Streamlining Fuel Deliveries

Stringer Oil and LP Gas deployed the PDI ERP (legacy Blue Cow Ignite) solution to:

• Modernize its technology foundation
• Consolidate forecasting, ordering, and delivery operations on a single solution
• Increase efficiency and save money it could reinvest in the business

Business Challenges

• Outdated technology that was causing delivery and backtracking issues
• Complex, manual processes that consumed valuable time, resources, and money

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, turn to PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software Ignite products). Our propane and fuel oil enterprise solutions can help you simplify your operations with a single source of truth everyone on your team can rely on.

Read more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

Customer Results

• Simplified processes by automating tasks and minimizing the need for phone calls
• Improved customer service by empowering drivers with easy-to-use tablet-based solutions
• Reduced backtracking by 90%

Providing Real-Time Delivery Information

Rick Wenzel Oil deployed the PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck solution to:

• Reduce paper-based processes
• Streamline fuel routing and deliveries
• Improve the standard of customer service

Business Challenges

• Complexity in keeping drivers updated on delivery schedules
• Inefficient paper-driven processes that were resource-intensive and subject to error

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, turn to PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software Ignite products). Our propane and fuel oil enterprise solutions can help you simplify your operations with a single source of truth everyone on your team can rely on.

Read more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

Customer Results

• Modernized business operations with best-in-class software
• Improved delivery success rates and customer satisfaction
• Reduced vehicle and driver time on the road

Modernizing with Mobile App Technology

Arrick’s Propane implemented the PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling Customer App to:

• Simplify customer account access
• Streamline orders and deliveries
• Facilitate a paperless environment

Business Challenges

• Keeping pace with customer expectations for a modern user experience
• Streamlining business operations by automating tasks and integrating IT systems

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, turn to PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software Ignite products). Our propane and fuel oil enterprise solutions can help you simplify your operations with a single source of truth everyone on your team can rely on.

Read more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

Customer Results

• Improved the customer experience with up-to-the-minute account information
• Eliminated multiple manual processes and minimized paperwork
• Optimized deliveries to increase efficiency and reduce waste

Streamlining Fuel Deliveries

Jennings Propane & Oil deployed the PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck Solution to:

• Modernize its back-office systems
• Avoid laborious and inefficient processes
• Automate importing of invoices and delivery data

Business Challenges

• Digitally transforming business operations in a cost-effective manner
• Eliminating labor-intensive and inefficient paper processes

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, turn to PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software Ignite products). Our propane and fuel oil enterprise solutions can help you simplify your operations with a single source of truth everyone on your team can rely on.

Read more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

Customer Results

• Streamlined communications between the home office and the field
• Increased efficiency by making more deliveries in the same timeframe
• Improved customer service with more accurate delivery schedules

Fueling Customer Success

Pilgrim Propane implemented the PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling Customer Portal to:

• Streamline customer account access
• Simplify orders and deliveries
• Facilitate a paperless environment

Business Challenges

• Reduce the amount of time spent on repetitive, daily management tasks
• Modernize ordering, delivery, and payment processes to meet customer expectations

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, turn to PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software Ignite products). From propane delivery management software to tank monitoring, you can simplify your fuel oil and propane operations with a single source of truth everyone on your team can rely on. 

Read more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling

Customer Results

• Automated repetitive, manual, and time-consuming processes
• Enhanced the customer experience with a best-in-class web portal
• Seamlessly integrated back-office and web functions

It seems a lot longer than just a year ago that PDI acquired Blue Cow Software. Now that the integration is complete, the heritage Blue Cow Software products are all available as PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions. 

Even though the name has changed, our commitment to developing industry-leading technology hasn’t wavered. In fact, we’re dedicated to keeping our products “best in class” in the home heat industry. 

During the past year, our product team has been busy integrating new products and interfaces that will simplify your operations and help you achieve significant productivity gains. Here are just a few of the exciting new fuel oil and propane delivery offerings that are now available:  

• Remote Customer Portal: Gain instant access to your database without accessing your ERP system. The Remote Customer Portal allows your users to view real-time account information, create and edit fuel and work orders, or add notes on an account directly integrated with your ERP system. Users can remotely access real-time information from anywhere with an Internet connection, or they can instantly create fuel and work orders without logging into your full ERP platform!  
• Vendor Pay: Are you still writing paper checks to pay your bills? Still mailing payments to everyone from your fuel suppliers to the office cleaning company? Stop the madness and start using a simpler, faster way to pay your invoices. You can even earn cash back on every virtual card payment. Our new Vendor Pay option works seamlessly with your ERP accounting platform for an all-in-one solution that lets you pay suppliers through electronic payments. It won’t cost you more money—in fact, we’ll give you 1% cash back on every invoice you pay by credit card! 
• Avalara Tax Export: If you use Avalara to generate the necessary tax information in ERP (formerly Ignite), you can now instantly upload it into Avalara. We’ve streamlined processes that previously took hours to complete, so the reporting and consolidation of taxes has never been faster or easier. 
• Tank Monitor API: This new tool helps tank monitor companies that interface with PDI to seamlessly write directly to their ERP database and update customer tank readings. Not only does the API eliminate the need for added software to be installed on a client server, but it also reduces the need to run an additional function to import this data. 
• P3 Propane Safety Integration: Now you can complete required propane safety documentation faster and with greater accuracy. Our initial integration included PDI customer account numbers, names, and addresses, along with daily gains and losses. The latest Phase 2 release links Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP accounts directly to the equivalent account within the P3 Compliance System at the click of a button. This functionality allows you to quickly view relevant propane safety documentation, leading to increased efficiency and greater data accuracy.  
• Mopeka Tank Monitor Interface: Our newest tank monitor integration with Mopeka features easier monitoring of tank levels and usage. The data collected by the cloud alerts both consumers and suppliers to low liquid levels. Data is sent directly into their Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP system to support more accurate forecasting for delivery and k-factor analysis. 

Together, these products and enhancements are just the start of the PDI roadmap for the home heat realm. With the goal of leading industry-wide innovation to keep our products best in class, we can’t wait to share more of what’s on the horizon with you in person at PDI Connections Live in August! 

To learn more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling, contact us today.  

When you operate in an increasingly competitive marketplace, your success depends on optimizing the elements you control. You can’t control every external factor, but you can make sure your fuel delivery business is running as smoothly as possible.

To help reduce costs, boost your team’s productivity, and elevate your customer service, you can access a wide range of insightful resources about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions (heritage Blue Cow Software’s Ignite products).

Our propane and fuel oil enterprise solutions can help you simplify your operations with a single source of truth and a synchronized real-time technology infrastructure everyone on your team can rely on. Discover the PDI advantage by leveraging the intelligent solutions behind the industry’s technology evolution.

Learn more about key PDI solutions

Explore how the wide range of PDI propane management software and fuel oil software solutions can help your business reduce costs, improve efficiency, and attract loyal customers. Access the latest product brochure to learn more about:

• Propane and Commercial Fueling: ERP
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Payments
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Mobile Delivery
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Routing
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Mobile Service
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Analytics
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Customer Portal
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Phone Application
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: ERP Remote Portal
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Hosting
• Propane and Commercial Fueling: Imaging

Discover how to work smarter

Looking for insider insights on how to streamline deliveries and reduce your team’s workload? Start by learning how innovative propane and fuel oil delivery software can optimize your operations:

• Download “3 Great Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder”

Find out how your peers are excelling

Ever wonder how other companies are leveraging PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling solutions? Find out in these real-world customer case studies:

• Read “PDI Delivers Efficiency Upgrade: United Oil Heat Case Study”
• Read “PDI Helps Improve Customer Experience: Palmer Case Study”

Dive deeper into industry trends and hot topics

Ready to explore specific propane and commercial fueling topics and the latest industry trends? Check out these in-depth blog posts:

• Visualize your way to stronger sales with customer location mapping
• Incorporate preventative health checks for your database
• Protect your business against cyberthreats
• Simplify life for your customers—and get paid faster

Watch videos

Visit PDI University to view PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling videos featuring:

• Product demos
• User group meetings
• Webinar series
• Education and training

Get the help you need on PDI Connections

If you have additional questions about PDI products and services—or want to take online classes—be sure to visit PDI Connections. This is your go-to place to:

• Register for PDI University training courses
• Open product support cases
• Check online help archives
• Access detailed product documentation

Save time, resources, and money on propane and commercial fuel deliveries

How much more could you accomplish if you automated critical processes and freed up your staff for more strategic projects? 

Find out in this new white paper. You’ll discover how three time-saving software tools from PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling Solutions can help your business operate much more efficiently while improving your customer experience. 

This white paper covers: 

• Three time-saving tools to work smarter 
• The advantages of optimizing deliveries 
• Expert tips and guidance for increasing efficiency 

Executive Overview

HQ: Mansfield, MA

Industry: Petroleum and Fuel Wholesale

Solution: PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck

Business Challenges

• Processing invoices took office staff several hours a day
• Employees spent more time sorting paper documents and less time increasing deliveries and improving customer service

“I can’t wait to get into the winter!”

Ignite® Mobile delivers efficiency upgrade for United Oil Heat

With 13 trucks on the road making dozens of deliveries each, Wes Madan of United Oil Heat in Massachusetts had a problem on his hands. Older technology – mechanical meters and printed tickets – was costing his drivers several minutes per stop. That time added up to nearly two extra hours on a typical winter’s day.

“Our company leads the way in many areas of technology, but we were behind the curve when it came to invoicing and processing deliveries,” says Madan. “Then I got a call from Todd Kipperman of Blue Cow Software.”

Todd introduced Wes to the Ignite Mobile app, which is a component of Blue Cow, A PDI Company, and its comprehensive Ignite Ecosystem of energy management and financial software. “Five minutes into Todd’s demo, I was sold,” explains Madan. “Ignite Mobile reduced everything we were doing from 15 steps down to one step.”

“Our drivers had been calculating a delivery volume by hand, printing out a ticket, taking a picture of the ticket, then emailing it back to the office for processing. Ignite Mobile eliminated all of that.”

Not only did Ignite Mobile speed the delivery process, it made things faster and easier for United Heating Oil’s office staff. The app automatically posts each invoice and bills the customer’s credit card the next day. This has reduced daily processing time from several hours to 15 minutes or less.

“The biggest proponents of Ignite Mobile have been our drivers,” says Madan. “They get to focus on the delivery and not all the other work we had them doing. And it is so easy to use that our veteran drivers took to it in no time.”

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck

Blue Cow Ignite Mobile is now PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck

Automates real-time communication between fuel truck drivers and service technicians. Each member of the team has direct access to schedules and updates right from their trucks.

Learn more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling In-Truck

Executive Overview

HQ: Atkinson, New Hampshire

Industry: Petroleum Wholesale

Solution: PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP

Business Challenges

• Legacy systems were not user-friendly or customizable 
• Personnel were limited in the amount of data they could input
• The dispatch system did not integrate smoothly with the ERP solution 

Kevin Whittier, Business Analyst and Project Manager at Palmer Gas & Oil in Atkinson, New Hampshire, is a fan of Blue Cow Software, A PDI Company. So much so that Kevin has volunteered to sit with other fuel dealers to personally demonstrate how his company uses the Blue Cow Ignite® software system.

“Our relationship with Blue Cow Software has been fantastic for us,” says Kevin. “Blue Cow’s Ignite system is innovative and adaptable to the changing needs of our business and has allowed our company to provide a better customer experience.”

He adds, “We utilize the full Ignite suite, including Analytics and Mobile, to run our business. It is great to have a comprehensive back office energy package that can handle billing, service work orders, delivery forecasting, inventory – the works. The software is easy to use and helps us save time. It’s nice because, as a project manager, I can use all of Ignite and I don’t need to jump around between different programs and screens.”

Unlimited Potential

Kevin says that Palmer Gas & Oil had gone through a couple of software programs prior to finding Blue Cow Software, but neither lived up to expectations. The systems were not user-friendly, not customizable, and they used an outdated interface that made it difficult to import or extract data.

“Our other software stopped developing and keeping up with changing technology. We were also limited in the amount of data we could input, which is not ideal for a fuel business that is growing and expanding,” says Kevin. “On the other hand, Blue Cow Software makes the changes we want to see, and they are always working to help. With Ignite we can have unlimited categories and group codes that are customizable to meet our specific needs, and scalable to keep pace with our growth.”

Palmer Gas & Oil made the decision to cut their losses with their old software and step up to Ignite after seeing the software in action. “We were impressed by the layout of the account screens and how easy they were to use,” recalls Kevin. The Palmer team also got feedback from other Blue Cow Software customers before making the switch.

“They all had great things to say about the software and the company,” according to Kevin. “And they were right. The Blue Cow team has been eager to respond to our requests and make changes that enable us to better use their software for our company. They are great to work with!”

A Simple Transition

“With any transition there is a concern about disruption in business operations. But the switch to Ignite was easy thanks to the support we received from the Blue Cow team,” says Kevin. Palmer Gas & Oil purchased Ignite in the Fall of 2013, with an idea of rolling it out in 2014. They were able to update legacy data and make decisions with Blue Cow on specifics such as aging and merging accounts. Blue Cow Software worked to integrate multiple vendors to make the system exactly how the team wanted it to be. The result was a smooth integration and the system went live in April 2014.

“The transition to Ignite had a positive effect on every department because we use it for everything. For instance, it improved how we do deliveries. Before Ignite we had to use a number of different programs, and our team had to know a bunch of different commands in order to pull up certain information. We have over 19,000 active accounts and trying to remember commands was difficult. Now it’s all laid out right in front of you.”

Digging into Data

In his position as Business Analyst, Kevin uses Ignite Analytics to gain an at-a-glance snapshot of the business to help with planning, scheduling, and making decisions based on real-time data. Palmer Oil & Gas is working with Blue Cow Software to make Analytics even more customized for their business needs, enhancements that will not only benefit Palmer, but also other companies using Ignite.  

Going Mobile

The company also added the Mobile module to their Ignite suite, for both the fuel delivery and service departments. “We were one of the first Blue Cow Software customers to go with Mobile when it was introduced,” recalls Kevin. “The previous dispatch system we were using was not working the way we had anticipated. Mobile was the perfect solution, especially because it integrates so smoothly with the Ignite system.”

Teaming Up for Continued Success

“Palmer Gas & Oil’s relationship with Blue Cow Software has been absolutely fantastic. From a business perspective, we feed off of each other’s input and ideas, allowing both companies to reap the benefits from future improvements,” says Kevin.

“We keep an open line of communication between ourselves and Blue Cow. They are always willing to listen to our suggestions and make the best effort to get these solutions into the system.”

“We have a very friendly and fun relationship. Not many companies can say the same about their vendors. When we look at Blue Cow, we do not see them as just vendors, we see them as friends. It’s good to have that kind of relationship – they’re working to make us better and we’re helping to make them better.”

Solution Overview – PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP

Blue Cow Ignite is now PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP

The leading fuel and propane management software package in the industry. An unparalleled combination of back office accounting and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Learn more about PDI Propane and Commercial Fueling ERP