Gas Stations Using Data Analytics To Predict & Track Sales

Running a successful gas station as a sole operation or as an extension to a grocery or convenience chain means juggling numerous data feeds.

Recently, a southern-based grocery chain approached Agilence because they needed assistance reconciling disparate data feeds from their gas pumps and their POS systems. The problem they were running into was related to timing; the various data feeds reported results at different times, which made it nearly impossible to cleanly reconcile intake and output records. This lag between data feeds was so bad that the grocer typically had to wait weeks to address reporting anomalies from their gas stations.

How did the problem get so bad? To accurately produce reports, they would have to manually match records such as payments at the pump and compare it to the tank volume records. By the time all of the information was received, mapped and scoured for operational inefficiencies or fraud, weeks or months had passed. Furthermore, once the data had been mapped, there was no way for the customer to effectively manage any discrepancy in the fuel intake versus output - this meant operating at a deficit or surplus and never knowing it.

Teaming up with Agilence, the grocery chain was able to use 20/20 Grocery to map the various data sources on a Fuel Reconciliation report. This report allows the customer to view fuel dispense totals, outside pump sales, authorized inside sales, and then calculates the fuel discrepancy. Now the the grocer can identify which gas stations have a significant lag in data by matching sales both in and out of the station with the actual dispensed totals. Because the gas stations run on such paper-thin margins, allowing management to quickly address potential operational inefficiencies makes it much easier to detect and act on before it affects the bottom line.

Now each day as new data becomes available, the 20/20 Data Analytics platform automatically runs the Fuel Reconciliation report which gives management the most comprehensive view across the entire operation. Each transaction, the time of day, employees, customers, and any discrepancy involved at the station are now tracked which means more ways to track sales success and catch cases of employee fraud or theft. Needless to say, data analytics at the pump is essential for operating a gas station as part of your convenience store or grocery chain.

Interested in learning how modern c-stores, grocers, and fuel distributors are leveraging the 20/20 Data Analytics platform?  Register now for our upcoming webinar, “Improving C-Store Reporting and Analytics.”