• AI Insights is now generally available: You can ask AI Insights questions about your business data in plain language, and get an answer back right away. Recent improvements make answers more accurate and useful across the board: AI Insights recognizes your company's specific names for people, customers, and locations instead of generic placeholders, calculates duration answers using actual time on-site instead of planned estimates, shows the correct date range for year-to-date sales, and gives accurate answers about future and already-scheduled service work. You can also ask about reading exceptions to surface chemical or equipment readings that are off and get an explanation, or ask about the most recent reading for a specific pool to quickly check whether it crossed a threshold. You'll also see friendlier status messages while it works, a new greeting when you start a chat, and more consistent answers to profit, chemical usage, and skipped-stop questions.
• Office alerts and issues: Your alerts panel now updates in real time when a service note or issue is marked resolved or reopened, and you can select multiple items at once to resolve or reopen them together. Skimmer confirms how many were updated when you do. Customer emails about an issue now include the service location's address, and you can filter your alerts bell and panel by alert type.
• Heritage Ordering has launched: You can now order supplies directly from Heritage and link those orders to customers, quotes, and work orders. Removing a line item or leaving an order page with unsaved changes now prompts you for confirmation first, and the Procurement report listing Heritage orders is available from the Reports page. Quotes created before this update can now use Add order too, not just new ones.
• A new Skimmer Home: Your Home page has been redesigned to give you a home base for your business — a Getting Started checklist, plus a view of what needs attention, route progress, and overall performance. It also lives at a new web address, with the old Dashboard link redirecting automatically. The Customize drawer now lets you turn the Work Orders to Assign and Items Needed sections on or off, and the Items still needed widget helps you track supplies your team is missing. You'll also find a Help Center link in the top navigation where Support used to be.
• Quote and job item handling: You can now pick product line items from a quote and send them straight to a work order or job without re-entering them by hand — items already handled are automatically hidden. The quote to work order workflow is also available in mobile app release 12.14.
• Texting quotes: You can now send quotes to customers by text using the new Send 'Quote' texts when quote is ready option. Any pro with Quotes access can text quotes to customers.
• Product page update (launching August 1): You'll be able to select multiple products at once and discontinue or delete them together. Select the checkbox next to each product, then choose Delete or Discontinue at the top of the page.
  Note: if you select more than one product and click a product's edit icon, your changes apply only to that product.
• Text Messages report improvements: The Text Messages report now uses the same Export button as your other reports, and Reset filters appears as a link next to your other filters so you can clear a search faster. Skimmer also improved how customer records are matched, so your reports pull the right data every time.
• QuickBooks Online (QBO) updates: Pulling in products, services, categories, and accounts from QBO is faster if you have a lot of QBO data, and if you don't have QBO payout sync set up, you can now choose a bank account for Payment Deposit To Account.
• More API and export detail: The GET by ID invoice query now includes invoice item IDs, invoice line item data includes work order type and product identifiers, and the nightly data export includes customer activity log data.
• Workflow improvement: The customer import workbook includes a column for overdue-invoice suspension.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• Discontinued products: Skimmer now lets you mark products as discontinued. Discontinued products stay visible on your Products page so your records stay complete, but Skimmer automatically hides them from quotes, work orders, shopping lists, and service stops, so techs can't select them by mistake. You can filter your product list to show active products, discontinued products, or both.
• Office alerts and issues: Two new features work together to keep your office in the loop when something happens in the field. 
  • Issues give techs a structured way to flag problems at a service location, things like low water, a system down, or a repair needed, right from the field. 
  • Office Alerts is a real-time notification system that surfaces those reports the moment they come in, appearing in the alert panel (the bell icon in the top-right corner of Skimmer) and sending by email to whichever staff members you choose.

  Office Alerts and Issues are separate features, but one can trigger the other.

• AI Phone update: The Statistics and Leads tabs in AI Phone get a redesign that gives you a clearer view into how AI Phone is performing for your business.
• Service types in the service rates page: The Service Rates page now includes a Service Type column. You can assign or update the service type for any service location directly from this page, one at a time or in bulk.
• More lead sources: You can now create up to 50 lead sources, up from 25. If your company tracks customers across many channels, this gives you more room to capture that data accurately.
• Customer search by service location addresses: When you search for a customer, Skimmer now matches against all service location addresses on the account, not just the primary billing address. If you know the property address but not the account name, you can find it.
• API update: The public API quote endpoints now include a Deleted field, making it easier for integrations to identify deleted quotes.
• Bug fixes: This month's update includes fixes across invoicing, AI Insights (Early Access), customer search, data imports, quotes, and work orders. See the Recent Bug Fixes page for more details.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• Per customer auto invoicing: Auto invoicing by customer date lets you bill each customer on their own day of the month, instead of billing all customers on a single company-wide date. Customer-specific invoice dates are included in Skimmer's data export.
• Custom invoice categories and pool service types: Skimmer's new, custom invoice categories and pool service types work together to give you finer control over how business revenue is organized, reported, and synced to QuickBooks Online.
• AI phone:
  • AI phone deactivation: If you deactivate AI phone, Skimmer sends an email that includes the following information:
    • Confirmation that the AI agent is no longer answering calls.
    • Notification that Skimmer will retain your AI agent and phone number for 30 days in case you want to resubscribe.
    • Information about call forwarding removal.
  • AI phone lead source: Skimmer now assigns the AI phone lead source to customers created by AI phone.
• Mobile app enhancements (Skimmer Pro 12.13):
  • Video attachments on mobile quotes: Technicians can now record a short video directly from the Skimmer app and attach it to a quote. This makes it easier to document equipment issues, leaks, or job site conditions. You can add up to two videos to each quote. Each video is up to 10 seconds in duration and includes audio.
  • Date and time stamp on service photos: Skimmer now prints the date and time directly on every photo taken through the mobile app. The timestamp reflects the device's local time, even if it was taken offline and synced later. The timestamp appears in the top-left corner of the photo and is visible wherever the photo is displayed, including in emails and forwarded images.
  • Additional image types now viewable in the app: The mobile app can now display WebP, GIF, and BMP image files.
  • Product screen updates: Skimmer added the following fields to product screens so that the mobile app more closely mirrors the web app: Cost, markup type, markup value, default price, manufacturer ID, Heritage ID, discontinued product.
  • Email customer button: Skimmer removed the Email Customer button from the work order screen to protect your account from unauthorized email activity.
• Reporting updates: Skimmer updated the payment methods on file and labor reports to provide a more consistent user experience.
• Customer intake form: The new customer form section of the portal settings page now contains a new customer form embed code section. You can copy this code and paste it into your customer portal to embed the new customer form.
• Turn off invoice text for individual customers: You can now use the Send invoice texts checkbox under the mobile phone field (customer info panel) to turn off invoice text message notifications for an individual customer without changing invoice text settings for all customers. The Send invoice texts checkbox is displayed when a company enables invoice texts and the customer record includes a mobile phone number. The field defaults to checked to reflect the company-level setting.
• AutoPay activity log and timestamp improvements: Activity log entries for autopay enablement no longer include next charge date information. In addition, the log now displays lowercase timestamps (e.g., 10:00 am).
• API enhancement: The Public API invoice endpoints now include a deleted field so connected integrations can identify and handle invoices that have been deleted in Skimmer.
• Email updates:
  • Increased security for mobile services emails: Skimmer now validates email addresses on outbound mobile services emails against your company's known recipient list. The system blocks any request targeting an address outside that list to prevent spam sent through your account.
  • Recipient list display for broadcast emails: The recipient list section of the broadcast email page now lists only the primary email address as the recipient.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• AI phone: Customers can now call in and get answers without waiting for your team. Forward calls to an embedded AI agent that uses your customer data and a configurable knowledge base to respond so that routine questions are handled automatically, around the clock. 
• Reporting updates: 
  • Service Credits Report: The Service Credits Report is now available directly from the Reports page, making it easier to track billing corrections in one place and see what’s driving discounts across your customer base. 
  • AR Aging summary report: The AR Aging summary report now defaults to yesterday's date automatically, so you always open it to the most relevant snapshot without adjusting filters each time. 
  • Income by Category report: Updated to match Skimmer's standardized report design, with consistent color coding (green for paid or complete totals, amber for outstanding amounts, blue for neutral totals), a right-aligned Export button with an Excel option, and a message when no data matches your current filters. 
  • Payouts Report update: Voided payments are now included in the Payouts Report.
    NOTE: Refunds associated with voided payments are not listed in this report. 
  • Customer statement link: You can now jump directly to a customer's statement from their Customer Details page — no need to navigate through the Reports page separately. 
  • Billing reports cleanup: The Reports menu has been tidied up. Old report links have been removed, and the (New) labels on their replacements have been cleared now that they're fully established. 
• Custom leadform update:  Enabling or disabling the customer form now saves instantly when you flip the toggle, no more manually saving the entire page to apply the change. 
• API enhancements: Several new fields are now available on Product endpoints in the public API, including ManufacturerSku, HeritagePartNumber, MarkupType, FixedAmountMarkup, PercentMarkup, and IsDiscontinued. New endpoints also allow you to search all work orders and pull all work order types via the API. Rate limiting documentation has been added to the developer portal. 
• Customer export update: The customer export now includes the suspended customer flag, so you can easily see which of your customers have overdue invoices at a glance.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• Mobile quotes: Techs can now build a quote on-site, get a signature on the spot, and send it before leaving the job
  NOTE:  Available on Scaling up and Enterprise plans, you need to update to the latest version of the mobile app to see this new functionality, and techs won't see it until their role has the right permissions enabled. If your techs aren't seeing it, head to Settings > Roles and enable "Can view and build quotes in app" and "Send quotes to customer for approval" for their role. 

• Service credits: Billing corrections now have a proper home in Skimmer. Issue a formal credit with line items, tax calculations, and a stated reason — it syncs to QuickBooks as a credit memo automatically and shows up in the customer statement report.
• Lead form: Prospects can now submit their info directly through your Customer Portal. A Lead record is created in Skimmer automatically, and you get an email notification instantly — no manual entry needed.
• Organization management: Multi-location businesses can now manage users across all their Skimmer companies from one place, with a single login. Available on Skimmer for Enterprise.
• Jobs updates: Create jobs without a quote, and see the suspended and past-due status next to customer names on the job listing page so your team knows what they're walking into.
• Surcharging update: Eligible businesses can now enable surcharging immediately. The previous 30-day waiting period has been removed.
• CRM updates:  Broadcast emails, jobs, work orders, route assignments, and service notes are now visible in the customer activity feed, with historical service notes backfilled.
• Manufacturing ID on products: A new manufacturing ID field is available when adding or editing products, making it easier to match your catalog to supplier records.
• Public API update:  Enterprise customers using Skimmer's public API can now update work orders programmatically.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• Multi-tech work orders – Assign multiple technicians to a single work order for equipment installs, major repairs, and crew-based jobs. Available on Scaling Up and Skimmer for Enterprise plans.
• Heritage Pool Supply integration – Connect your Heritage Pool Supply account to sync your most-purchased products nightly and keep costs accurate automatically. 
• CRM enhancements – Segment customers by Lead, Active, or Inactive status, track lead sources, and view a full activity timeline on each customer's detail page.
• Reporting updates – Sales by Category, Income by Category, Voided Invoice Summary, Quotes with Related Invoices, and Payment Methods on File have all been upgraded with a new look and better export options. Legacy versions will be removed on March 19, 2026.
• Payment history page update – Clicking "View Invoice" now redirects to a hosted invoice page, where you can download a PDF copy.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

December's roundup includes a new feature to handle customers with overdue invoices, instant payouts, updates to quotes and invoices, and more!

• Managing customers with overdue invoices – New feature helps prevent accidental service when customers fall behind on payments, and keeps billing and routes aligned.
• Instant payouts – Eligible pros can access funds faster instead of waiting for standard payout timing.
• Invoice improvements – Invoice listings now remember filters and page position, and you can attach a PDF copy of an invoice directly to invoice emails.
• Quote improvements – Quote listing pages now remember filters and page numbers, making it easier to work through longer lists.
• Reporting updates – The Installed Items Report now supports item-level filtering, quantity tracking, and clearer visual indicators, and the Payouts Report now includes instant payouts and payouts in transit. PDF exports also support up to 1,000 rows. 
• New Payments Collected Report -- now combines the old payments collected summary and detail reports into a single, clean, easy-to-use view. You can quickly see totals collected, refunded, and net, then jump into detailed payment-level data with better filters for customers, payment types, refunds, and methods
• Public API update – You can now pull full details for a single work order via the API.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

• Public API enhancements – product cost is now included in the product APIs, and you can now retrieve and search invoices. (Included in the Skimmer for Enterprise plan)
• Updated password security – new password rules make it easier to create a strong password that protects your account.
• Product catalog improvements – product costs now sync with QuickBooks Online, auto-populate on quotes, and new limits help prevent entry errors.
• Mobile app version 12.8.2 - Technicians will now see a confirmation step before finishing or unskipping a route stop or work order. This helps prevent accidental taps and ensures customer notifications are sent only when work is truly complete.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

October’s roundup introduces Jobs, our new workflow for managing larger projects from quote to invoice. We’ve also added updates across pricing, reporting, invoicing, navigation, and more.

• Jobs — manage bigger projects like repairs, installs, and renovations all in one connected workflow.
• Surcharging — now available in states where it’s permitted, helping you offset credit card processing fees.
• Work order enhancements — unique IDs for easier tracking and new automatic customer notifications for scheduled work.
• Revamped reports and a new portal adoption report — upgraded design, faster performance, and a new report to track which customers are using the Customer Portal.
• Invoices via text message — send invoices by text so customers can view and pay instantly.
• Automatic quote reminders — follow up automatically on quotes still waiting for approval.
• Easier navigation to customer details — direct links to the customer detail page from quotes, invoices, and jobs.
• Markup-based product pricing — set product prices using a fixed or percentage markup to protect margins. Note: markup prices update automatically when an admin edits a product, but the saved price appears as a standard number in your product list.

 👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

This month’s release includes Deposits in Quotes, a new Payouts Report, Work Order Update, and the latest Skimmer Mobile App 12.7 update.

• Deposits in quotes — request and track deposits directly in Skimmer.
• New payouts report — new consolidated payout report (combines payout summary and details reports)
• Work order update — Automatic customer notifications for scheduled work orders.
• Mobile App 12.7.2 — full sync from the Route Dashboard and smarter auto-sync with clearer status in settings.

You can look forward to seeing updates like this every month, making it simple to stay up to date on what’s new in Skimmer.

👉 Check out the full release notes and join the discussion in the Pool Deck community

SKIMMER WEB RELEASE: JANUARY 14, 2025

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Customer Portal, a feature designed to improve your customers’ experience and business efficiency.

With the Customer Portal, you can provide your customers with direct access to their service history and, if you’re using Skimmer Billing, their invoices and payment details. 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.

Managing payments and customer communication doesn’t have to be a constant challenge. Skimmer’s new Customer Portal streamlines your billing operations, fosters transparency and trust and provides a professional, branded experience that reflects your business. 

How Launching A Customer Portal Can Help Your Business

• Improved Cash Flow Outstanding invoices can disrupt your business, but with features like AutoPay, timely payments become the norm. The portal reduces delays by making payments easy and convenient for your customers.
• Reduced Administrative Burden. The portal’s self-service functionality allows customers to view their service history, update payment methods, and access invoices without your intervention. This saves you hours of administrative time each month.
• Enhanced Customer Experience Customers gain 24/7 access to their service records, invoices, and payment information. This empowers them to self-serve, easily accessing their account details and finding the information they need. This transparency fosters trust and reduces common inquiries about completed work or billing details.

Getting Started with the Customer Portal

Ready to launch your own portal? Here’s how:

1. Set Up Your Portal:
   • Watch this quick tutorial on how to set up your portal and select your URL.
2. Pick the Perfect Portal URL:
   • Use your business name or a close variation for a professional online presence (e.g., sparklingpools.mypoolportal.com).
   • Secure your URL early to get your ideal choice—each URL is unique!
3. Invite Your Customers:
   • Segment your customers into two groups:
     • Customers with a payment method: 
     • Customers without a payment method: Invite them to add one through the portal and encourage setting up AutoPay
   • If you're using Skimmer Billing, use our email templates to get your customers' card information on file.
   • The portal URL is automatically included at the bottom of invoices and receipts, making it easy for customers to find and use.

Not Using Skimmer Billing Yet?

The Customer Portal is even more powerful when paired with Skimmer Billing which already has a seamless integration with QuickBooks Online (QBO). Learn how the latest updates to Skimmer Billing can further improve your payment processes.