Integration with PaythePoolman (w/ Teresa Berry)

The pool service industry is undergoing a technological revolution, and software integrations are leading the charge. In a recent episode of the Rule Your Pool podcast, host Eric Knight sat down with Teresa Berry from PaythePoolman to discuss how their platform is empowering pool professionals through seamless integration with the Orenda calculator. This conversation reveals not just the technical aspects of software solutions, but the human story behind why these tools matter so much to hardworking pool service professionals.

From Public Education to Pool Industry Innovation

Teresa Berry's journey into the pool industry is refreshingly honest and relatable. As she explains, her entry wasn't through years of hands-on pool experience, but rather through a career transition that many professionals can identify with.

I was a public school teacher for a long time. One of my titles at PaythePoolman is educational specialist. They brought me on for support and then just saw a real need to train up our users with all of the great features we have... I'm embarrassed to say I knew nothing about the pool industry. My entire prior knowledge was 1980s flicks with guys in flip-flops and pool shorts.

— Teresa Berry, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This admission highlights an important truth: everyone starts as a beginner, regardless of their background. What matters is the willingness to learn and the humility to acknowledge what you don't know. Berry's educational background has proven invaluable in her current role, where she focuses on training users to maximize the potential of PaythePoolman's features.

The Personal Story Behind PaythePoolman's Creation

The genesis of PaythePoolman stems from a problem that many pool service professionals face: the administrative burden that threatens to overwhelm the aspects of the job they actually love. Jeff, the founder, experienced this firsthand during his 13 years as a pool professional in Southern California.

The story is both familiar and heartbreaking. A successful pool pro who genuinely enjoyed working with customers found himself drowning in paperwork, billing disputes, and administrative tasks that were straining his marriage and family life. Rather than accept this as an inevitable part of business growth, Jeff took an extraordinary step: he taught himself coding to create a solution.

As he grew, the administrative load grew and he's one guy. So he leaned on his wife, Rebecca, quite a bit. And he really cared about his family and his marriage. And the business side was hurting his family and his marriage. He hated it... So though he's an outdoorsy guy, like he loved being outdoor on his own, he went ahead and taught himself coding and computer stuff.

— Teresa Berry, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This personal motivation drives the core philosophy behind PaythePoolman: technology should solve real problems and improve quality of life, not just add complexity for its own sake.

Addressing the Real Challenges Pool Professionals Face

The pool service industry faces unique challenges that other trades don't necessarily encounter. As Eric Knight points out, pool professionals must wear multiple hats – they need to be plumbers, electricians, and chemists, all while working outdoors in often challenging conditions.

PaythePoolman was designed to address several critical pain points:

• Payment Collection: Automating billing and payment processes to reduce awkward conversations and improve cash flow
• Route Optimization: Helping professionals maximize efficiency in their daily schedules
• Administrative Burden: Streamlining record-keeping and business management tasks
• Customer Communication: Improving transparency and service documentation

The software recognizes that most pool professionals didn't get into the business to become bookkeepers or administrative assistants – they wanted to work with their hands, solve problems, and help customers maintain beautiful, safe pools.

The Power of Integration: Bringing Science to Service

One of the most significant developments in pool service software is the integration of scientific tools like the Orenda calculator. This integration represents more than just added functionality – it's about elevating the entire industry by making complex water chemistry accessible to every service professional.

We were super, super excited to team up with you guys because it's an incredible tool for maybe a guy who's like, I'm not a chemist. I don't have a white lab coat. You know, I got my hat and I got my embroidered shirt and I'm out there every day. And it's a really accessible tool to maintain, like you said, LSI, which is, it's been around, but it has been revolutionary because the spotlight's on it.

— Teresa Berry, Rule Your Pool Podcast

The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) integration allows pool professionals to:

• Make precise chemical adjustments based on scientific principles
• Track water balance history over time
• Identify patterns and prevent recurring problems
• Educate customers about proper water chemistry
• Reduce chemical waste and costs through accurate dosing

This integration transforms reactive service calls into proactive water management, benefiting both service professionals and their customers.

Technology as an Equalizer in a Challenging Industry

The pool service industry has historically lagged behind other trades in technology adoption. As Eric Knight noted during the podcast, HVAC technicians often arrive with iPads and sophisticated software systems, while many pool professionals still rely on paper-based systems and guesswork.

Software solutions like PaythePoolman are changing this dynamic by:

• Providing professional-grade tools at accessible price points
• Offering training and support to help users maximize the technology
• Creating consistency and standards across the industry
• Enabling small businesses to compete with larger companies

The democratization of these tools means that a solo operator can provide the same level of professional service and documentation as a large company, leveling the playing field and raising standards industry-wide.

The Importance of Constants in a Variable Business

One of the most profound insights from the conversation relates to the challenge of managing a business with very few constants. Eric Knight posed a thought-provoking question to listeners:

How many constants do you actually have in your business? Whether that's things you can control or just things you can rely on. You can't control prices. You can't control gas prices. You can't control traffic times, the weather, customer attitudes, contamination in the pool. You can't control hardly anything.

— Eric Knight, Rule Your Pool Podcast

In an industry where almost everything is variable – from weather conditions to chemical prices to customer behavior – having reliable tools and systems becomes even more critical. Software platforms provide that stability, offering consistent processes and reliable data that professionals can count on.

Building a Foundation for Industry Growth

The integration between PaythePoolman and Orenda represents something larger than just two companies working together. It's part of a movement to professionalize and elevate an industry that has too often been undervalued.

By providing access to sophisticated tools and scientific principles, these platforms are helping pool professionals:

• Increase their expertise and confidence
• Improve customer satisfaction and retention
• Build more profitable and sustainable businesses
• Attract and retain quality employees
• Establish themselves as trusted experts rather than just service providers

The ripple effects of this technological adoption extend beyond individual businesses to benefit the entire industry ecosystem.

Practical Implementation and User Experience

What makes the PaythePoolman integration particularly valuable is its focus on usability. The platform recognizes that pool professionals don't have time for complicated interfaces or steep learning curves. Features are designed to be intuitive and immediately useful:

• One-Click Activation: Users can enable Orenda calculator integration with a single click
• Historical Tracking: All water chemistry data and adjustments are automatically logged
• Visual Dashboards: Complex chemistry concepts are presented in easy-to-understand formats
• Mobile Optimization: Tools work seamlessly on smartphones and tablets in field conditions

This user-centric approach ensures that the technology enhances rather than complicates the daily work of pool service professionals.

Looking Forward: The Future of Pool Service Technology

The conversation between Eric Knight and Teresa Berry offers a glimpse into the future of the pool service industry. As more professionals adopt sophisticated software tools and scientific approaches to water treatment, several trends are emerging:

• Increased Professionalization: The industry is moving away from the old stereotypes toward a more scientific, professional approach
• Better Customer Education: Professionals can now explain the 'why' behind their recommendations, not just the 'what'
• Improved Efficiency: Route optimization and automated processes free up time for higher-value activities
• Data-Driven Decisions: Historical tracking enables pattern recognition and preventive maintenance

These developments benefit everyone in the ecosystem – pool professionals can build more successful businesses, customers receive better service, and the industry as a whole gains credibility and respect.

The partnership between PaythePoolman and Orenda exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to solve real-world problems while elevating an entire industry. By combining practical business management tools with scientific water treatment principles, they're helping pool professionals build better businesses while providing superior service to their customers. As Teresa Berry noted, it's about empowering people to do what they love while handling the parts they don't – and that's a formula for success that extends far beyond the pool industry.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
• 05:30 Teresa Berry's Journey into Pool Industry
• 12:15 The Story Behind PaythePoolman's Creation
• 18:45 Problems PaythePoolman Seeks to Solve
• 25:20 Integration with Orenda Calculator
• 32:10 Technology's Role in Industry Advancement
• 38:55 Managing Variables in Pool Service Business
• 44:30 Future of Pool Industry Technology