Rachael Pritz, Vice President, RB Retail & Service Solutions
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Industry-specific software for pool and spa businesses can be particularly helpful as our industry begins to level out after the post-pandemic boom. Fully integrated business software allows business owners to make data-driven decisions that can open the door to profitable marketing strategies to expand in new areas and help recession-proof their business. Rachael Pritz, Vice President of RB Retail & Service Solutions, lends her expertise on the subject below.
AQUA: Perhaps more than ever before, pool and spa retailers are having to adjust to ever-changing market conditions. How can software help them to adjust quickly and successfully?
Rachael Pritz, RB Retail & Service Solutions: Industry-specific software is much more beneficial to pool and spa businesses than off-the-shelf software because it provides the tools and information they need to quickly pivot and adjust to rapidly changing market conditions. As the market prepares for a potential recession, it’s essential for specialty retailers to collect all business data in ONE system that can be accessed at ANY time in order to effectively compete against online retailers and big-box stores. This includes complete vendor integrations to ensure optimal inventory levels and to provide the best customer service. Effective business software must integrate billing and accounting while also tracking customer equipment and water test results, and providing integrated mobile capabilities to improve efficiency in the retail store and with service techs in the field. Industryspecific software benefits management by providing real-time data, so pool and spa businesses can adjust and implement strategies based on market changes. RB Retail & Service software is designed and continuously updated by veteran industry experts to provide a completely integrated software system that manages ALL business processes from sales and purchasing to billing, service and marketing, allowing business owners to quickly adapt to ever-changing market conditions.
AQUA: What is new in pool and spa specialty software?
RP: We now offer a new EZ SHOP app to enhance the shopping experience, as it provides ‘scan and go’ shopping to customers within the retail store. Once downloaded, the app allows current customers to login to their online bill pay to view their transaction history, create shopping lists and scan the products they need as they walk through the store. The app syncs with any discounts within the customer’s profile and can even be programmed with specials such as BOGO items. Scanned items are then quickly pulled for payment at check out. Retailers are already reporting that the new EZ SHOP app is helping to build customer loyalty by improving the customer’s shopping experience.
RB has also added new functionality that makes it simple for pool professionals to pass along credit card fees using our SmartPay integration. SmartPay allows retailers to pass along credit card fees to consumers by simply determining what percentage of each transition to charge customers (between 0 and 4%) as a ‘program fee.’ Once a value is entered, when an electronic payment method is used, a Program Fee will automatically be added. This allows retailers to pass along this cost to increase profits quickly and automatically.
AQUA: Why is it important for pool/spa retailers to utilize this technology?
RP: Pool and spa businesses are up against fierce competition, especially as consumers become more cautious about their purchases. It’s therefore imperative to utilize every possible technology tool available to ensure profit margins, control inventory and provide the best customer service. For example, our clients routinely mention our Water Lab Sync integration being particularly helpful during the busy summer months because it saves time and provides invaluable information to increase profits. Water Lab Sync connects with industry-leading water testing software to eliminate double data entry into two systems and allows users to look up past water test results, saving time at the water lab and at the cash register. Customers also love that the Water Lab Sync functionality combines with our Mobile Live Service app so service technicians no longer need to bring paperwork back to the office but instead, use their mobile device in the field.
Having a brick-and-mortar retail store provides a competitive advantage, yet consumers also want an option to search and shop online, complete with delivery options. As a result, RB offers a ‘Shopping Cart’ software feature created for pool and spa businesses that were not originally equipped with an e-commerce presence. This feature provides a fully equipped shopping experience, easy checkout and curbside pick-up or delivery. It’s the perfect way to make sales management easier and keep your business thriving despite ever-changing market forces. Online sales continue to grow, and retailers agree that re-training customers to use online shopping for pool and spa supplies, clients to shop your online store to order, pay, and arrange for delivery or pick-up of their chemicals and more. Retailers report they have expanded their marketing reach using their online store by marketing to those that might not have visited their brickand- mortar store because of the distance.
Industry-specific business software can open the door for pool and spa retailers to implement profitable marketing strategies and potentially expand their business in new areas. Imagine the potential added revenues that could be gained if every employee in your company had 20 additional hours per week to follow-up on sales leads, make additional service calls, or attend to customers in-store during peak season by implementing this technology!
