Transforming Pool Management
Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services. The Ecolab AquaIQ™ program is their intelligent digital solution for pool and spa management, using advanced pool monitoring and control technology, smart sensors, and real-time visibility to detect issues early, guide corrective actions, and keep facilities guest ready. My team was tasked with designing two applications for the program: a mobile app for pool engineers in the field, and a desktop application for corporate quality assurance teams to track and manage pools across properties.
Challenge
For hotels, spas, gyms, and recreation facilities, pools are a key amenity that draws customers in, but managing them is time consuming and requires extensive training. When something goes wrong, it can be expensive to fix, and it puts the guest experience at risk. Pool equipment already existed to monitor water conditions, but there was no way for engineers or corporate teams to be alerted in real time when something was off, let alone know how to resolve it.
Solution
My team worked closely with product management and engineering to understand the business requirements, the capabilities of the equipment, and the type of data we had access to. I led end-to-end strategy and design across both applications.
To ground the work in real user needs, we conducted interviews with engineers, property managers, and corporate quality assurance personnel, and rode along with an Ecolab service representative to see pool management firsthand. Everything we learned shaped storyboards of typical use cases, which in turn informed the core features of each app.
Results
Visibility was the foundation the AquaIQ™ program needed to succeed. For engineers, we designed a mobile app that gives a quick overview of pool health, real-time alerts when something goes wrong, and in-context resources to resolve issues on the spot. For corporate teams, the desktop app provides a clear view into how properties are performing, flags problem areas, surfaces key insights, and shows the program's total value delivered. Together, these tools transformed how pools are managed, from reactive fixes to proactive care.
Field Research: Site Visit with an Ecolab Service Representative
Storyboards: Sample Use Cases
Video: Ecolab Customer Success Story
Engineer & Property Manager Views on Mobile
Corporate View on Desktop
