Europump streamlines fleet fuelling with Jigsaw
Fuelling solutions provider Europump, which supplies and maintains the Jigsaw web-based fuel management systems, has outlined key features of the range.
It includes the Jigsaw Eclipse system, which has been installed extensively across the UK and Ireland, as well as Europe, Australia and Africa, and manages more than two billion litres of fuel per year, including for truck and van fleets.
“Used globally and applied to a vast range of commercial fleets operating in the bus, rail, aggregate, marina, aviation and logistics industries, Jigsaw is a proven and reliable fuel facility management system,” said Europump’s business development manager, Martyn Gent.
“The fuel management units are manufactured in Lancashire at Jigsaw’s head office where an expert engineer team monitors the system remotely around the clock.
“The biggest advantage of Jigsaw is its ability to support customers. Jigsaw requires nothing more than a web browser to access fleet fuelling data, much like online banking.
“All information is stored and available live on the central fuel management servers. The centralised web-based system gives us the ability to see exactly the same information as a customer without having to visit their site or compromise their network security by remotely viewing their PC.
“Any issues raised are, more often than not, resolved in the same phone call in minutes, rather than having to wait half a day for a man-in-a-van to turn up.”
Gent points out that the hardware can be retrofitted to existing fuel management units and mounts, integrated into diesel fuel pumps or placed on a standalone plinth. The hardware is very similar to what fuel island users are already used to; they wave a tag, the system prompts for mileage information, they select a pump and then fuel.
For the web user interface, says the firm, the refuelling system is broken down into key parts – Sites, Vehicles and People – ensuring everything is easy to find.
Additional features include a ‘Vision’ tiles page, with each tile aiming to answer a specific question posed by a fleet owner and presenting the answer as a clear picture.
Examples include: ‘Am I paying the best price for my fuel?’ The answer is found in the Fuel Purchase History Tile, which shows the price paid for fuel at each site compared to the refinery gate price. The prices paid should track and be about the same for each site, so sites paying the most for fuel immediately become obvious.
Another tile asks: ‘How’s my Fleet Performing?’ This tile groups the entire fleet into ‘swarms’, which should be roughly performing the same. Users can see at a glance any vehicle that stands out and, with one click of the mouse, view that vehicle’s entire fuelling history.
In addition, some tiles have been written specifically for particular market sectors. For example, one can be used in a bus depot to ensure that all vehicles have been refuelled on the overnight fuelling shift.
“Another great advantage of Jigsaw is that its web systems are maintenance-free,” added Gent.
“The customer doesn’t have a dedicated server to maintain on site to run the system, they don’t need to manage an intranet service, they don’t need to manage back-ups, there is no compromise of, or reliance on their own internal IT infrastructure; all they need is a web browser and login details.”
The real time, web-based fuel management system is fully MID approved, with or without a receipt printer. Further advantages highlighted include pulsed or serial pump interfaces for one to four pumps; self-contained network; real-time tank gauge interface; constant and multiple internal data back-ups; and battery-backed electronics.
Options available within the system as standard include data capture in miles, kilometres or hours with range checking. Entry can be by fleet type, registration, driver number and more industry relevant assets.
Users can be limited by fuel pump, volume and even specific times of the day. Access to the fuel can be controlled by tags, card readers, pin number entry and automated by incorporating the Teletag system.
Any company offering a fuel management system today needs to keep a watchful eye on the future of fuelling, contends Europump.
“This is happening at Europump and Jigsaw,” said Gent.
“We know, for example, that Jigsaw is working to interface with as many CNG dispensers as possible and is also working with the CNG/LNG equipment suppliers to make management of gas-powered vehicles as easy as it is for diesel.”
Europump can install and maintain the Jigsaw Eclipse, Nova, Teletag and Tank Guard fuel management systems. The firm can advise on which system best suits individual fleet fuelling and facility management requirements, and also offers a range of tank gauges for total fuel oil stock reconciliation between the tank level and the pump output.
