Optimizing Propane Distribution with a Comprehensive IT Solution

The Challenge

As one of the largest propane and fuel delivery providers in North America, the client operates an extensive fleet and serves millions of residential and commercial customers. As the business grew, operational challenges compounded across inventory management, dispatching, field service efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Five issues stood out: seasonal demand variability (weather-driven demand spikes caused shortages in peak months and excess stock off-peak), inefficient dispatching (no skills-to-job matching led to repeat visits), SLA breaches across customer tiers, vehicle downtime and missed deliveries from poor fleet maintenance, and staffing shortages during peak demand that drove up overtime.

The Approach

Rather than patch one system, Coredrive implemented a fully integrated IT solution spanning the whole operation, parts availability, technician skills matching, SLA monitoring, fleet management, and shift scheduling. The team started with the most expensive recurring problem: technicians making extra trips because parts weren’t stocked where they were needed.

The Solution

• Parts availability in proximity: a real-time, IoT-sensor-driven inventory system tracking part availability at the service centers closest to delivery zones, with predictive analytics stocking frequently needed parts ahead of seasonal demand.
• Skills-based technician dispatching: a workforce management platform with a technician skills database, automating dispatch by qualification to improve first-time fix rates.
• SLA monitoring and alerts: real-time monitoring with proactive breach alerts, prioritizing service commitments for priority customers during peak periods.
• Truck and equipment availability: a fleet management system keeping trucks maintained on schedule with real-time availability tracking.
• Shift management optimization: predictive demand forecasting to align staffing with peak periods.

The Results

Operational Efficiency

Customer Satisfaction & SLA Compliance

Cost Savings & Workforce Efficiency