As I write this, it’s the beginning of the year, and the Midwest, where I and a healthy portion of the country, is currently experiencing snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and just trying to find a way to stay warm – cheaply. Our pools are probably one of the furthest things from our minds, but that shouldn’t be the case. Summer comes swiftly, and if we’re to make the most out of it, we should be prepared. That not only means getting our to-do list ready, our yard improvements in order, our pool maintenance prepped but also, educating ourselves on all the pool improvements and accessories that our coming out because, surprise, 2023 is going to be a huge year for pools.

When it comes to our pools, they’re meant to be our escape into relaxation, our suburban oasis – no one wants to cannonball, swan dive, or backstroke through something more akin to a swamp, nor are we interested in spending our valuable weekend time scrubbing, skimming, and pumping dirt and debris from our watery haven. But let’s backtrack, that headline mentioned technology, what technology am I going to add to my pool? When it comes to the backyard, we don’t think about making it “smart” in the way that we do our phones, our cars, or our homes, but increasingly, the “Smart-Yard” concept is emerging, and it’s starting with your pool.

The global showcase of all upcoming tech wonders, CES 2023, just happened in Las Vegas and several notable pool innovations were on display throughout the show. Most notably, the new kid on the block but recent innovator and trendsetter, Aiper, unleashed its new Seagull cordless robotic pool cleaning series, led by the Seagull Pro, which earned Aiper a CES 2023 Innovation Award nomination. Since making a splash into the pool scene in 2017, Aiper has forced the pool cleaning industry to recognize and adapt by normalizing cordless robotic cleaners for your pool. The single purchase of a robotic pool cleaner typically saves pool owners hundreds of dollars in pool cleaning expenses and an equal amount of time saved by letting your toys do all the work.

Costing less than $1 a month to charge compared to your pool pump, which costs roughly $0.40 – $0.50 each time you use it. The new Seagull series by Aiper promises users to “take back their free time and start enjoying their pool.” The new Seagull series cleans pools of various sizes from 90 to 180 minutes, their newest, most advanced model releasing this March – the Seagull Pro, introduces the world’s first quad-motor pool cleaner, three-hour battery life, wall cleaning, and WavePath™ Navigation Technology increasing its cleaning area coverage when compared to most products that clean in random, erratic patterns.  

But in 2023, are cordless pool cleaners worth it yet? 100% absolutely, yes! But why? Well, robotic pool cleaners clean your pool for you – that’s it, end of article. Jokes aside, even if you’re not already sold on the money-saving, time-saving, or eco-friendly aspect of a robotic pool cleaner, if you need just a little more push to give them a serious look, consider the following two things.

First, many robotic pool cleaners have their own built-in filter, thereby saving water. Why a robotic pool cleaners filter won’t be your end all be all filter solution, it will take the strain off your pool’s own filter. It takes between 1,000 to 4,000 liters of water to clean out your pool’s filter, but with a robotic pool cleaner, we’re talking about a bucket of water on average to clean your filter – saving time, money, and thousands of liters of water a year by using a cordless robotic cleaner.  What this translates to is a well-kept pool that needs less regular maintenance or repair, potentially saving you thousands.

To piggyback on the previous point, most cleaners have sophisticated pumping systems, some up to 90 GPM of water cycled and mixed through your pool. What this does is prevents water from getting stagnant and building up bacteria or algae. Compared to hand cleaning and scrubbing, which will release debris and bacteria back into the depths of your pool, these pumps, combined with the filters, and some cleaner’s UV sterilization technologies, means your pool’s water is cleaner and healthier than even your eyes can detect.

So that’s it, it’s going to be an exciting year for pool technology, of all things, and I personally can’t wait to get my hand on the Seagull Pro. I’m super forgetful and always forget to charge my devices, with its impressive battery life, I can clean my pool two or maybe even three times, and with the WavePath™ Navigation Technology combined with the quad-motor system, I expect my pool to look its best. It’s a competitive, exciting field out there for pool cleaners, and Aiper is looking impressive and putting all other pool cleaning brands on notice!

If you’d like to hear what else was announced at CES, please visit Aiper.com to learn more about the new Seagull products, visit Aiper.com.

GPS Trackit Has Fleet Monitoring Technology That Saves Pool Service Operators From Drowning in Fuel Costs

Spring and summer have been seasons of pain for pool service operators—at least when it comes to prices at the pump. Fuel costs crested in June at more than $5 per gallon, making an operator’s single biggest variable expense even larger.

Fuel prices have started to retreat, but the only way to truly take some control over fuel spend is to approach it systematically. And that starts with fleet monitoring technology like GPS Trackit.

The best fleet monitoring technology is a kind of cost-saving, safety-promoting, efficiency-encouraging Swiss Army knife. GPS Trackit’s fleet management system installs in each vehicle in minutes and provides an constant, real-time connection to the vehicle’s engine diagnostics to keep track of a truck’s fuel efficiency and overall health.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day, pool operators can see where each truck is in real time, develop the most efficient routes between jobs, and collect complete diagnostic data on how each truck is being driven.

Fleet tech customers typically see a 5 to 20 percent improvement in average fuel economy system-wide—and many use the routing features to plot a more efficient roster of assignments for each truck. One client was able to see 20 percent more clients within 60 days thanks to more efficient routing—and he did it with the same number of crews and vehicles.

Lower fuel costs and more efficient routes are two of the most obvious fuel-related benefits that come from fleet monitoring. Others are more subtle, but also significant.

-Expanded service range

With better fuel economy and more efficient routing, visiting clients in farther-flung locations becomes more viable. Deploying crews more efficiently allows other trucks to be deployed in adjacent service areas.

-Better customer service

With more precise tracking, operators know where crews are, and can much more accurately predict when crews will arrive at the next job. Customers love operators who arrive when they say they will, within tight time windows.

-Improved driver behavior

What gets measured gets done. When crews know they’re being evaluated on metrics like fuel consumption and aggressive driving—hard acceleration, braking and turning—those behaviors are reduced. Driving within the speed limit and avoiding hard acceleration and braking is both fuel efficient and safer. It also reduces wear and tear on vehicles, which increases their service life.

-Consolidated fuel spend

The Google Maps-based interface within GPS Trackit makes it easy for operators to see where trucks are and assign them to refueling stops at preferred vendors. Instead of haphazardly refueling at “convenient” locations, operators can negotiate volume pricing from specific vendors and refuel in an organized cadence with fleet fuel cards.

-Less environmental impact

Fewer miles driven and improved fuel efficiency means less harmful exhaust. A Canadian study showed that avoiding three minutes of excess idling per day nationwide would remove 1.4 million tons of Co2 from the air, and be the equivalent of removing more than 300,000 cars from the road.

For more information on how your pool service company can save money on fuel, schedule a free demo with a GPS Trackit Fleet Advisor today.

By Penelope Rudy

Between the scheduling and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, a historically tight labor market and exploding inflation, it’s harder than ever to contain costs in the pool service and installation businesses. Many operators are stretched to the breaking point.

With no more hours in the day or crews to add, how can you do more with what you have? A field service management system can help. With GPS-based vehicle tracking systems and the data they provide, you can streamline routes, reduce labor and fuel costs, protect your assets and use better information to make better predictions about your business.

Take control of labor and fuel costs

Using GPS Trackit’s field service management system, one pool service operator was able to see the “crumb trails” each crew was taking across the service area in a given week. That data—along with precise information about how long different kinds of jobs take and crews’ average response and travel time to the next assignment—helped her streamline the scheduling and routing process. The result? Her ten existing crews were able to service 20 percent more clients while simultaneously using less fuel. With precise control over when and where each crew travels, she’s also more easily able to schedule her most experienced crews for the most complicated jobs—or most finicky customers. The ROI has been out of this world, too. The video and GPS-enabled monitors cost approximately a dollar a day for each vehicle, and fuel cost savings alone have been more than $1,000 per month. 

Reduce Loss and Insurance Costs

Accidents and other adverse incidents cost money, but the costs go beyond that. When vehicles are out of commission, you can’t cover as many service calls. Plus, more accidents and incidents affect your insurance costs over time. With a GPS-based field service management system, you’re able to precisely locate every vehicle in real time—and see exactly what’s happening inside the cab and out when an incident happens. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that monitoring systems reduced severe unsafe events by 60 percent. That reality is reflected in the fact that many insurance carriers offer significant premium discounts for fleets who install monitoring systems on their vehicles.

Make Better Decisions with Real-time Data and Analytics

“If I had only known…” is something you hear often in business. And while it’s impossible to know everything, you can get a lot more information—and get it in context that can help you make better decisions and predictions. One example? One Department of Energy study found that using a field service management telematics system saved $2,000 per vehicle per year for a fleet of light duty trucks and buses. The system gave decision-makers the ability to plot better routes and identify vehicles that needed maintenance much more quickly. GPS Trackit’s VidFleet field service management system uses a driver-facing camera and artificial intelligence to notice when a driver could potentially be distracted and provide an audible warning. The system also tracks aggressive driving—hard accelerating, braking and turning—and gives operators very detailed information about what kinds of training strategies can be implemented. To find out how a field service management platform can help you cut costs for your pool service or installation business, contact a GPS Trackit FIeet Advisor today for a free demo.

By Penelope Rudy