New Mobile App Reduces Safety Risks for Propane Dispenser Operations

Empowering Operators and Elevating Safety and Compliance
Tank Spotter, a trailblazer in propane industry technology, has introduced a groundbreaking Propane Dispenser Training and Management app that promises to transform the industry. Renowned for its real-time connectivity and efficiency-enhancing solutions, Tank Spotter’s latest offering aims to reduce liabilities, streamline safety protocols, and elevate overall service quality.

Enhancing Field Service Operations in the Propane Industry
Tank Spotter has earned accolades for pioneering technology-driven solutions that optimize safety, service tech and sales work, dispatching, scheduling, and operations efficiency. With a track record of innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the propane industry.

Unlocking the Benefits of Propane Dispensing Training
Propane dispensing demands a profound grasp of safety protocols, equipment operation, and regulatory compliance. With this training feature, all this critical knowledge is now available at your operators’ fingertips.

Flexible Learning: The high turnover among Dispenser Operators poses a liability to the propane industry and Tank Spotter addresses this issue by offering on-demand training modules accessible through a mobile app. This flexibility allows dispenser operators to seamlessly integrate learning into their busy schedules, ensuring a well-trained workforce.
Streamlined Remote Management: Dispenser managers and propane companies can now remotely track and manage training, ensuring 100% compliance, even with new hires in this dynamic industry. This feature simplifies the process of monitoring and ensures that safety protocols and industry standards are consistently upheld.
Elevated Safety Measures: Safety remains the cornerstone of the propane industry. Tank Spotter’s training equips propane dispenser managers and operators with comprehensive knowledge to handle propane safely. This not only ensures compliance with regulations but also mitigates risks, creating a safer working environment for all.
Precision and Efficiency: Well-trained operators exhibit higher levels of precision and efficiency in their work. This translates to exceptional service quality and, in turn, elevated customer satisfaction. Propane companies can expect enhanced operational performance as a result.
Certification Credentials: Upon successful completion of the training modules, dispenser operators are able to achieve and retain the knowledge required for certification far easier.
Staying Current with Industry Standards: The propane industry is continually evolving, with new procedures and regulations emerging. Tank Spotter’s training integrates these evolving industry standards, allowing propane companies to remain up-to-date and compliant with the latest requirements.

Taking Excellence Further: Enhanced Features
Tank Spotter’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the core training modules. The Propane Dispensing Training Feature offers additional enhancements that streamline operations and elevate efficiency:

Automated Learning
With training accessible directly through the mobile app, propane dispensing-related training becomes more accessible than ever before. Users can conveniently access training content within the app, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Built-in Dispenser Agreement
Drafting agreement forms can be a time-consuming process. Tank Spotter simplifies this by providing a built-in agreement form developed by legal experts familiar with the propane industry. This streamlines the agreement process, ensuring that agreements are comprehensive and legally sound.

Customizable Training Videos
Customization is key in addressing unique training needs. Tank Spotter’s solution includes customizable training videos, allowing companies to tailor content to their specific requirements. This flexibility ensures that training is relevant and engaging.

Skills Evaluation Forms
Accurate evaluation of operators’ skills is crucial for performance improvement. Tank Spotter offers built-in skills evaluation forms crafted by propane industry experts. These forms enable dispenser managers to assess their operators’ skills accurately.

Comprehensive Reporting
Propane companies and dispenser managers can generate detailed reports, including training history and skill evaluations, through both the app and the web dashboard. These reports provide valuable insights into training effectiveness and skill progression, aiding in informed decision-making.

Leading Transformation in the Propane Industry
By introducing propane dispensing training and a comprehensive suite of related features, propane companies can reduce their risk profile, minimize catastrophic incidents, and more affordably and easily train all their dispenser stations. When propane companies use Tank Spotter, they can save significant time and resources, translating into substantial cost savings.

The benefits propane companies obtain underscore Tank Spotter’s commitment to not only meeting industry needs but also pioneering industry progress. Tank Spotter empowers organizations to streamline their operations, enhance safety, sales, and service work, ultimately driving profitability.

Explore how the propane dispenser training module is reshaping dispenser operational management by visiting PropaneDispenserApp.com.

As Published In The News – click here

« PRESS RELEASE: Tank Spotter Revolutionizes Propane Industry with Innovative Propane Dispenser Training Feature

Tank Spotter, winner of Best Propane app in America and Best in World has unveiled a first ever dispenser training and management app to significantly reduce liabilities, streamline safety protocols, and elevate overall service quality.

Elevating Field Service Operations in the Propane Industry

Tank Spotter has earned its reputation by pioneering technology-driven solutions. Its real-time connectivity and efficiency-enhancing capabilities have already made significant strides in optimizing safety, service tech and sales work, dispatching, scheduling and boosting operations efficiency.

Presenting the Future of Propane Dispenser Training

The latest of Tank Spotter’s groundbreaking offerings is the introduction of its propane dispenser training and management feature – an industry first. This feature empowers the companies who operate propane dispensers with easily accessible, comprehensive training modules available directly through their smartphones. The complexities of propane dispensing, from adhering to safety protocols to understanding equipment operation and regulatory compliance, are now at operators’ fingertips and tracked, monitored and managed remotely.

Key Advantages of the Propane Dispensing Training Feature:

1. Flexible Learning: There is high turnover among dispenser operators so getting them all trained is hard…With on-demand training modules accessible from an app anytime and anywhere, dispenser operators can seamlessly integrate learning into their schedules.

2. Easy Remote Management: Both Dispenser managers and propane companies can remotely track and manage training to ensure 100% compliance of even new hires in this highly transient employee business

3. Enhanced Safety Measures: Safety is essential in the propane industry. This training equips propane dispenser managers and operators with in-depth knowledge to handle propane safely, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks.

4. Precision and Efficiency: Well-trained operators function with greater precision and efficiency, translating to exceptional service quality and elevated customer satisfaction.

5. Certification Credentials: Upon successful module completion, dispenser operators are certified, attesting to their proficiency and adherence to industry best practices.

6. Staying Current with Industry Standards: Evolving industry standards are integrated into the training, ensuring propane companies stay updated with the latest procedures and regulations.

Taking Excellence Further: Enhanced Features

Tank Spotter’s Propane Dispensing Training Feature is more than a training module. It offers a suite of additional benefits designed to transform propane service operations:

Automated Learning: Dispenser managers and operators can receive training directly through their smartphone via the mobile app, making propane dispensing-related training more accessible than ever.

Built-in Dispenser Agreement: Tank Spotter eliminates the need for companies to draft their own agreement forms. The built-in agreement form, developed by propane industry attorneys and insiders, greatly streamlines the process.

Built-in Propane Dispensing Training Videos: The app includes customizable training videos, ensuring content can be tailored to individual needs.

Skills Evaluation Forms: The app features built-in skills evaluation forms crafted by propane experts. Dispenser managers can accurately evaluate their operators’ skills.

Comprehensive Reporting: Propane companies and dispenser managers can generate reports, such as training history and skill evaluations, from the app and the web dashboard.

Leading Transformation in the Propane Industry

By introducing propane dispensing training and a comprehensive suite of related features, Propane companies can reduce their risk profile, reduce catastrophic incidents, remotely track training of dispenser companies and more affordably and more easily get all their dispenser stations Fully trained. When propane companies use Tank Spotter they quickly save an hour per day per employee creating significant efficiencies that can save tens of thousands of dollars.

The benefits propane companies obtain underscores Tank Spotter’s commitment to not only meet industry needs but also in pioneering industry progress.

Tank Spotter empowers organizations to streamline their operations, enhance safety, sales and service work to drive profitability.

Explore how the propane dispenser training module is reshaping dispenser operational management by visiting TankSpotter.com.

« New Safety Resource Launched for Propane Companies

New Mobile App Reduces Safety Risks for Propane Dispenser Operations »

Press Release

New Safety Resource Launched for Propane Companies: PropaneSafetyPro.com

PropaneSafetyPro.com is proud to announce the launch of their new safety resource for propane companies. This innovative platform allows propane companies to have their Safety Plans reviewed, updated, and revised, including their critical Policies and Procedures, Security Plans, and Operations-Maintenance manuals.

Safety is a top priority for propane companies, and PropaneSafetyPro.com provides a convenient and comprehensive solution for ensuring that all necessary safety measures are in place. The platform’s team of experts has extensive knowledge and experience in the propane industry, making them well-equipped to provide valuable insights and recommendations for improving safety protocols.

“We are excited to offer this new resource to propane companies,” said Eric Leskinen, National Safety Expert at PropaneSafetyPro.com. “Our team is dedicated to helping propane companies maintain the highest level of safety possible. With our platform, companies can have peace of mind knowing that their safety plans are up-to-date and in compliance with all industry standards.”

In addition to reviewing and revising safety plans, PropaneSafetyPro.com also offers a range of safety-related services, including remote monthly compliance and technical support, onsite training and emergency response planning.

Propane companies need to keep all aspects of their operations up to date on the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 58 regulations for several reasons.

First, according to NFPA 1, the storage, use, and handling of liquefied petroleum gases (LP-Gas) must comply with the requirements of NFPA 58. Therefore, it is very important for propane companies to stay up to date on the regulations outlined in this code to ensure that their products and services are in compliance.

Additionally, NFPA 58 is constantly undergoing development, with new editions being released periodically. The latest edition of NFPA 58 is the 2023 edition, which has undergone revisions and is currently in the public comment period. Staying up to date on the latest edition of the code can ensure that propane companies are aware of any changes and can take the necessary steps to comply with them.

Furthermore, the latest edition of the code has changes which may impact the procedures and maintenance checklist for propane companies. It is important to review these changes to ensure that the procedures and checklists are revised accordingly.

In conclusion, propane companies should stay up to date on the latest NFPA 58 regulations to ensure compliance with the code and to be aware of any changes that may impact their procedures and maintenance checklists. Keeping every manual, process and operation up with the latest edition of the code can help ensure the safety and compliance of the company’s products and services, and ultimately lead to business growth and success.

For more information about PropaneSafetyPro.com and the services they offer, visit their website at propanesafetypro.com.

« The Importance of Policies & Procedures

PRESS RELEASE: Tank Spotter Revolutionizes Propane Industry with Innovative Propane Dispenser Training Feature »

The Importance of Policies & Procedures

A Guiding Document for Training Employees Online and In-Person

When it comes to establishing a solid safety training program, Policies & Procedures are the first place to start. Policies & Procedures are critical because they help companies meet compliance requirements and reduce liability, but their valuable role in training employees cannot be overlooked. Policies & Procedures are essential to promote a culture of safety in the workplace and offer a standard for all employees to follow. As blended learning between online and in-person training becomes more common in our industry, it is more important than ever to have a Policies & Procedures Manual that serves as a guiding document for all employee training needs.

The propane industry is guided by codes and regulations that can be federal, state, or local. Several key industry stakeholders recommend Policies & Procedures to help propane marketers maintain proper employee training and stay compliant with these codes and regulations include:

Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)
PERC creates training materials used by propane marketers across the country and have just expanded their offerings to include The Learning Center which provides online training opportunities. Since January 1, 2021, more than 5,000 propane professionals and partners have logged into The Learning Center to complete any of the 400-plus available courses online. With more and more propane professionals training online, like taking CETP courses, it is critical that propane marketers have a clearly defined set of Policies & Procedures to support online and blending learning materials. Source: PERC Update, The Propane Education & Research Council, April 2021
For example, CETP 1.0 states in Module 2: “Know your company Policies & Procedures for documenting safety-related contacts with the customer. Be sure to document the question or concern that has been raised along with your response.”
DOT and OSHA Regulations
Policies & Procedures help companies maintain compliance and ensure employees are properly trained to meet DOT and OSHA roles and requirements.
Insurance Underwriters
Many insurance underwriters affirm that propane marketers should have a Policies & Procedures Manual in place for many tasks, including handling gas leak calls as well as interruption of service calls.

Keeping Policies & Procedures Up to Date

Think about it, you aren’t training new employees to follow outdated training guidelines. Make sure your Policies & Procedures Manual is current so that it can do what it does best, keep daily operations running smoothly and reduce risk. It’s critical that your Policies & Procedures Manual is a living document and that it is updated as your company and code requirements change, and should be reviewed on an annual basis to include these changes. This will allow your team to discover and remediate shortcomings. If you have Policies & Procedures, when was the last time you reviewed them? Do you provide training to all employees regularly and to new employees as a part of the onboarding process? If you already have Policies & Procedures, or once you complete your first manual, it is important to recognize that this isn’t a “one and done” deal. For example, recent changes to the OSHA Crane Rule have deeply impacted the way many propane marketers conduct business. Your Policies & Procedures should reflect this new rule and employees should be trained according to your Policies & Procedures so that they are aware of the new crane rule and how it applies to their tasks.

If your company does not yet have a Policies & Procedures Manual, you should have one. Plain and simple. It is crucial in order to train employees, uphold a successful safety program, meet regulatory codes and requirements, and avoid dangerous scenarios or expensive fines. And if you already have Policies & Procedures in place, make sure you review your manual at least once a year and make updates as code requirements change. Working with a safety professional can make reviewing and updating your Policies & Procedures Manual simpler and more convenient, and will ensure that your manual is up to date with industry code changes.

Eric H. Leskinen, executive vice president of Propane Safety Pro, has over 30 years of experience with career progression from field operations to corporate direction. He has designed, managed, and executed safety training and compliance programs for multi-state companies with up to 1100 employees.

« Consulting, Training, and Risk Management Services

New Safety Resource Launched for Propane Companies »

A veteran of the industry, Eric has over 33 years of experience with career progression from field operations to corporate direction. He has designed, managed, and executed safety training and compliance programs for multi-state companies with up to 1,100 employees. As a true compliance and safety specialist his background and skill set make our training services invaluable to marketers seeking to improve their compliance and overall efficiency.

Over 30 years of propane and trucking industry experience, including 15 years as a Director of Safety, Training & Compliance for a multi-state propane and fuel distributor along with 10 years in field operations and management for a national propane distributor
Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) Instructor, Proctor, and Skills Evaluator
Member of the Propane Gas Defense Assoc. (PGDA) since 2008, current Board Member and past President in 2012
Member of the National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) since 2001
Member of the New York Propane Gas Assoc. (NYPGA) since 2001 and serves on the Safety and Education Committee
Served on the Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC) Safety & Training Advisory Committee (STAC) for eight years
Chairman of the CETP 2.3 Transport Operations re-write taskforce in 2012-13. Also served on various sub-committees, including but not limited to Cathodic Protection Training Program, Static Electricity Training, Mobile Crane Safety, Consumer Safety and Duty to Warn, OSHA and DOT First 90-Day Training, Propane Jurisdictional Systems, and CETP Vapor Distribution Systems

« How to Reduce Container Liability With a Smartphone

The Importance of Policies & Procedures »

Recently while speaking with Eric Leskinen of PropaneSafetyPro.com it became clear that managing properly the Propane Container Placement and Documentation could do much more one might expect.

The old adage that “the job’s not done until the paperwork is completed” still applies in the propane industry. Propane Safety Consultant, Trainer, Subject Matter Expert, and past President of the Propane Gas Defense Association, Eric Leskinen of PropaneSafetyPro.com would agree. Fortunately, time has moved on and technology has advanced so some believe that now we can use a simple smartphone to back up our paperwork with a photo but will that truly suffice?

For decades the propane industry has protected itself with mountains of paperwork carefully filed in bullet proof file cabinets. Paper documentation has always had its drawbacks such as it can be lost,
illegible, performed incorrectly, filed incorrectly, etc. The advent of digital photos provided some hope but legally proving the photos were taken at the day and time of installation or service work and prove
the viability of the whereabouts of those same pictures can provide a challenge. Add to this the challenge of coordinating and attaching the correct photos with the client’s physical files or digital files
can be extraordinarily difficult especially in the heat of the winter delivery season.

The advent of an app for both Apple and Android smartphones (and tablets) as seen in Eric’s Propane Safety App allows for much easier documentation with validation of photos that are authenticated with time, date and geocode capture validated by auto connecting them to the documentation and auto filing them with the customer digital file.

The next step is ensuring the propane container is placed properly and meets appropriate guidelines.

Container Foundation: The ASME tank and DOT cylinder must be set properly on the correct foundation. Meeting appropriate guidelines for cylinders above ground secured properly on firm foundation or ASME tanks placed on masonry or other noncombustible structural supports.
Container Location: Based on government codes and requirements the placement of propane containers must meet minimum separation distance from buildings, structural openings and any sources of ignition.
Container Condition: Containers must be coated and painted appropriately to minimize corrosion and secondarily to promote company brand image.
Container Documentation: Digital documentation now allows for photo, geo-code, date and time along with data validation and instant filing into a digital vault for safekeeping and quick retrieval

With the cost of propane containers and the cost of not documenting things properly it is critical to ensure that your employee team is appropriately trained to maintain these requirements while installing and servicing propane containers. Having written policies and procedures in place helps but to say it plainly, tracking and auditing every propane container in your company’s portfolio is a mountain of
work.

Using a photo documentation process will make meeting container placement requirements easier and help your team improve operational efficiencies along the way.

Simplifying Propane Installation Tracking & Audits
Tracking your containers and auditing them for compliance is a best practice recommended by propane safety experts to maintain compliance with government requirements and ensure that employees in the field are completing their responsibilities appropriately. It’s a great tool to not only help management with overall risk reduction, but to also evaluate technician performance and provide any necessary training feedback.

When your delivery drivers are out on their routes and your service technicians are in the field, have them take photos of the container installations at each customer location they visit.

Fortunately, it is now easier than ever with the Propane Safety App. You’ll have direct visual documentation to include with the customer’s account showing that the tank set your company installed and/or serviced is compliant with government container requirements.

It is a good idea to take a photo of every container that your company delivers to or installs and update that photo on a regular basis. When your drivers and service technicians are out in the field, have them take photos of any installations they identify as noncompliant. This will make sure noncompliant containers are recorded, followed up on, and corrected to help eliminate issues and risks for your company. Plus, taking a quick photo of a noncompliant container is much easier instead of filling out a report after the fact. Always remember, photo documentation is a helpful tool, but your employees should still utilize their training to visually inspect containers for compliance issues.

No Photo Documentation? That Could Cost You.
So, we’ve talked about the benefits of implementing a photo documentation process into your company’s operations, but what exactly are the risks of skipping it all together? One of the greatest threats to a propane company is the DIY homeowner. From obstructing containers with objects or renovations to completely moving the container set all together, nothing is unheard of in our industry. And any scenario you might think of could result in a safety hazard, and a lawsuit for your company.

In a situation like this, having clear photo documentation that the container in question was compliant with local and regional government requirements will help to protect your company from liability in the event of litigation. And even more likely, a photo documentation process will help avoid unnecessary safety hazards to better protect your customers in the long run, too.

Special thanks to Eric Leskinen of PropaneSafetyPro.com and his contribution to the industry and for his thoughts along these lines. If you want to connect with him for training, creating appropriate manuals or to see his Propane Safety App you can connect with him on his site PropaneSafetyPro.com .

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« Operations and Technology Consulting Services

Consulting, Training, and Risk Management Services »

A War Veteran and Veteran of the industry Bill has managed over 87 fuel delivery branch offices including operations, marketing, safety and profitability. He has helped over 200 fuel companies improve profitability. His hands on experience makes the Propane Safety app both easy to use and comprehensive saving companies time, money and make leaps forward in safety and compliance.

Over 20 years experience in the fuel industry making fuel delivery companies safer and more profitable
Former Naval Information Warfare Officer, Naval Academy Grad and Admiral Staff member he leverages the technology advantage our military has plus best practices of the leading delivery companies like Amazon, Uber and Door Dash to help fuel companies make epic leaps forward
Works with leading propane companies nationally and internationally implementing best practices next generation technology to eliminate costs, grow profits and eliminate liabilities and risk
Selected to work with PERC on special next gen technology projects
Leads technology projects for multiple industry technology vendor companies helping them take leaps forward reducing their costs to provide technology solutions to our industry
Lead columnist in the Propane Canada Magazine
His team of over 40 software engineers helps companies build custom bespoke solutions to fix long standing problems and allow them to leverage next gen technology for meaningful results.

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« Up-And-Coming Apps

How to Reduce Container Liability With a Smartphone »

UP-AND-COMING APPS

By Kenneth Robeson

More petroleum marketers and c-store operators are benefiting from cutting-edge technology in the form of innovative apps that handle everything from geo-location, on-site promotions, safety inspections, Sales improvements, marketing automation to instant proposals and invoices.

Hardly a week goes by without some new app rolling into the marketplace to help make business more profitable and efficient than ever before.

“Newest and Most Interesting”
Propane Quarterback a fuel delivery Consulting firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, called the TankSpotter app (tankspotter.com) “the newest and most interesting app in our industry.” It is actually a combination of four apps, which they described as follows:

1.TankFinder. “A very popular and super easy-to-use app for documenting all your safety/maintenance issues in the field, with a plus that it allows you to document all your competitor’s tank locations and addresses. It is a nice way to make a targeted marketing list.”

2.Estimator. “A shortcut way for salespeople and non salespeople to do easy estimates, proposals and invoices, with your custom parts list already in it. The sales reps and managers I spoke with love it, as it helps them close more deals.”

3.TankDocs. “A cool app that has all the industry forms and documents needed for installing fuel tanks — trenching release, tank inspection, DOT tank pickup, etc. I’m told they are customizable.”

4.Safety Check. “Safety is paramount in the fuel industry, and this app has the safety inspections important to the industry, like their version of the

gas check, leak check, spill reporting, bulk tank [and] inspections.” Customizable forms are available.

The 5-Star Rating app, which Propane Quarterback called “so cool,” is also included inside the TankSpotter app and “allows you to capture real customer feedback and get their 5-star rating. It then sends it to management so they can instantly post it to the company website, Facebook page or Twitter,” he said. “This is the marketing tool for getting known on the internet with great ratings. This four-in-one app is connected to a cloud application ‘command center,’ so all the data is filed instantly, and the management can see issues instantly. This seems to be one of the most useful apps in the industry, and it is a four-in-one combo deal.”

With competition heating up, innovative apps are becoming less an option than a requirement. Not using technology may cost more than using it, Propane Quarterback warned. “Investing in safety is a good investment, but investing in safety that leverages technology, like the safety app in TankSpotter. This new app, is a very smart way to improve safety at a much lower cost with higher benefits than the old way of doing business,”.

« Safety Through Technology: Now Is The Time

Operations and Technology Consulting Services »

It’s no wonder that propane companies throughout Canada and the United States invest so much time training employees on gas safety checks, leak checks, safety concerning the delivery and dispensing of propane and propane installation safety, among many others – technical and nontechnical – involving this industry.

Now is the time for technology to meet the safety needs of companies, clients and workers alike. For example: Automation and documentation not only protect companies from accidents and lawsuits, this same technology makes it easier for technicians and drivers to do their respective jobs with greater speed and convenience. For that technology ensures consistency of quality, and offers the necessary reliability regarding propane installation, service calls and quick record keeping on behalf of customers large and small.

That also means we have a duty to innovate, so we can free these people from the sea of paper – the tickets and receipts, the work orders and memoranda, the invoices and order slips – that threatens to prevent them from doing the very things they need to achieve and their clients expect to receive. Without technology that solves this problem, and absent the time to manually spot check every assignment and confirm the safety of every project, there is no way to ensure standards do not weaken or procedures do not worsen.

The risks are too great – and the liabilities are too substantial – for companies to leave customers so vulnerable to danger. Now is the time, therefore, to maximize the power of technology through the principal sources of technology: The mobile devices we use every day, in which a single application – call it the Ultimate Safety App – eliminates the drudgery of paperwork, identifies potential safety and maintenance challenges, enables a technician or driver to do a gas check or find a leak, and notifies a professional when a test is wrong or a client’s safety system fails.

This app should also alert management about specific safety matters, filing – and storing – all relevant paperwork as a digital record. That means there is no chance documents will go missing, or legal materials will suddenly vanish.

Picture, too, an interactive dashboard that highlights areas of trouble or instances of failure – and creates a schedule about those things requiring repair now, tomorrow, next week or next month. This digital safety manager would track everything, from doing and confirming spot checks during the course of other work a driver or technician may oversee to checking individual propane tanks, so everyone – such as owners of propane delivery companies, drivers, managers, operators and clients – can enjoy an unprecedented degree of safety.

There would even be records of each location, complemented by images of signed documents and ancillary materials.

This technology exists – we use this technology across Canada and the States – because it is the result of research by and from experts within the propane industry. Put another way, I feel – my colleagues feel – the collective pain of an environment that is too prone to error, too subject to threats, too open to danger, too risky overall.

Now is the time to put safety first.

Now is the time to advance the strength of the propane industry.

Now is the time to do an audit of this business, for the good of all, because the technology is available – the technology is affordable – for owners, drivers and technicians, in addition to clients both residential and commercial, who deserve the best.

The translation of that summons to safety is an opportunity for communication to thrive and collaboration to flourish, thanks to the power of technology that is easy to use, reliable to access and protective of the files people need.
This emphasis on safety through technology is at the forefront of how the propane industry can make mobile devices an indispensable part of safety. Indeed, the future of one depends on the proliferation of the other. That is, the more often we use these devices – and we use them a lot already – the more seamless the

transition will be, within our business, toward improved safety and efficiency.

We must seize this moment, since the dividends are too many to ignore and the immediate rewards are too substantial to deny.

The future is now.

« Tank Spotter App Targets The Propane Industry

Up-And-Coming Apps »

You don’t have to know anything about the propane industry to recognize that Tank Spotter could be an incredibly useful app for anyone in that line of business. It can help a sales staff find and manage new customers and help installation techs meet the stringent government safety requirements.

The app was developed by Bill Stomp, a war veteran who said he drew on his experience in military intelligence.

“The idea for this app comes from that world,” Stomp told me. “We would gather intel from our field guys – marines, seals, airplanes, satellites, etc. – and then ‘spot’ the enemy. In the fuel delivery industry we have field guys called drivers, techs, managers and sales people. They can ‘spot’ sales leads such as a competitor’s fuel tanks with the app.”

Tank Spotter’s home page presents a series of options for dealing with a company’s existing accounts and with potential new clients.

Let’s say an employee or manager is driving around their home area and they see a property with one or more propane tanks. Is it one of theirs? Does it belong to a competitor? Maybe it’s an opportunity to make a new sale.

To “spot” the tank, they open their mobile phone or tablet and click to the Tank Finder page. This page is the heart of the app. It lists the actions you can take when you have eyes on a tank. Users can log it as a sales lead, a safety or maintenance issue, or record it as one of your tanks and update the details associated with that installation.

A delivery driver or maintenance tech can use similar features for logging safety issue or a maintenance issues. The data is either sent immediately to the company’s central database or stored until the phone is within cell phone range, a useful feature in remote areas where many propane customers are located.

A section called View Tanks Spotted presents a map showing all the collected tanks, with color-coded pins to match the different types of reports. A competitor’s tank get one color, other colors are assigned to safety issues or sales prospects. The map can help the company plan and schedule sales calls or safety inspections to focus on a specific area.

Another useful feature is the Tank Docs section that lets users create digital versions of the various forms that a propane dealer has to fill out, file and store. An Estimator section includes tools for estimating pricing for a new account or create an invoice for a new or existing client. Users can also record meter readings leak checks and safety inspections.

Tank Spotter is a well-designed app that anyone with basic data-entry skills will be comfortable using. And, it’s an excellent example of how mobile technology can be put to work helping even the smallest business.

Tank Spotter is available to download in the Google Play Store For a closer look at how the app works, visit the Tank Spotter website and watch my video review below.

Online Source:GizmoEditor

« Dispatch with extreme…accuracy: mobilizing the use of mobile devices

Safety Through Technology: Now Is The Time »