The kit aims to address the operational challenges of emergency deliveries, route inefficiencies, and customer runouts by providing a streamlined, low-barrier entry point into remote tank monitoring.
Jake Swanson, International Account Manager at FoxInsights, spoke with Margaret Major, Fuel Oil News, to explain how the starter kit is addressing distributor challenges – helping smaller businesses to reduce costs, take control of deliveries, and gain peace of mind.
“Distributors operating without real-time tank level data often face unpredictable customer orders,” Jake explains. “This leads to inefficient routing and costly last-minute deliveries that cut into already tight margins.”
According to FoxInsights, these challenges are particularly acute for smaller companies with limited delivery resources and margin pressures. The new starter kit provides a means of moving from reactive to proactive logistics management.
What is included
26 FoxPressure Sensors (minimum order quantity)
Designed for easy installation, these pressure-based sensors provide tank fill-level data in real time.
FoxPortal access
A cloud-based dashboard where distributors can monitor tank levels across all installations.
Optional FoxMobile App
A white-label mobile application for end users to monitor their own tank levels and consumption history.
The sensors integrate with FoxInsights’ backend systems and use a forecasting algorithm developed from over 300 million data points to help anticipate consumption trends.
“Most suppliers already know about remote tank monitoring – but they assume it’s too complex or too costly to implement,” Jake says. “Optimisation through transparency starts with the very first installed device. That’s exactly why we created the Fox Starter Set.”
Scalability
Unlike previous offerings that required large-scale initial deployments, the company’s starter set is designed with scalable adoption in mind. Distributors can begin by targeting specific customer segments or geographic areas, with the infrastructure built to scale up as operational needs evolve.
Jake notes, “Many of our partners begin by focusing on specific regions, customer types, or high-margin product segments. Once they see the benefits, scaling is easy.”
The system is also compatible with a wide range of liquid products, including heating oil, diesel, lubricants, and AdBlue.
Deployment and support
FoxInsights describe installation as “requiring minimal technical expertise”, and the onboarding process is supported by self-service documentation. The system is designed for plug-and-play functionality, to reduce implementation time and cost.
Connectivity and data transmission
Data from the FoxPressure sensors is transmitted via GSM/2G, NB-IoT, CAT-M, and Wi-Fi standards. These options offer flexibility depending on the deployment environment and ensure reliable data delivery to the FoxPortal dashboard.
Reliability and maintenance
Distributors need to have confidence in tank monitoring systems – something which was not always a given in the early days of telemetry deployment. Jake explains how the technology has evolved significantly to ensure that the latest generations of monitors deliver both reliability and consistent results.
“FoxPressure sensors are IP68 certified, offering durability in challenging conditions. The battery life is rated at over 10 years in lab tests and typically exceeds 5 years in the field and maintenance is straightforward, with battery replacement achievable by loosening six screws.”
The company also highlights high system reliability and support responsiveness. A Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) score of 100% is reported, and support ticket resolution times show a median of just 6 hours and 18 minutes with typically only one response required indicating a high first resolution rate. FoxInsights also maintains the largest bearing table database in the market, contributing to accurate volume calculations.
Handling connectivity loss or sensor Issues
If connectivity is lost, the system automatically attempts reconnection using fallback options, such as alternative connectivity. If this fails, customers are notified proactively via the app and receive automated support to resolve the issue. Customers also have full access to the support team.
Sensor failures are addressed based on the nature of the issue, with remote assistance and advice frequently able to resolve the issue. Devices under warranty that are confirmed defective through the RMA process are replaced.
Data privacy and integration
In response to our questions regarding cybersecurity, FoxInsights confirms full GDPR compliance, with all telemetry data stored on EU servers. For companies using existing logistics platforms, FoxInsights provides an API to enable integration of tank data into existing delivery software or fleet management systems.
Benefits
We asked Jake for any available case studies or metrics that show the return on investment or efficiency gains enjoyed because of system adoption. Despite being unable to share detailed insights from partners companies, Jake was able to confirm that both the data and partner feedback does show increases in tank utilisation, resulting in longer delivery intervals and subsequently lower costs.
- Fewer emergency or unplanned deliveries
- Optimised routing based on known tank levels
- Increased customer satisfaction and retention due to fewer runouts
- Improved forecasting accuracy through data accumulation
“Right from the start, companies and their customers gain full visibility over tank levels, which results in fewer emergency orders and better planning,” Jake adds.
Image credit: FoxInsights
