What Techs and Customers See
Tiers: All
Note: Some Checklist Template options require the Scaling Up or Enterprise tier.
This is the last step in setting up service types. After you assign service types to bodies of water, Skimmer works a little differently for your office team, your techs, and your customers. This article shows what changes on the tech’s phone, in the office, and in the emails your customers get. Use it to know what to expect and to tell your team what’s new.
To assign or change service types, see Add Service Types to Bodies of Water.
Where you’ll see changes
Techs see a new service type at their next stop after you assign it. The following table shows where you and your techs see the changes, from the checklist on the tech’s phone to the route dashboard and customer page.
| Where | What changes |
|---|---|
| Tech's phone | Each body of water shows its own checklist, grouped in sections. Items that aren't due don't show. If a Required to finish item is missing, the tech sees what's left before finishing the stop. If Required with reason to skip items are left undone, the tech sees them listed by body of water and picks one reason for the stop: Could not access the body of water, Bad weather, Equipment down, Missing items needed, Not safe to do, Body of water out of service, or Other. Other needs a short note, up to 100 characters. Note: Skipping with a reason requires Skimmer Pro 26.0 or later. |
| Readings and dosages at the stop | Techs only see the readings and dosages switched on for that service type. |
| Customer page | Pool Info shows each body of water's service type. The checklist shows items from the service type and any Added Items for that body of water. |
| Route dashboard | A finished stop with skipped items shows a chip with the number skipped, like 2 skipped, next to the completion count. Each skipped item shows a Skipped tag. Hover the reason icon to see the reason the tech gave. Each body of water's tab shows only its own skipped items. Skipping requires Skimmer Pro 26.0 or later on the tech's phone. |
| Service History in Skimmer Pro | When a tech skips items with a reason, each body of water's tab lists them under the completed checklist items, with the reason below. Techs can see what to catch up on at the next stop. Requires Skimmer Pro 26.0 or later. |
| Customers > Bodies of Water | Lists every body of water with its type and service type, so you can filter and update them in bulk. |
| Add Customer and Add Pool | New bodies of water get their type's default service type automatically. |
| Recurring items | Monthly or quarterly items come due on their own schedule for each body of water, based on when each body of water was last done. |
| Editing a service type | Changes apply to every body of water on that service type at the next stop. |
Service emails and the customer portal
Once a body of water is on a service type, your customer's service email shows the work done there.
- Checklist items - each body of water's section lists the checklist items the tech completed. That includes items from its service type, its templates, and any items added to that body of water. Your service email settings still apply, so if checklists are turned off for service emails, no items show.
- Note to Customer - if the service type has a Note to Customer, it shows at the top of that body of water's section, under its name and above the readings. The customer portal shows the same note.
- Resent emails - service emails you resend from the office include the same checklist items and note.
Note: For the email sent from the phone when a tech finishes a stop to include these, the tech needs Skimmer Pro 26.0 or later.
Service type updates
Your service types should change as your business does. Review them when:
- You start selling a new service - create a service type for it, or add a checklist template to an existing one.
- Techs keep adding the same items to bodies of water - move those items into the service type, or create a separate service type for bodies of water that need them.
- Your process changes - update checklist items, how often they come due, or which readings and dosages show.
When you save a change to a service type, every body of water on that service type gets the change at its next stop. Editing a synced checklist template updates every service type that uses it. Let your techs know before you make a change so they know what to expect.
FAQ
Do I have to use service types?
No. If one checklist works for you, keep editing it the way you do today. Every body of water stays on Routine Service until you change it.
Will my techs' checklist change when service types turn on?
No. Every body of water starts on Routine Service (Default), which carries your current checklist, readings, and dosages. Changes will be reflected once assigned to the customer profile, however, you may also choose a start date later in the future if you prefer.
Can I rename the default service type?
Yes. For example, some companies rename Routine Service to Full Service. The Default badge stays on it, so you can always tell which service type is the default.
Can I hide an item from the service type on just one body of water?
Not in this release. You can add checklist items to one body of water, but you can't hide or edit an item that comes from the service type. If a group of bodies of water needs different work, create a separate service type for them.
Can I change readings or dosages for one body of water?
Not in this release. Readings and dosages are set on the service type.
Will a monthly item come due on every body of water at once?
Only the first time. A new recurring item comes due on every body of water at its next stop. After that, each body of water's next due date counts from when it was last done on that body of water, so due dates spread out.
Where did a body of water's custom checklist items go?
They aren't lost. A body of water's added items show on the customer page once the body of water has a service type. To fix it, go to Customers > Bodies of Water, select the body of water, click Set Type & Service, pick a service type, and click Apply.
Do service types change my invoices?
No. Service types control the work done at a stop. They don't change pricing or invoicing.
Can I use a different service type for just one visit?
Not in this release. A service type applies to every visit to that body of water. For one-time jobs, like an opening, a closing, or a construction startup, create a work order type with its own checklist. The body of water keeps its regular service type.
Does the tech have to complete every item on the checklist?
No. A tech checks off the work they did and leaves the rest. Only items set to Required to finish must be done before the stop can be finished. If you allow quick visits, like a chem check on a Full Service body of water, keep the cleaning items Optional or Required with reason to skip.
Why don't checklist items show in my customer's service email?
Check two things. First, your service email settings: if checklists are turned off, no items show. Second, the tech's app: for the email sent from the phone when a tech finishes a stop to include service type checklist items, the tech needs Skimmer Pro 26.0 or later. Customers can also see the checklist when they open the visit in the customer portal.
Why did my bulk change update bodies of water I didn't mean to change?
Tags belong to the customer, not the body of water. When you filter by a tag like Spa, the list shows every body of water those customers have, including their pools. Before you click Apply, check the Body of Water column and clear the ones that don't belong.
My pool and spa are set up as one body of water. Which service type do I use?
A body of water gets one service type. You can keep it as one, with a body of water type like Pool + Spa and a service type that covers both, or split it into a pool and a spa so each gets its own checklist, readings, and dosages.