TSG Solutions is claiming to be the first epos provider to launch an automated reporting system to help forecourts comply with the government’s Fuel Finder scheme which is less than three weeks away from going live.
From February 2, fuel retailers will be legally required to report petrol and diesel price increases within 30 minutes of making a change: with the data being available to motorists via apps and websites.
Delays in the registration process has led to the government taking a relaxed approach in the first three months of the scheme’s operation, promising to assist operators, rather than issue penalties. But after this, operators face penalties equivalent to 30% of their turnover for the most serious breaches of not complying.
The idea is that Fuel Finder will give motorists greater transparency on prices, and introduce more competition in the market. But operators are concerned that human error, or events out of their control, could land them in difficulties with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which will enforce the scheme.
Last year, EdgePetrol announced its service to automatically update the central aggregator VE3 Global of forecourts’ fuel price changes. It says that “a number of operators” wanting to rid themselves of the burden of keeping on top of this added admin have signed up.
And TSG’s recently appointed head of sales retail & systems Simon Burnett says that his company’s software, which will send data via the official API link, provides “no manual input, no chasing deadlines; just seamless reporting”.
Available from February 1, the TSG software integrates with the company’s Prizma epos system, formerly known as FuelPOS, for an undisclosed one-off installation fee and a “small monthly support charge”.
Before activation, retailers must register for Fuel Finder and provide TSG with their API key. Once prices are transmitted to Fuel Finder, the system generates a confirmation report for the retailer. This provides clear proof that updates have been sent successfully, removing any doubt and giving forecourts full visibility for due diligence, says Burnett.
The software runs in the background so that all the retailer will see is a report once prices have been sent, he adds, reducing administrative burden and freeing up time for running the business.
For busy forecourts, manual updates via web portals, short message service (SMS) or interactive voice response (IVR) are “far from ideal”, says Burnett, particularly as price changes can take place several times a day.
“We are excited to bring this solution to market,” he adds. ”It is designed to make life easier for retailers and ensure they stay compliant without the stress of manual reporting. This is about giving forecourts confidence and control as the industry moves into a new era of transparency.”
“Fuel Finder promises clarity for consumers and competition for the market. For retailers, it demands speed and accuracy. With TSG’s automated solution, compliance becomes effortless, and peace of mind comes as standard.”
The Edge Fuel Finder solution meanwhile, announced in June, will alert the retailer if there are issues with connectivity or compliance, and if a key competitor has changed its price. Also, it says that every update is time-stamped, giving retailers a defensible audit trail should they receive an investigation from the CMA.
Its software is compatible with Madic and CBE epos systems. Also VME POS price integration has been completed, and other epos providers are still to confirm uptake. The cost to the retailer is from £20 + VAT per month per site for existing EdgePetrol customers, or it is available at £40 + VAT per site as a standalone option. Operators signing up before the end of January will receive their first month of Edge Fuel Finder for free.
Penny Petroleum is among its customers. Its head of finance Paul Frater says: “By trusting EdgePetrol with Penny Petroleum’s price reporting for the Fuel Finder scheme, we’ve removed a major operational burden while gaining confidence in our compliance. The built-in audit trail provides essential protection in the event of an investigation, and the competitor pole price change alerts will help with our pricing decisions.”
