New Conference, New Clients for DockMaster

DockMaster, a suite of marine business software, will stage its latest user conference this week as its client roster continues to grow under new ownership.

More than 100 DockMaster customers will gather in West Palm Beach, Fla., for the free DockMaster User Conference: OnBoard 2014, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 10-11. Experts and users will exchange information, hear more about DockMaster 8.0, the latest version due out in beta form this March, and get an update on the ongoing integration with The Boat Village, the industry’s leading mobile platform to simplify boat ownership and service coordination.

“The industry response to our DockMaster product strategy has been phenomenal, and it is great to see so many new customers come on board,” said Kevin Hutchinson, founder and CEO of My-Villages. “Our goal is to put today’s technology—the best there is—in the hands of marine businesses. It’s vital to our customers, it’s vital to the industry—and that makes it vital to us. It’s our Number One priority, the principle that guides us.”

Acquired by My-Villages late last year, DockMaster is now in use at more than 600 facilities in North America, the Caribbean, Central America and Western Europe, and the numbers continue to increase.

Major facilities that have turned to DockMaster to help run their businesses in recent months include Royal Canadian Yacht, Port Superior Marina, Southpoint Marina, Bridge Harbor Yacht, El Dorado Hills (Gold Key Storage), Algonac Harbour, Phil's Auto & Recreation and Bay Harbor Marina.

“There are so many things happening at My-Villages and with DockMaster, and we cannot wait to share them at the conference,” said Cam Collins, My-Villages president and COO. “Modernization is not something that happens only on the docks or on the shop floor. It happens throughout a business and it shouldn’t ever stop. Our goal is to give marine businesses the right technology to better serve their customers.”

Established in 1983, DockMaster offers a suite of software tools that have helped marine companies of all sizes manage their business and improve their productivity, financial controls and customer service.

Born in 2011, The Boat Village enhances how marine businesses connect, communicate and collaborate with customers. Run from any smartphone, tablet or computer, it keeps an inventory of all onboard equipment, personalized with electronic manuals and automated maintenance reminders. Owners can send an electronic service request and communicate with their service professionals online. Technicians can provide updates on work in progress, document completed tasks and answer questions. The result is stronger two-way communication between owners and marine professionals—all in the same application.

“We are excited to be integrating DockMaster and The Boat Village,” Hutchinson said. “We are creating a complete end-to-end solution, one that allows companies to use software and mobile technology to connect and collaborate with customers in new ways. We want to simplify the technology and let marine businesses get back to what they do best—taking care of customers.”