Based on the famous "Space Coast" of Florida, Blue Marlin Pools offers custom–designed, custom–built swimming pool construction to clients throughout the state's east–central region. In business now for over a dozen years, Blue Marlin Pools is noted for its meticulous, carefully–organized approach to customer service, an approach made possible by a purpose–built FileMaker Pro office management application. And after demonstrated success behind the scenes at Blue Marlin, the application is now available to pool builders everywhere as Pool Pro Office.

Business Challenge

Swimming pool construction involves many vital elements — all of them traditionally generating bushels of paperwork. Plans must be drawn, permits secured, and documents filed, and that's even before the actual excavation work can begin. Once the crews are on the jobsite, there's an even more voluminous flow of information between client, crew, and office, ensuring that the project adheres to both its budget and its specifications.

And, traditionally, this paperwork remains on paper. "Pool companies tend not to be computerized," comments Blue Marlin Pools vice president Mark Richter. "But as the younger generation takes over in these older companies, that's going to change."

It changed for Mark's company several years ago, when, inspired by developments observed at a pool industry trade association meeting, he decided the time was right to move from a simple "shared folder" concept for entering project data onto the office computer to a fully functional database system. "We developed a flow chart showing what it takes to build a swimming pool, with all the steps and processes," he recalls. "And then we realized once we could get this information on the computer, there were many things we could do with it. Our original idea of a simple 'shared folder' on our one office computer continuously grew."

That's when FileMaker Pro developer Gerard Beutler of Link–Net Inc. entered the picture. Working closely with Mark, Gerard developed the first version of a customized office management application in FileMaker Pro 8. And with a subsequent upgrade to FileMaker Pro 8. 5, the result is a tool that has not only become an invaluable part of Blue Marlin's business, but also a tool to be marketed to pool builders everywhere.

Successful Solution

Full information on all projects, in the office or in the field — and all accessible through a simple, user–friendly FileMaker Pro interface. That's how the data is managed now at Blue Marlin Pools. "We can track our leads and where they come from, track all scheduling, communications, service, and warranty calls for any project, and generate financial reports," comments Mark. Running efficiently on a cross–platform assortment of Dell PCs and Apple PowerBooks, and available to users over an internal company network, the application stores documentation on over 750 past and ongoing projects, with more added all the time. And now other pool builders are adopting the system for themselves. "Gerard and I developed the program for marketing through our company, Pool Pro Office," Mark continues. "We've taken it to trade shows and have already gotten several pool builders signed up — and we expect interest in our solution to grow as a new technology–conscious generation takes over in the pool industry."

FileMaker Pro lets you carry your whole office with you, wherever you go. It enhances our productivity, it improves our communication with our customers...Our goal is to have a program where you can come in, log on in the morning, and never have to leave the program for the rest of the day!

— Mark Richter, Vice President, Blue Marlin Pools