Case Study: Curoil

In Short:

• Curoil’s order-to-invoice workflow was inefficient because it was paper-based.
• ATEXSHOP.com helped Curoil in digitizing their order-to-invoice process.
• This led to increased productivity and workflow efficiency for Curoil, also resulting in fewer errors in the order-to-invoice process.

 

 

Introduction

Curoil supplies fuel on Curaçao. They refuel aircraft at Hato Airport and supply gas stations across the island. It’s a big operation — 23 tanker trucks, lots of deliveries, and a lot of moving parts.

ATEXSHOP.com (part of COBIC-Ex) helped them move from a paper-based workflow to a fully automated, end-to-end digital system. And honestly? It started with a simple request for a tablet.

 

 

Problem

The order-to-invoice process was inefficient and error-prone. Here’s what it looked like:

1. A customer ordered fuel.
2. A driver headed out with the tanker.
3. At the delivery point, the driver manually read the flow meter, recorded the figures on a paper docket, and handed the customer a paper proof of delivery.
4. Back at the office, someone re-entered all that data into the billing system by hand.

That’s a lot of room for error. Meter readings get misread. Dockets get lost. Disputes happen. And there’s no real-time visibility into what’s happening in the field.

On top of that, all equipment used around fuel tankers must be ATEX-certified — rated safe for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

 

 

 

 

Solution

 

It started when Curoil’s local partner reached out to ATEXSHOP.com (part of COBIC-Ex) for an ATEX tablet. Instead of just shipping the hardware, we took a step back and looked at the full picture. What’s the actual workflow here? Where does it break down?

We mapped out the entire process — from the moment a customer places an order to the moment the invoice goes out. Then we built a solution around it.

Here’s how it works now:

• The order comes in. The customer orders fuel through the Curoil web portal. The order is automatically dispatched to the right truck and driver via the Smartflow platform.
• The driver gets notified. On his ATEX-certified tablet, he receives the order with all the details. No phone calls, no printed job sheets.
• The meter reads itself. This was the big one. The fuel meter on the tanker is connected to the tablet via an intrinsically safe Bluetooth link. When the driver makes a delivery, the meter readings are captured automatically — straight into the system. No manual data entry.

This wasn’t easy to pull off. The EMR 3 flow meter was designed to output data to a printer via RS232 — not to a digital platform. We had to reverse-engineer the communication protocol to make it work. Several ATEX-rated Bluetooth converters were tested before we found the right one to safely bridge that signal.

• The customer signs on the spot. After the delivery, the customer signs a digital proof of delivery directly on the driver’s tablet. A hard copy is printed wirelessly on the Zebra printer in the truck, and a signed copy is emailed to the customer simultaneously.
• It works offline too. No mobile signal at the delivery location? No problem. Data is stored securely on the tablet and syncs automatically once connectivity is restored. Stock levels, invoicing, everything updates on its own.

 

Result and Impact

All 23 tankers were digitised in one go. The entire order-to-invoice workflow is now automated and fully traceable.

Meter readings are captured accurately at source — eliminating manual data entry and the errors that come with it. Customers receive their proof of delivery on the spot. The back office processes everything in real time.

And because every step is logged, the process is fully auditable. Curoil has complete visibility into what happened, when, and by whom. That’s a big deal in a regulated, safety-critical industry.

What started as “can you get us a tablet?” turned into something much more valuable.

The integrated system has made Curoil’s entire operation more efficient, more accurate, more productive and more transparent.

Countless hours have been saved by the digitization process, and way fewer errors have been made because of it, resulting in a significant decrease in operational costs.

 

 

 

Sequel

After successfully using the i.Safe Mobile IS520.1 devices for several years, Curoil showed interest in the transition to newer and up-to-date devices

We are helping Curoil with the selection of the right smartphones that can be integrated as a plug-and-play solution into the existing system, leading to a smooth transition and optimal workflow efficiency.

Wondering what we can do for your workflow? Contact us at sales@cobic-ex.com