Scheidt & Bachmann increases profitability of petrol stations by introducing the virtually attended petrol station

Place: UK
Client: Harvest Energy
Implementation: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
Initial situation:

Today many petrol stations suffer from decreasing profitability due to high operating costs and low sales volumes. In times where costs exceed income operators will close down sites and focus on well selling profitable sites instead. Over the last years this has led to a reduction of petrol stations throughout many countries.

Task:

Harvest Energy had been looking for a way to prevent petrol stations from closing down and making them profitable again. “The project is about giving low-volume sites that may otherwise close, a new lease of life, and providing a service to the local community,” says Davis. One big aspect on decreasing costs of a petrol station is about decreasing personnel costs. Operating a site completely unmanned has already contributed strongly to the profitability of a petrol station in many cases. Due to several legal restrictions it has been very difficult to operate a site completely unmanned. “We have been looking for a way to overcome all these obstacles and enable a site being operated without on-site personnel. For this we have been looking for the right partner”.

Concept and implementation:

The pilot site that was chosen had been dealer-operated before and used to peak at 3mlpa but had fallen to 1.7mlpa. The dealer did not want to continue with the business. Scheidt & Bachmann proved to be the right innovative partner to come up with a solution that allows service station operators to run their service station without on-site staff whilst at the same time fulfilling all legal requirements. The so-called “Emergency Cabinet” replaces the on-site security staff. Equipped with an emergency button, intercom, fire-extinguisher and a first aid kit, it is ready to provide help and to switch off the power on the station if necessary. Scheidt & Bachmann has applied for a patent for the technology involved.

Moreover the first service station has also been equipped with Scheidt & Bachmann Clou dispensers, with integrated card processing and multimedia displays. A new function is the dispenser release through a remote operator who monitors each dispenser fuelling point via a remotely operated camera system. The refuelling process only begins when the remote-operator releases the dispenser. Two requirements have to be fulfilled before a dispenser is released for refuelling:

1. It is obvious that a vehicle is to be refuelled, and

2. The nozzle is already inserted in the filler neck.

If this is not the case, the remote-operator can refuse the refuelling process. This is shown on the monitor of the dispenser for the customer.  Additionally, it is possible to establish direct contact with the customer via intercom. The remote-operator can monitor several stations using this remote system and virtually attend the sites.

Improving fuel deliveries at unmanned sites

Another new product is the “Driver Controlled Delivery” DCD System. This new module is part of the Scheidt & Bachmann Network Management System NMS. It allows the Wet Stock Manager not only to monitor the current filling levels, but also to define how much fuel of each grade should be refilled with the next delivery. The tanker driver receives a delivery number that is assigned to the planning. Using his authorization card at any one of the dispensers, the driver can see the current fuel levels and, after typing in the delivery number, he receives information on the amount of fuel he has to deliver. After the delivery he can see the new fuel levels and can print out a receipt. Thus no personnel have to be on-site during fuel deliveries.

For a detailed Wet Stock analysis the Leighton O’ Brien wetstock analysis system, which will be managed by Suresite, has been successfully integrated with Scheidt & Bachmann’s NMS. This provides Harvest Energy with considerable advantages over the competition. Harvest Energy currently supplies 120 service stations. The programme going forward is not just one of converting existing Harvest Energy sites; Harvest Energy are exploring a variety of opportunities as sites become available on the wider market. Another station is planned for mid June. With the first site Harvest has already achieved a big gain. “The site was closed for six weeks for redevelopment and within three weeks was back to pre-closure volumes, with the new facility of 24-hour opening encouraging transactions through the night and early morning. Today we have rented the site and given the retailer a set income i.e. preventing the site from closing down.”

Benefits for the operator:

The option to virtually operate a petrol station has been made available by several means. First the emergency cabinet replaces on-site personnel in case of an emergency. The “Clou” dispenser series creates a real competitive advantage for petrol station operators. Since customers pay directly at the pump personnel costs are reduced to a range between very low and obsolete. Even the time for a fueling process is being optimized by this kind of operation which means that during peak-hours, throughput can be increased. Moreover, the site can be opened for 24/7 completely unmanned, which means additional turnover can be generated.

Since the dispenser offers the same payment options like a regular cash register in the shop, unmanned sites do not miss out on any customer. The pump can even be equipped with an integrated banknote acceptance unit. Before a customer starts refueling the payment method can be chosen. Besides payment by credit, debit or fuel card customers are now able to pay cash at the dispenser.  Even payment by means of a voucher is possible. A voucher is issued if a customer buys less fuel than it was paid for in advance using the cash function. The voucher can be redeemed at the next fuelling stop in lieu of cash. As the customer must return to redeem their voucher, this provides for another form of customer loyalty. An additional benefit is that the big multimedia screen can be used to display current advertisements or promotions. Cooperating with local shops can additionally add to paying the investment off.