The Pool Service Technology Gap: How an Analog Industry Is Going Digital

The pool service industry has historically been one of the most analog sectors in home services—clipboards, handwritten invoices, and "call me back" voicemails. But that's changing rapidly. The industry's largest players now capture customer data from over 85% of transactions, and AI-powered water testing platforms delivered over 1 million automated chemical prescriptions in 2024 alone.

The Current Technology Landscape

Major industry players have invested heavily in digital transformation. The gap between enterprise-level adoption and small business reality reveals both the opportunity and challenge facing the fragmented pool service industry.

Retail Data Capture: The 85% Milestone

The industry's largest specialty retailer now captures customer information from over 85% of total transactions through its loyalty database.[1]Leslie's Q1 2026 Earnings CallFebruary 19, 2026Transcript

This data powers:

• Personalized recommendations: Product suggestions based on pool type and history
• Predictive restocking: Alerts when customers likely need chemicals
• Service reminders: Automated notifications for seasonal needs
• Marketing optimization: Targeted campaigns based on purchase behavior

AI-Powered Water Testing: 1 Million Prescriptions

A leading professional water chemistry platform recommended over one million product applications to consumers through dealers in 2024.[2]Pool Corp Q4 2024 Earnings CallFebruary 2025Transcript

This represents a fundamental shift from "guesswork" to a data-driven "prescriber model" that automates the chemical recommendation cycle. The test-to-sale conversion becomes predictable and repeatable.

Technology Platform	Function	Impact
AccuBlue Home	Connected water testing device	Commercial-grade testing for homeowners
POOL360 PoolService	Pro CRM, routing, billing	Complete business management platform
Measure by Latham	AI-powered measurement	Reduces dealer error on covers/liners
Water Testing Kiosks	In-store analysis	1M+ automated prescriptions

Sources: Leslie's 10-K, Pool Corp 10-K, Latham 10-K

The Professional CRM Revolution

Pool Corporation's POOL360 PoolService mobile app provides a complete CRM, routing, and billing tool specifically designed for pool professionals.[4]Pool Corporation 10-KFiscal year ended December 31, 2024SEC Filing

For pool service businesses, dedicated software offers:

• Route optimization: Reduce drive time between stops
• Chemical tracking: Log water tests and treatments automatically
• Customer communication: Service reports and photos to clients
• Billing automation: Invoice generation and payment processing

For more on software options, see our complete pool service software comparison.

AI in Manufacturing: Reducing Human Error

Measure by Latham uses proprietary AI-powered technology to reduce dealer error when measuring for safety covers and pool liners.[5]Latham Group 10-KFiscal year ended December 31, 2024SEC Filing

AI measurement tools address one of the industry's persistent challenges: incorrect measurements that lead to:

• Remake costs for manufacturers
• Installation delays for customers
• Return visits for service providers
• Customer dissatisfaction and refunds

Home Water Testing Goes Digital

The AccuBlue Home program allows pool owners to use commercial-grade connected devices to test water and receive custom chemical prescriptions via mobile app.[6]Leslie's 10-KFiscal year ended September 28, 2024SEC Filing

For service providers, connected home testing creates both opportunities and challenges:

• Opportunity: Customers become more educated about chemistry, leading to better conversations
• Opportunity: Remote monitoring can alert you to issues before the customer notices
• Challenge: Some customers may attempt more DIY, reducing service frequency
• Challenge: Requires service providers to be equally or more knowledgeable

Digital Sales Hit Record Levels

Digital connectivity and share of sales reached record levels in late 2025 following AI-powered feature launches.[3]Pool Corp Q4 2025 Earnings CallFebruary 2026Transcript

This indicates that both B2B (professional) and B2C (consumer) customers are increasingly comfortable ordering supplies online, checking inventory, and managing accounts digitally.

The Small Business Gap

While enterprise players invest millions in digital infrastructure, most of the industry's 125,000 pool service businesses remain small, family-owned operations. Many still rely on:

• Handwritten service logs
• Spreadsheet-based customer tracking
• Manual invoicing and payment collection
• Phone calls for all customer communication

This creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Service providers who adopt modern tools can differentiate themselves through:

• Professional customer communication: Service reports with photos
• Faster response times: Automated scheduling and confirmations
• Better record keeping: Chemical logs, equipment history, service notes
• Streamlined billing: Automatic invoicing and payment reminders

What This Means for Pool Service Businesses

The digital transformation happening at the enterprise level will eventually reach every corner of the industry. Forward-thinking service providers should:

1. Evaluate current processes: Where are you still using paper or manual methods?
2. Start with customer-facing improvements: Service reports and billing often have the highest ROI
3. Consider route optimization: Even basic routing can save 15-20% on drive time
4. Look at chemical tracking: Digital logs improve accuracy and demonstrate value

The pool service industry is transitioning from "guesswork" to a data-driven model. Businesses that embrace this shift will be better positioned to serve increasingly digital-savvy customers.