by John Keller | May 26, 2015 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Price Optimization, Fuel Pricing Software, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Pricing Technology, Fuel Software, Industry News, PriceAdvantage, Retail Fuel Margins
Kocolene, an operator of 22 Fast Max stores throughout Indiana and Kentucky, experienced a 3% increase in 2014 fuel volume sales after just one year of using PriceAdvantage fuel pricing software – exceeding the national average increase by 2%. At the same time, the fuel retailer was able maximize fuel margins to create a substantial increase with overall gross fuel profits. The 2014 performance improvements are featured in a recent case study alongside other organizational benefits derived from using PriceAdvantage mobile fuel pricing technology. The case study may be found here.
In early 2013, Fast Max executives realized their manual, tedious processes for obtaining market data and setting fuel price changes needed updating. By adopting PriceAdvantage mobile fuel pricing technology, Fast Max was able to replace manual phone and paper processes for collecting competitive fuel prices, gained immediate access to accurate competitive information and market data, and automated price changes from headquarters to the store POS system and fuel price signs.
Within the first year of using PriceAdvantage, Fast Max increased its fuel sales and productivity. PriceAdvantage allowed Fast Max to quickly and easily catch developing trends in the market, signaling when an adjustment in their pricing strategy was needed to capture fuel sales. “Using PriceAdvantage, we have seen a 3% gain in fuel volumes over the previous year while maximizing margins and experiencing significant growth in gross profits. On top of that, we have a relationship with PriceAdvantage that feels more like a partnership.” Lance Gentry, Vice President of Operations.
By using PriceAdvantage mobile fuel pricing software, Fast Max corporate management reviews data, receives alerts and makes price changes on their smart phones, as well as perform many functions without having to call each store and interrupt a team member or manager who may be assisting customers. PriceAdvantage streamlined the entire pricing process and provided store managers and team members more time to service and sell to customers, as well as perform other tasks.
Fast Max chose the PriceAdvantage subscription pricing model that provided rapid software implementation with minimal upfront costs or hardware investments. This flexible model allowed Fast Max to license specific software components, enabling them to create an affordable solution to meet their specific needs. With the demonstrated increase in sales, PriceAdvantage easily delivered a measureable ROI.
by John Keller | May 22, 2015 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Pricing Technology, Industry News, PriceAdvantage
Today was the kickoff meeting for another PriceAdvantage Customer Advisory Board. The purpose of the PriceAdvantage Customer Advisory Board meetings are to provide industry updates, as well as product feedback and direction to the PriceAdvantage team. The PriceAdvantage CAB helps to be the eyes and ears of what’s going on at the front lines of the c-store industry. On this advisory board we have the wisdom of these industry leaders:
- Varish Goyal, President, Vintners Distributors
- Kyle Lawrence, President, By-Lo Oil (Speedy Q)
- Tom DiMercurio, CFO, Flyers
- Karen Meyer, Fuel Pricing Manager, J&H Oil
- Ben Stealy, Fuel Pricing Manager, Mapco
- Tom Navarre, VP Petroleum Marketing & Logistics, Family Express
In our meeting today, each member provided an overview of their business and the strategies they use to compete. Then we discussed future product versions and specific features of PriceAdvantage as a team so everyone could weigh in on what’s important.
Customer collaboration is an integral part of how we do business here at PriceAdvantage. I look forward to our ongoing meetings with this group, and learning from their collective wisdom.
by John Keller | Apr 29, 2015 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Software, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Pricing Technology, Fuel Software, Industry News, PriceAdvantage
The PriceAdvantage team would like to extend a warm welcome to Get-n-Go as our latest c-store customer to join the PriceAdvantage family. Get-n-Go is using PriceAdvantage to automate and accelerate fuel pricing at their 18 convenience stores throughout South Dakota.
Get-n-Go selected PriceAdvantage based on their confidence that the software will help them price fuel more confidently and quickly.
“We’ve had our eye on PriceAdvantage for quite some time,” stated Dave Vande Kamp, Get-n-Go’s Controller. “It was simply a matter of timing. We were operating on an older version of the Gilbarco POS, and once we upgraded we were able to easily take advantage of the PriceAdvantage pre-built integration. Now all of our critical pricing data is streamlined and I can price fuel faster with great confidence that I am making a sound decision.”
Get-n-Go is running PriceAdvantage as a SaaS solution to leverage the benefits of a cloud service model including the low upfront cost, ease of implementation, and the maintenance and infrastructure cost benefits.
“The fact that I can price fuel from my phone is huge. I’m no longer tied to my desk and I have more time to focus on my other responsibilities,” stated Vande Kamp.
by John Keller | Mar 31, 2015 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News
According to the NACS Online article here, the number of diesel vehicle sales is up 13% across the country. Sales of diesel cars and SUV’s are up 13.5%.
Idaho, Montana and Nevada have the highest percentage of diesel vehicles on their roads. But the highest increase in diesel registrations came in California and Massachusetts, where increases in both states are over 20%.
According to the IHS Automotive to the Diesel Technology Forum, there are now 7.4 million diesel cars and SUVs on U.S. roads, out of a total vehicle count of approximately 250 million. That is an increase of 47.6% since 2010.
What does this mean from a fuel price management perspective? It’s important to analyze year over year Diesel volumes and consider whether or not, and in which location, to add Diesel to your product portfolio. It could be that Diesel becomes a strategic product and location differentiator.
by John Keller | Mar 19, 2015 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Technology
Long-time PriceAdvantage customer Sheetz has opened two new locations in North Carolina this month, according to Convenience Store Decisions.
“Sheetz is experiencing a lot of growth companywide and we have done a tremendous amount of growth in the North Carolina market,” said Ryan Sheetz, director of brand strategy. “North Carolina is a great fit for us. We opened our 500th store in Thomasville and opened a second distribution center in Burlington last November.”
Sheetz has been using PriceAdvantage integrated to their Skyline signs since 2009. Since the beginning Sheetz has seen a significant ROI in maintenance service costs alone as you can read here.
Congratulations to Sheetz and their continued success. We’re honored to have such a long term partnership.
by John Keller | Mar 16, 2015 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Technology, Fuel Software, Industry News
The PriceAdvantage team would like to extend a warm welcome to E-Z Mart as our latest customer and partner. The PriceAdvantage solution at E-Z Mart includes out-of-the-box integrations with PDI and the VeriFone Sapphire POS.
“We wanted greater speed and control over our fuel pricing,” said Liff Luthringer, vice president of petroleum operations for E-Z Mart. “We chose PriceAdvantage because it allows us to push instant price changes from the store support center and more efficiently manage and analyze the data used in pricing decisions. More time is now available for analyzing the hard pricing decisions and finding ways to improve the performance of our fuel business.” E-Z Mart tested PriceAdvantage software at a few stores, Luthringer added, and “ran the numbers. We know that PriceAdvantage will make us faster and more competitive, and we are confident it will make us more profitable.” More information about the PriceAdvantage solution at E-Z Mart can be found here.
E-Z Mart is ranked number 34 on the Convenience Store and Fuel News Top 101 (link here) with 300 stores. Convenience Store News featured E-Z Mart as a cover story in their August 2014 issue, the online version of which is at this link.
