6 Ways The Internet of Things is Changing Truckstop and Travel Plaza Operations
Equipment and devices are becoming increasingly connected to each other as part of the Internet of Things (IoT)—a massive network of connected systems, devices and people—and the ability to access and transmit data quickly and automatically is changing the way businesses operate.
For truckstops and travel plazas, the Internet of Things is connecting physical items within their locations, including signage, fuel pumps and coolers, and greater access to information and increased connectivity is helping them improve operations.
Here are six ways the Internet of Things is changing the way 黑料社区members operate.
Shops
IoT is changing the way fleets operate and the types of maintenance services they need. In new Class 8 trucks, vehicles can transmit any fault code detected within the engine back to dispatchers, which can then make the decision if the cause of the fault code is a minor issue that can be repaired after the route is finished or it’s a major issue that needs to be repaired on the road.
“A lot of times we’ll get a phone call saying, ‘I’m sending the truck to you at 2:00 and here are the issues.’ They’re telling us what those fault codes and issues before they get to us,” said Charles Bosselman, president of Bosselman Inc. “When you know coming in what the problem is, it is a lot quicker to fix it.”
That can make technicians more efficient, Bosselman said, and give them more opportunities to provide additional services. “Not every issue with a truck is going to show up on a fault code. It isn’t going to know when a mud flap is loose or a bracket is broken,” he said. “Having that truck come in and servicing those issues that have been diagnosed give us an opportunity to look it over and see if anything else is going on.”
While technology is changing the way shops operate, repairing a truck is never going to be as simple as plugging it into the computer and discovering everything that is wrong, Bosselman explained. “We see problems or potential future problems that we can bring to light,” he said. “We can say, ‘I know you brought it in because your fault code said it was due for an oil change, but we noticed when we were underneath here you have a busted bracket where the shock is connected or it is about to break.’”
Equipment
Connectivity is increasingly allowing operators to monitor a variety of equipment, ranging from refrigerators to fuel pumps. As a result, they can catch and diagnose problems early, which could lead to significant time and cost savings. For example, some technology allows operators to monitor ovens or cooking equipment from their smart phones or monitor energy usage and heating and air conditioning equipment, which can reduce maintenance costs as well as the risk of failure.
Security
Broadway Truck Stops has a security system that it can monitor remotely. “We can look in at the security cameras at any of our locations and review events that happen there either in real time or that happened in the past,” said Damon Borden, operations manager for The Broadway Group.
Signage
Digital menu boards, which can be easily updated and changed via the internet, allow operators to take advantage of daypart pricing. “I think there is an opportunity for our members to grow sales and revenue with daypart pricing,” said Darren Schulte, vice president of membership for NATSO. “Do they need to sell a croissant sandwich at 11:00 at the same price that they do at 4:00? It could be worth selling it out so they don’t waste it.”
Daypart pricing could also allow operators to promote different items when they’re busy versus when they are slow, Schulte said. “I think digital pricing and digital menu boards will require our members to take a much harder look at pricing than they have before,” he said.
Point-of-Sale
Speed is a top priority for truckstop and travel plaza customers, and today’s point-of-sale systems don’t always allow cashiers to ring up items from multiple profit centers at one cash register. “Someone might pay for a Subway sandwich in one place but have to go to a different counter to pay for a drink from the cooler. The point-of-sale systems don’t always do everything,” Schulte said.
Locations could consider adding Square technology at each pay point, which will allow customers to avoid waiting in a second line.
IoT is also enabling ordering kiosks that communicate directly with the kitchen. “Customers can order whatever they want off of a menu board,” Schulte said. “When the person is able to order their own stuff, you may take away the potential opportunity from the upsell, but on the flip side, a digital machine also gives customers the opportunity to order exactly what they want—an extra piece or cheese—because they aren’t worried about being judged.”
Going forward IoT could make ordering food while at the pump or at a different profit center within the location easier.
Forecourt Media Applications
Merchants are increasingly looking for ways to reach their customers with targeted messaging and relevant advertising, said Luke Grant, a general manager for Gilbarco Veeder Root. Audiovisual media applications for the dispenser, such as Gilbarco’s Applause TV with VNET, can help operators engage customers and promote in-store merchandise. Operators can use the internet to send content to the devices.
Photo credit: Amy Toner/NATSO
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