by John Keller | Mar 22, 2013 | Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News
The PriceAdvantage team would like to congratulate the GasBuddy OpenStore team on their announcement of E-Z Mart becoming a customer. E-Z Mart is the latest c-store chain to recognize the importance of social media in the fuel price management process.
The PriceAdvantage and OpenStore teams recognized the importance of integrating social media into fuel price management several years ago, and started working together in late 2010. It was then that we began developing an integration that allowed PriceAdvantage to post the latest fuel price changes to OpenStore, and then in turn to the GasBuddy sites. Rutter’s was our crucial partner as we built out to the requirements, and the initial implementation was completed by Rutter’s in 2012. In 2013 Parker’s completed their combined implementation as well. And PriceAdvantage customer Valero is also pushing fuel prices to GasBuddy.
More and more we’re seeing the marketing department saddling up with the fuel pricing team, as both groups are recognizing the importance of making sure customers see the most recent and accurate fuel prices on the map, using OpenStore to broadcast marketing promotions, all to drive more traffic and fuel volumes to the store.
by John Keller | Mar 18, 2013 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Pricing Technology
Advances in technology and fuel pricing software have made it much simpler for retail fuel managers to increase speed-with-the-street and react quickly to market changes; they need only take advantage of the myriad technology solutions available. The key to fuel pricing is the ability to make changes quickly. Any company which sees this and then enacts strategies to improve its on-site technology will see its business improve, along with customer satisfaction.
A PriceAdvantage customer, Kocolene Marketing, recently selected our fuel pricing software solution for implementation at all of its stores across Indiana and Kentucky. Automation of the fuel pricing process has given fuel managers the power to change prices, more often. This level of customization enables them to alter prices at stores directly from headquarters. This has transformed fuel operations for each of their stores, and lead to a new standard of internal pricing optimization.
Removing the store manager from the critical path doesn’t interrupt flow, it enhances it. With one click, those with access to up-to-the-minute data can alter prices and meet market conditions. Delays between fluctuations in the market and price changes are a thing of the past. Now managers can capitalize instantly on new conditions, and eliminate any and all execution delays. Technology has freed us from focusing on competitors for pricing data. Mobile access and advanced signage enable us to make decisions based on what’s going on halfway around the world, not just two blocks away anymore.
In fact, one of the more effective fuel pricing tactics today is a technology upgrade, especially in a region where the competition may be dragging its feet. Being the first to upgrade to a new system often creates a perception that your site is right out of the gate on any advances. Relying on outdated equipment to meet the customers’ needs is equivalent to leaving money on the table. Store-by-store protocols based on maintaining high margin-per-gallon won’t suffice to move the business forward. With modern fuel management services enhanced by top-of-the-line equipment, fuel managers can now isolate the connections between price changes and profitability. This lets them see how to shift their pricing strategy, along with enabling them to make changes the moment they wish to.
The function of any business is to make money, and driving revenue in the retail fuel business can often be a difficult game. Consumer behavior and environmental factors are shifting constantly, creating a volatile market where it can be difficult to get a solid foothold. Fortunately, technology is there to help. By reviewing their site’s existing equipment, identifying where upgrades can be made, and implementing new advances in fuel pricing software and technology, c-store retailers can be confident they’re remaining ahead of the curve.
by John Keller | Mar 15, 2013 | Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Price Optimization, Retail Fuel Margins
In the weekly OPIS report, average US retail fuel margins showed a drop of $0.043 per gallon. That’s a reverse in the trend across the previous two weeks where retail fuel margins increased nearly $0.16 per gallon.
Retail fuel margins now stand at $0.218 per gallon across the US, the second highest of the year, and at levels last seen in November 2012.
So far this year the average US retail fuel margin for all commodities is $0.151 per gallon. This provides a good comparison baseline when we review upcoming quarterly financial announcements from the large c-store chains.
by John Keller | Mar 12, 2013 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Optimization, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Pricing Technology, Retail Fuel Margins
In their Short-Term Energy Outlook report released today, the US Energy Information Administration issued a revised lower forecast for US gasoline consumption over the next two years. The report includes predictions for US gasoline consumption across each quarter in 2013 and 2014, and in every quarter the revised forecast is .2% to .8% lower than the US EIA predictions from their previous Short-Term Energy Outlook report.
The US EIA reports that fuel volume totals for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 will remain essentially unchanged, explaining that increased travel will be offset by increased fuel efficiency.
From a fuel price management perspective, the news is not as bad as it could be; while fuel volumes have been in a steady decline for the past eight years, at least total anticipated fuel volumes are not expected to decline over this year and next.
The fuel pricing strategy and fuel price optimization game intensifies each year as c-stores battle for an ever-shrinking fuel volume pie. PriceAdvantage fuel pricing software is the key to optimizing both volumes and margins in this battle.
by John Keller | Mar 11, 2013 | Fuel Pricing Strategy, Retail Fuel Margins
This week’s OPIS report showed a $0.097 per gallon jump in retail fuel margins across the US, the largest weekly fuel margin increase since October 2012. Retail fuel margin averages now stand at $0.261 per gallon. That’s almost a $0.16 per gallon increase in just two weeks.
Retail fuel margin averages for 2013 now stand at $0.144 per gallon. It looks like the calendar Q1 fuel margins for 2013 will recover from their abysmal start, and end up at the low end of annual averages.
by John Keller | Mar 11, 2013 | Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Software
Back in 2001, Ford had a record year of selling natural gas vehicles when Ford sold 5491 vehicles. That record was shattered in 2012 when Ford sold 11,600 vehicles. And the Ford sales number in 2012 is more than three times what Ford sold in 2010.
Compare that to the Chevy Volt 2012 sales number of 23,461 vehicles, which was three times the Volt sales number of 2011.
Pike Research estimates that 20,381 natural gas vehicles were sold across the US in 2012.
While these natural gas vehicle numbers are still less than 1% of the overall standard fuel vehicle sales count in the US, they do point to a visible growth trend in mindshare for natural gas as a viable alternative fuel for consumers. In the right markets, fuel managers would be wise to take advantage of natural gas fuel margins in volumes that can quickly yield a return on their infrastructure investment. This is especially true in markets where the traditional fuels volume continues to shrink dramatically.
