Skimmer product updates

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.