Operational costs are climbing as driver shortages push wages higher. And at the same time, expectations are rising – customers want faster, more reliable deliveries, often at short notice.
For many companies still reliant on paper processes and slow back-office cycles, the result is wasted time, tied-up cash, and lost opportunities.
DreamTec has spent more than two decades working with distributors to address these challenges. By combining mobile technology with existing flow meter investments, the company has helped streamline operations, strengthen cash flow, and sharpen competitive edge.
The approach is not just about delivering software, but about owning the implementation and partnering with businesses to ensure measurable results.
DreamTec has worked with many different distributors to implement tech solutions that have a significant impact on the bottom line. While individual customers are reluctant to share the details of such gains, DreamTec, has carried out its own research into the business impacts.
Here, CEO Paul Foley, guides us through the measurable outcomes of implementing tech solutions in key business areas.
Addressing the pressure points
i. Margin erosion
One of the biggest issues facing the sector is margin erosion. When a customer orders 1,000 litres but only receives 950, manual systems often default to charging the lower band price – a mistake that can cost distributors as much as £1,688 per tanker every year. DreamTec’s system eliminates this problem by linking matrix pricing directly to the electronic flow meter. The driver never inputs the quantity into the tablet, meaning invoices always reflect the correct price and credit notes become a thing of the past.
ii. Cash Flow
Cash flow is another pressure point. Traditional ticket handling and invoicing can take nearly a week, stretching debtor days to 40–65 and adding hundreds of pounds in financing costs per tanker annually. With DreamTec, drivers issue invoices on the spot, capture proof of delivery digitally, and process payments immediately. Customers walk away with an official invoice in hand, while accounts teams have instant visibility of the transaction. The impact on debtor days is immediate.
iii. Productivity
The productivity gains are equally significant. Paperwork consumes almost an hour of a driver’s working day, which across a fleet equates to thousands of wasted hours each year. The right software solution removes that burden.
Drivers focus solely on delivering fuel, supported by a single compliant print ticket for the customer and a complete digital record for the business. Freed from paperwork, fleets can achieve up to 12 per cent more delivery capacity, or maintain the same service levels with fewer vehicles.
iv. Customer service
Real-time visibility also transforms customer service. With “Live” dashboards showing tanker locations and stock levels throughout the day, managers can reroute deliveries on the fly to fulfil urgent orders. In one trial, simply increasing same-day deliveries by just one per cent added more than £18,000 in annual revenue per tanker. For customers, the ability to promise – and keep – a same-day delivery, is often the difference between retaining their business and losing them to a competitor.
v. Compliance
Compliance, too, becomes simpler. Instead of filing cabinets filled with delivery dockets, inspection reports, and signed PODs, DreamTec provides a complete digital audit trail. For distributors, that means less time preparing for inspections and lower risk of non-compliance costs.
H&S plays a major part in our system creating a digital twin to work along side the driver as they go through their trip, vehicle inspection, site inspection and live location information.
The pressures on fuel distribution are real and persistent, but so are the opportunities. By digitising workflows, automating pricing, and equipping drivers with smarter tools, distributors can turn inefficiency into profit and uncertainty into competitive advantage.
With typical returns on investment seen within 12–18 months, DreamTec’s message is clear: More than software, it’s a full partnership.
Image credit: Dreamtec
