Collaborate with teams
Clients are sometimes surprised by the size of the team involved on a project—even for a seemingly simple pool installation. More complex custom projects often require highly specialized teams.
Collaborating with a large team, even when everyone selected for the project is a proven expert, always carries some amount of risk. Further, simple mistakes can lead to serious—and expensive—problems.
This remains true even for large, well-funded projects. In 1999, for example, when the Mars orbiter was lost, the reason for the catastrophic failure was, in fact, quite simple: scientists from different laboratories used different measurements. One team used the metric system, while the other used imperial units.
Many other seemingly minor miscalculations have led to expensive project delays. For example, in 2003, when engineers in Germany and Switzerland worked together to build the Laufenberg bridge, linking the two countries across the Rhine, the engineers in Germany used a different, albeit equally valid, measurement of ‘sea level’ than the engineers in Switzerland.
During construction, a height difference of 540 mm (21.3 in.) was discovered, which resulted in the need for major reconstruction. Worsening the problem, miscommunication between the two teams meant the known difference in the sea level measurement had been doubled instead of eliminated during construction.
While even the most innovative custom pool is unlikely to reach the complexity of the Mars orbiter, and most bridges under construction do not need to connect two countries, many pool designers and builders face a similar problem as these engineers encountered: how to make sure everyone involved on a project is following the best process to achieve the same goals.
When designing and building a complex custom pool project, implementing technology that provides clear labelled plans, eases communication with accurate 3D views which clarifies the details of the 2D plans, and uses standard measurements, can help keep everyone on the same page. Further, the finished project will achieve the final results promised to clients.
Integrated technology
Creating a customer-pleasing experience by leveraging technology requires more than just visually arresting designs, a social media presence, and a collaborative team.
Leveraging technology most effectively means strategizing to make sure the software, apps, or processes being used do not create worse problems than they were originally intended to solve. The chosen software should not disrupt other areas of the business either.
For example, introducing design software that creates beautiful project presentations can fail to create leverage if the same software creates problems elsewhere. For instance, design software that only permits onscreen use without offering printable options, or 3D design software that does not also create usable and accurate 2D plans, might be sufficient to sell a client on a design, but it will introduce an unnecessary level of complexity when the designer must then use a second design program to create build-ready plans that can also be used for permit approvals.
Refining the design process with innovative technology to create great customer experiences can increase sales if it is fully integrated. Whether offering clients a lighting system that will become part of the network of five billion connected devices on the Internet, or establishing a company policy for providing customer service on social media, strategizing to use technology is an important piece of the customer-experience puzzle.
