Have you ever felt your browser was about to explode while managing a wedding? I have. Just yesterday: one tab for the client Excel, another for contract management, one more for invoices and WeTransfer open in the background.
It's exhausting. As a photographer, it takes me out of creative flow. As a developer, it seemed like an insult to efficiency.
That's why the team and I have spent the last few weeks in the lab refactoring the heart of PhotoHeart: the CRM. Today I present Phase 1 of our complete overhaul, focused on a radical concept: the Control Center at a glance.
Phase 1: All the Power in a Modal
Until now, traditional CRMs force you to navigate through menu mazes to know something as simple as whether a client has signed their contract or if their last invoice is paid.
We've decided to break with that. Phase 1 focuses on the new ClientModal. It's an interactive card that appears over whatever you're doing, allowing you to control 100% of the workflow with that client without closing anything.
What have we "cooked" in this version?
Interactive Navigation: If you see an appointment in the summary, you can jump directly to the calendar. If you see a contract, one click takes you to the signature. No more searching for client IDs throughout the app.
Email History (with superpowers): Don't know if the client received the gallery link? Now you have a real log. And if the server gave an error, I've programmed a "Retry" button so you can fix it in two seconds.
Live Selection Status: You'll be able to see if the client has already chosen their favorite photos or if they still have a half-empty cart, directly from their card.
The Road to Phase 2: The "Headquarters"
I know what you're thinking: "Clara, this is already better than what I had, but I want more". And you're right.
This overhaul is just the first step. Phase 2 is being designed. The final goal is for this modal to be the gateway to a Total Client Page.
Imagine a full-screen "Headquarters" where the workflow almost moves itself: predictive automations, linked file management and a visual timeline of your entire relationship with that client.
Why are we doing it this way?
Jorge wanted us to launch the complete card all at once. I refused. In the middle of Christmas campaign (and with the Sugar & Kids event right around the corner in Ávila), what you need is immediate speed.
I fought for this Phase 1 to be light, fast and "bulletproof" for your December deliveries.
Want to be among the first to try the Control Center?
Launch: January 15, 2025
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