Case Study Summary

• Client: Pelican Adventures, Aruba-based tour and water sports company.
• Challenges:
  • Used word processor for reports.
  • Reports often damaged by water.
  • Delays and challenges in receiving reports.
• 1st Reporting Solution:
  • Digital, customizable forms.
  • Secure cloud storage.
  • Powerful offline mode.
  • Easy integration and intuitive interface.
• Implementation:
  • Started with incident reports.
  • Expanded to daily checklists, bus checklists, mechanical reports, customer complaints, and equipment condition reports.
• Results:
  • Reporting efficiency increased by at least 75%.
  • Immediate access to information.
  • Improved communication with captains.
  • Positive feedback on customer service and app features.

If you love vacations as much as I do, then this case study is for you. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures. We discussed how Pelican found 1st Reporting and put it to use, sailing their operational efficiency forward. But first, let me introduce you to Pelican.

Pelican Adventures | Monforte Luxury Cruise | Pelican Nest Seafood Grill: Company Background

Pelican Adventures is a family-owned and operated tours and water sports company established in May 1986 on the beautiful island of Aruba.

The team at Pelican Adventures specializes in providing exciting island tours and cruises on their custom-built catamaran. Their guests love the highly knowledgeable local guides who join them on their sailing excursions to provide priceless photo opportunities and knowledge about the incredible local landmarks. Guests also revel in the shared information about Aruba’s history, wildlife, and landmarks, which makes the adventures that much more interesting and exciting.

Operating a tour business of any sort can be a real challenge, but Pelican Adventures does it with ease, making their vacation experiences some of the most sought-after on the island. Meanwhile, their operations hum along with organization and intelligent management.

Challenges Before 1st Reporting

Before using 1st Reporting, Pelican Adventures used reports and forms created in a word processor. The system was slow, but it did the job. However, being a water-based tour company, there was no shortage of reports submitted that had met an untimely water-logged end. Ink would bleed, reports would get damaged, and reporting was highly challenging to manage.

Then, Esmeralda brought in 1st Reporting and started integrating her existing reports into the 1st Reporting app.

“In the past, we did daily boat checkups manually and these were sent in right away via WhatsApp. Sometimes the hard copy of the reports got wet and was not easy to read or provided later. Now, we get the information right away and all is completed with the necessary information. It’s at least 75% more efficient than it was.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

Why They Chose 1st Reporting

There are many reasons why our clients chose us. Some say it’s the great features like customizable forms, dynamically linked form and report actions, or custom notifications, but for many, it’s also the ease of integration.

“We looked at other companies, but the ease of using the app made the difference.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

Integrating 1st Reporting was a fairly straightforward process for Pelican Adventures. They had an idea of what they wanted all of their reports to include beforehand, which made report template creation easier for them. The intuitive interface with an easy-to-learn set of powerful customization features and options means that anyone who struggles learning new software won’t take long at all to have things up and running. That means that for Pelican, it was easier to get everyone on board.

“The transition was straightforward. We didn’t have a reporting app before, so I was using a similar setup of reports in Word.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

So, the transition was straightforward, but it wasn’t just an easy-to-learn adoption of the mobile app that turned the tide (no pun intended). It wasn’t the other great features like GPS-integrated forms, KPI reports, or the Standards and Procedures handbook (where companies can share in-house documents, procedures, manuals, even training videos or other resources). It was the customer service. 

“The customer service is incredible.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

The team at 1st Reporting is second to none in an industry where developers want to be as hand-offs as possible. 1st Reporting works hard to earn the loyalty they’ve received from their customers. Whether it’s setting up extra functions or including a robust API solution, 1st Reporting is always willing to work with its clients and not hide behind a wall of anonymity. 

However, excellent customer service has a few competitors, such as the host of great features, which definitely helps 1st Reporting become a trusted partner.

“I speak daily with the captains, and they appreciate the additional multimedia options for reporting issues.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

When you combine the great features of the 1st Reporting app with the caliber of the 1st Reporting team, you’ve got some fantastic and measurable results.

Results

“In the past, we did daily boat checkups manually. Sometimes the reports got wet or were given a week later. Now, we get the information right away. It’s at least 75% more efficient than it was.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

Results speak for themselves, and Pelican Adventures has made it clear that for a leading tour organization in Aruba, only the best solution will work. The power of the 1st Reporting app delivers that solution.

“Overall, it’s very accurate and satisfying for our needs.”

Esmeralda Schotman, Cruise, Planning, and Quality Manager at Pelican Adventures.

There you have it. 1st Reporting helps increase efficiency again! Please don’t take our word for it; listen to what our happy clients are saying, and let us prove to you that with the power of the 1st Reporting app at your fingertips, your organization can sail forward in efficiency. Test the waters – try 1st Reporting today.

Learn more about Pelican Adventures: