The distribution and warehousing giants first invested in a Merridale fuel pump back in 1995 at their Newmarket depot. This same pump is still in use today, alongside a slightly newer Auditor FS which was installed in 2002. In all, across 5 different sites, H W Coates have installed the entire range of legacy Merridale pumps and fuel management systems and have since started installing their latest Merridale MX range for newer sites.
Until recently, H W Coates used Merridale’s older fuel management software, FuelFX, to monitor and report on pump usage and tank status across their five sites. Although this is still capable of fulfilling many fleet operators’ requirements, it has since been surpassed by Merridale’s FuelWorks web-based software. Unlike FuelFX, which lead the way as the first Windows-based fuel management software in 1995, Merridale FuelWorks can be accessed from anywhere in the world using an internet connected device.
Merridale’s web-based FuelWorks reporting software is the software of choice when it comes to gathering, managing and reporting accurate fuelling data to fleet operators in the UK. With FuelWorks being accessible through any standard web browser, the flexibility and accessibility enjoyed by the end user is enhanced. There is no need for software to be installed onto office computers and the customer can avoid extensive training, security, and backup issues. Following nearly three decades of using FuelFX, H W Coates has taken the step to upgrade to FuelWorks.
Neil Buck of H W Coates told us “The upgrade has gone really well, we are very happy with the new setup. It is definitely an improvement on the old software and makes things much easier, we don’t have any restrictions with accessing and sharing reports and there seems to be much more depth to it.”
With the software being securely hosted by Merridale and accessible online using a dedicated username and password, there is often no requirement for IT departments to be involved in the setup. Customers also like the ability to access their fuel management software on their mobile phones and tablets, ideal if they are offsite and need to make a quick amendment or check some data.
“We used to only have access to the software on the one office computer but now I can allow access to anyone who has a smart device. Just the other day, I was able to create a live report for someone and leave it ready for them to access when they next log on. Before, I’d have needed to print that off or export it as a document and email it to them. Small things make your day easier sometimes.”
H W Coates were able to take advantage of FuelWorks’ enhanced benefits without having to worry about the huge initial cost of replacing their existing equipment. Although their new Merridale MX installations were already compatible with the new software, H W Coates’ inventory of older Merridale pumps were able to be upgraded rather than replaced. The housing units on Merridale’s products are designed to ensure that internal components are easily accessible for maintenance and repair, as well as being easy to update rather than having to replace the whole system.
For any fleet operators considering fuel management systems or an upgrade to their current installations, Merridale’s sales team are happy to discuss any requirements and arrange a demonstration of the web-based software using Microsoft Teams. This gives potential users the opportunity to view the software, see the capabilities and understand how the technology could help to improve their fuel control process.
To find out how Merridale FuelWorks could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.
