to partner as you continue to run and grow your businesses over the coming year.  

Happy New Year!! We’re starting the year strong with the launch of the Customer Portal, a feature designed to make your business more efficient and improve your customers’ experience. The Customer Portal is the first step toward giving you more tools you need to save time, improve cash flow, and provide your customers with a professional, branded experience in 2025. Here’s everything you need to know:The Customer Portal provides your customers with direct access to their service history and their invoices and payment details if you’re using Skimmer Billing. The portal also includes AutoPay, making it easy for your customers to update their payment methods and ensure timely payments. This reduces the hassle of chasing payments, improves cash flow, and frees up time for you to focus on running your business. Why Use the Customer Portal?Enhance Customer Experience: Customers gain 24/7 access to service history, invoices, and payment methods. Build trust and transparency with easy-to-access account information. Boost Business Efficiency: Reduce billing and service-related questions, cutting down on admin work. Avoid payment delays with features like AutoPay and real-time updates. Encourage more customers to set up AutoPay for predictable and timely payments. Getting Started with the Customer PortalReady to launch your own portal? Here’s howSet Up Your Portal:A quick tutorial on how to set up your portal and select your URL ➡ WATCH NOW Pick the Perfect Portal URL:Use your business name or a close variation for a professional online presence (e.g., sparklingpools.mypoolportal.com). TIP: Secure your URL early to get your ideal choice—each URL is unique! Invite Your Customers:Segment your customers into two groups:               1. Customers with a payment method:                2. Customers without a payment method: Encourage them to set up AutoPayUse the getting started guide to simplify the launch process: [GETTING STARTED GUIDE]       NOTE: The portal URL is automatically included at the bottom of invoices and receipts, making it easy for your customers to find and access.  The Customer Portal experience is even more powerful when paired with Skimmer Billing, which seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online (QBO). Learn how the latest updates to Skimmer Billing can further improve your payment processes:[LEARN MORE ABOUT SKIMMER BILLING] Need more help? Leave a comment below, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.  

We’ve improved the quote-to-invoice workflow by making it easier to keep your records accurate and up-to-date.Now, when you create a related invoice for a quote with finished work orders, those work orders will automatically be marked as invoiced.Here’s how it works:Automatic updates: Finished work orders linked to a newly created invoice are instantly updated to “invoiced.” Flexibility for manual adjustments: If an invoice is deleted, the work orders revert to a “needs invoice” status, and the manual "invoiced" checkbox remains available for any necessary updates.Important note: This applies to only new work orders, ensuring a smoother process moving forward.   

 We want to hear from YOU!Take a few minutes to complete our Product Survey below and share your thoughts on which improvements Skimmer should prioritize in 2025. In this survey, you’ll have the opportunity to rank the features and enhancements you’d most like to see, helping guide our product team’s focus for the coming year.📋 ACCESS 2025 PRODUCT SURVEYYour input is invaluable as we work to make Skimmer even better for your business. 

Are you curious to learn what Skimmer is releasing this quarter and a sneak peek of what’s in store for 2025?Don’t miss out—watch our roadmap webinar recording for all the details on the soon-to-be-released weekly Service Calendar and Customer Billing Portal for collecting payment information. Plus, catch up on some of the biggest improvements in 2024!🎬 WATCH NOWStay tuned—we’ll be hosting more roadmap webinars down the line, where you’ll get even more insights into what’s next for Skimmer.Let’s build the future of pool service together!

In today’s fast-paced world, keeping customers informed is crucial for building trust and ensuring a seamless experience. With this in mind, Skimmer introduced Service Texts earlier this year to help pool service businesses streamline communication and strengthen customer relationships. Here’s an overview of what Service Texts can do for your business and why they’re worth considering.Why use Service Texts?Customer feedback revealed a need for clear and timely communication. Whether it’s notifying customers when a technician is on the way, confirming a completed service, or alerting them to unexpected changes, Service Texts make it easy to keep customers informed without interrupting your workflow.Types of text notifications:Service Texts are designed to integrate seamlessly into your pool service workflow, with three types of notifications available:You can also track the number of texts sent, view associated costs, and monitor the status of each notification on your Skimmer dashboard.Here are some key benefits:Time savings: Automated notifications reduce the need for manual updates, allowing technicians to focus on their tasks while keeping customers in the loop. Enhanced customer satisfaction: Clear, proactive communication helps reduce misunderstandings, builds trust, and fosters positive relationships. Proof of service: Advance notifications give customers a chance to prepare, such as putting pets away or arranging gate access. Technician safety: Sending updates ahead of time can help ensure the safety of your team, particularly when arriving after dark or outside of regular service hours.Getting started with Service TextsService Texts can be enabled directly in the Skimmer app, with the flexibility to select which ones you'd like to turn on, based on your communication preferences. Each delivered message costs an additional fee of 2.9 cents($0.029).  Once activated, you need to train your technicians to use Service Texts so your customers can start receiving messages. A technician training guide has been attached to this post to guide you through the process.  By default, Service Texts will be activated for all your customers. To manually opt-out specific customers, simply deselect Service Texts on their customer profile page. To help introduce this feature to your customers, we’ve provided a customizable email template, which you can download below. It makes it easy to inform them about the new service. We recommend sending it out before starting to use Service Texts.  This feature is FREE to all customers in the Scaling Up and Owning the Market tiersDon’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below :) 

We've updated the default setting for the "Send invoices" checkbox to "on." This change is solely for clarity and does not affect the email behavior. This means that any email address that was previously receiving invoices will continue to do so. This adjustment simply aims to provide a clearer understanding of which emails are receiving invoices. Before the update: After the update: Leave any questions you have in the comments, and we’ll be happy to answer them.

You can now finish work orders directly from your web browser. This is perfect for office-based tasks or when you need to adjust work orders completed in the field.Now you can:Manage work orders more effectively, regardless of your location or device. Minimize the risk of errors and ensure accurate work order completion. Speed up work order completion to get paid faster for extra projects.Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

Tired of chasing down late payments? Our new Automatic Email Reminders feature eliminates the hassle of following up on outstanding invoices. Simply set up automated reminders to be sent before and after an invoice is due and let Skimmer do the rest!How does this help your business?Reduce late payments: Get paid faster and improve your cash flow. Save time: Automate the reminder process and free up your staff for other tasks. Maintain positive customer relationships: Send polite and professional reminders without straining your customer relationships. Scale with your business: Easily handle increasing invoices and reminders as your business grows.Want to see it in action?​​Check out our product demo video below. 

We know how important a streamlined workflow is to your pool service business, especially when you are working on projects like repairs and installations. We’re excited to roll out exciting new features designed to make handling those extra projects smoother than ever! Connecting Quotes to Work OrdersNo more disconnects between estimates and the actual work! Now, you can effortlessly create Work Orders directly from quotes, ensuring seamless project management from start to finish. This means a simplified workflow:Create a Work Order from a Quote with one click Track the progress of all Work Orders linked to a specific Quote Create an invoice directly from the Quote and get paid for the job doneGet more organized with new Work Order functionalities.But, we didn’t stop there. We’ve also added in new work order improvements that you’ve asked for. Recurring Work Order reminders: You can now set work order reminders to recur in intervals of days, weeks, months, or even years, giving you the ultimate flexibility to match your specific needs. Pre-populate needed items: Add “needed” items to the Work Order type, so every time you create a Work Order, you don’t have to add the same items repeatedly. The “items needed” are added to the shopping list when the Work Order is created. Remember, you can only add products or chemicals to a Work Order type and not a part. Send service notes from Work Orders: Your techs can send service notes directly from Work Orders, which may include optional alerts, directly from the mobile app. Office alerts: You can now enable automatic notifications to your office whenever a work order is finished, ensuring everyone stays informed. Google Maps Integration (iOS): Your techs will love this! Prefer Google Maps for directions? We've got you covered! Go to Settings > App Zone and toggle "Use Google Maps for Directions" (make sure you have Google Maps installed on your device). Now, when you are on a route, it'll launch Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.  New mobile app updateDon’t forget to update your app to version 11.8 to use the newly released feature enhancements. Update for iOS Update for Android  Please leave your feedback in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. 

Our latest service checklist upgrade empowers you to streamline your tech's workflow and ensure top-notch service verification. Now, you can make specific checklist items as mandatory for completion before marking a stop or work order as finished. Additionally, you can require photo evidence for certain tasks, providing visual proof of service.Why you'll love it:Enforce Completion: Guarantee that your technicians follow essential procedures. Photo Verification: Easily capture and store visual proof of service.Ready to learn more? Click the links below to learn how to customize this new enhancement and an additional guide that you can share with your techs.Download our getting started guide for required checklists for admins/ownersDownload and send your techs the getting started guide for techniciansLearn how to customize service checklists via web

We're excited to announce the official launch of a powerful new integration with Orenda, the industry leader in pool water chemistry knowledge! This integration is designed to take your pool care services to the next level.What is the LSI & Dosing Calculator?Think of it as your scientific Skimmer sidekick for achieving optimal pool water balance, every single time. This tool empowers you to:Gain real-time LSI insights: See the LSI value instantly as you take readings during a service call. No more guesswork, just immediate adjustments based on a clear picture of the pool's water balance. Effortless dosing efficiency: Save valuable time by streamlining your workflow. Simply populate dosing values directly from Orenda's data-driven recommendations – it's that easy! Effortless interface: Skimmer's user-friendly design, complete with sliders for recording readings, makes visualizing and adjusting water chemistry values a breeze. This intuitive approach simplifies training for your techs and ensures everyone's on the same page. Offline access: No internet connection? No problem! The LSI & Dosing Calculator functions even without an internet connection. Exceptional service, delivered anywhere! Track progress over time: The LSI & Dosing Calculator automatically records the LSI value in the Service History for each pool. This valuable data allows you to monitor trends and ensure long-lasting, healthy pools for your happy customers.Ready to learn more? We’ve got you covered!Watch our tutorial videos on how to set up and use the LSI & Dosing Calculator via web. Share this link with your techs to watch our tutorial videos on how to use the LSI & Dosing Calculator via the Skimmer app. Visit the Orenda training academy to learn more about LSI  Contact our dedicated support team at support@getskimmer.com for any further assistance.Important Note: To use these new feature, please make sure you and your team are using the latest 11.7 version of the Skimmer mobile app.This feature is not available for customers in the “getting started” pricing tier. Please contact our support team(support@getskimmer.com) to discuss upgrading to the "scaling up" pricing tier. In the meantime, you can still leverage the many benefits of Skimmer's current reading and dosages functionalities. 

 We're excited to announce our new QuickBooks Online Payout functionality.If you use QuickBooks Online (QBO) to manage your finances, you know how time-consuming it can be to reconcile all those online payments you process through Skimmer. Well, those days are over! Our new Payout Sync feature automates this entire process, saving you valuable time and reducing the risk of errors.How does the QBO payout sync work?Automates deposit creation: For every Stripe payout, a corresponding deposit record is created in your chosen QuickBooks Online (QBO) account. Reconciles payments: Automatically reconciles payments in the undeposited funds account that are included in the payout. Tracks processing fees: Records the associated fees in a separate expense account for easy tracking.So, wave goodbye to manual reconciliation headaches and say hello to streamlined accounting! We hope you love this new feature enhancement as much as we do.  Need more support?Click this link to learn more about how to reconcile payments in QuickBooks Online(QBO)Leave a comment below with any questions, and we'll be happy to help 🚀 

Based on your valuable feedback, we're thrilled to unveil another major upgrade in Skimmer Billing designed to save you even more time and simplify your billing process: Auto Invoicing!Remember the revamped invoice generator that simplified your invoice creation process? Now, we're taking it a step further with Auto Invoicing! This feature allows you to set a pre-determined date for automatic invoice generation for your regular pool service customers. No more scrambling to create invoices at the last minute!Please note: Invoices with installed items or work orders for a customer will not have an invoice generated and will be held for review.With this new billing enhancement, your business can: Schedule automatic invoices for pool service and dosages on a pre-set date even before the work is completed. Run the payments for the invoices. Prevent duplicate invoices and ensure your customers are never billed twice.*Auto Invoicing is the Skimmer alternative to using recurring invoices.Ready to dive into Auto Invoicing?We've attached step-by-step tutorials to this post to walk you through generating invoices and setting up recurring invoicing in Skimmer Billing.How to create auto/recurring invoices How to generate invoices in SkimmerLet's automate your billing and free up your time!  Leave a comment below with any questions, and we'll be happy to help.Happy invoicing! 

Hey Pool Pros!Exciting news! We've just launched a new enhancement in customer management that allows you to streamline your workflow and manage your customer base more efficiently. Now, you can manage multiple customers at the same time, saving you time and helping you stay organized. Here's how it can help:Clean up your customer list: Easily remove inactive customers from search results, tags, route assignments, and recurring work orders. This keeps your data organized and ensures you work with the most up-to-date information. Important: Make sure all invoices are created before setting a customer to inactive.Simplified tagging: Tags are a great way to add customer information and segment your customer base. Now, you can apply/remove tags from multiple customers at once! This makes it easier to filter your customer list and service rates page, allowing you to quickly find specific customer groups. Effortless broadcast emails: Send broadcast emails to only the customers you want. Bulk tagging saves you time and ensures your messages reach the right audience. Streamlined invoicing: Filter and run the invoice generator for specific customer groups using tags, ensuring a more efficient billing process.Want to see it in action?Check out our product demo below and see how you can save time and manage your customer base like a pro!Do you have questions or want to share your thoughts? Let's keep the conversation going in the comments below! 

Hey Pool Pros!We're thrilled to announce the launch of our completely revamped invoice generator in Skimmer Billing, designed to save you time and effort while ensuring accurate invoices.What does this mean for you?Simplified billing: For "per month" customers, the invoice generator automatically generates invoices for all months within your billing range. For example, “June 1st - June 30th generates June's monthly service, and June 1st—July 1st generates service for June and July. Bill ahead: This allows you to bill ahead for “per month” customers and bill for items and dosages later. No duplicate charges: The generator now prevents the same item from being invoiced twice, eliminating reconciliation headaches. Enhanced clarity: Enjoy a cleaner interface that displays all service and line items before invoice generation, providing clear and comprehensive records. Customizable service descriptions: Gain greater control over your invoice details with the ability to customize service descriptions.Important Note: If you've already invoiced for "Per Month" pool service in previous months (e.g., June), mark those service line items as "Don't Invoice" to avoid duplicates. This setting will be saved for future invoice generation. Want to see it in action?Check out our product demo video below and start streamlining your billing process today! We're here to help! Have any questions about the invoice generator or need assistance getting started? Leave a comment below, and our team will be happy to support you. 

A big thank you to everyone who's already shared their feedback!For those who haven't yet, we'd love your input too. This quick 10-15 minute survey helps us understand what features you love, areas for improvement, and the new tools that would make your life easier as a pool service pro.Your voice matters, and all responses are confidential.The survey closes on May 15th, 2024, so don't miss your chance to help shape the Skimmer app!As a thank you for your time, completing the survey enters you to win one of two Primate P3X Poles (valued at up to $329)!Thanks for being a valued Skimmer customer! 

Increase in photo uploadsYou can now upload more photos of route stops, work orders, and service locations for enhanced accountability, detailed records, and improved communication. How many photos can you upload?Route Stops: Upload up to 10 photos per stop (previously 5) Work Orders: Upload up to 10 photos per work order (previously 5) Service Locations: Upload up to 30 photos per location (previously 20)Never miss a detail: Introducing Equipment NotesYou can now keep better track of your equipment by adding notes to each piece of equipment. This helps capture important details like:Installation dates Warranty expiration dates Serial numbers Maintenance schedules Any other relevant information Important Note:  The photo upload limits in this post only apply to Skimmer customers who signed up before April 22nd, 2024

We're excited to announce one of our most requested Work Order enhancements: the ability to record chemical readings and dosages directly within your Work Orders! This makes it easier than ever to track chemical usage and ensure optimal pool health for your customers. Here's how it works:When in a Work Order, navigate to the specific body of water you're servicing. You'll see the same familiar settings you use for recording readings and dosages during regular route stops. Just like with routine service, you can take readings or enter dosages for various chemicals.Benefits:Improved Record Keeping: All readings and dosages recorded during a Work Order are automatically added to the service history, alongside your routine service entries. This provides a complete picture of your customers’ pool's health. Enhanced Reporting: The recorded readings and dosages will be included in all your existing reports, giving you a comprehensive overview of your pool service. Streamlined Billing: Dosages can be conveniently invoiced through Skimmer Billing, simplifying your billing process. Recurring Work Orders Made Easy: This feature is perfect for tasks like filter cleans, salt cell cleans, pool openings, and closings. Customer Communication: You can even include readings and dosages in the Work Order finished emails sent to your customers, keeping them informed about their pool's water chemistry. Important Note:With Work Orders now accommodating chemical dosages, be sure to update your pricing structure accordingly before sending invoices that include Work Orders. This ensures your customers are charged accurately for the chemicals used. 

Skimmer Billing is an invoicing and payment management feature in Skimmer designed specifically for pool service businesses. It uses the data in your Skimmer account and lets you easily generate invoices to quickly bill for service, repairs, parts, and materials. The QBO integration in Skimmer Billing allows a seamless sync between Skimmer and QuickBooks Online, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring real-time financial updates.  Benefits:Save time: Customers who use Skimmer Billing save on average two hours a day, freeing them up to focus on growing their business. Grow revenue: Flexible payment options improve cash flow, and automated workflows and recurring payments mean you’ll never forget to send an invoice or bill for a part. Increase efficiency: Stop using two systems! Skimmer Billing makes managing all parts of your pool service business a breeze from scheduling and invoicing to payment collection and reporting.  Deliver a seamless customer experience: Skimmer’s all-in-one solution creates a seamless, digital experience your customers will love.

Imagine this: your customer receives a text notification informing them you're on your way, their service is complete, or telling them about an unforeseen delay. This clear and convenient communication not only streamlines your operations but also elevates your customer experience. Service Texts is our latest feature, designed to ensure you deliver exceptional service and strengthen your customer relationships.How does this benefit your business?Time savings: Automated messages minimize the need for manual communication, allowing technicians to focus on service delivery while also keeping your customers informed. Enhanced customer satisfaction: With proactive updates and clear communication, you can strengthen trust, reduce misunderstandings, and foster positive customer relationships. Streamlined communication: One-way updates eliminate back-and-forth conversations, saving time and resources for both you and your customers. Additional proof of service: Texts provide advance notice for residential or commercial pool owners and short-term rental property managers to take any necessary actions before your technician arrives, like putting dogs away, notifying tenants, or providing access. Safety for your techs: A proactive text can ensure the safety of your technicians, especially if they arrive after dark or outside of the expected service window. How does it work?Enable the Service Texts feature in the settings menu of your Skimmer app. Each delivered message costs an additional fee of $0.029 (2.9 cents) Before activating Service Texts, you will be prompted to review and accept the terms and agreements.  Skimmer currently offers three types of Service Texts you can send to your customers. You will need to select which ones you'd like to turn on, based on your communication preferences. By default, Service Texts will be activated for all of your customers. To manually opt-out specific customers, simply deselect Service Texts on their customer profile page.  Note: To use Service Texts, ensure you and your team use the latest version of the Skimmer mobile app.Types of text notificationsService text notifications are designed to reflect typical events in your pool service workflow. There are currently three types of text notifications that can be sent to a customer:On The Way: This is sent when a technician marks themselves "on the way" to the next stop. Finished Service: This is sent when a technician finishes a routine service or a work order. Skipped Stop: This is sent when a technician skips a service location.Your customer’s experience To help you easily inform your customers about this service and ensure they recognize the mobile number and messages as legitimate, we have created a simple, customizable email template - DOWNLOAD THE ATTACHED PDF 👇. We recommend sending it out before starting to use Service Texts.  Also, your customers can opt out of Service Texts by replying “STOP” to any message and opt back in by replying “START” to any message.