In 2017, Jubin Frères SA, a family-run business specialising in fuel distribution in French-speaking Switzerland, took a decisive step: equipping all its petrol stations with remote tank monitoring. This transition enabled the company to move from manual stock management to a secure and seamless digital operation.

The challenge: gaining visibility over stock levels

“Before this roll-out, the lack of real-time data meant we had to carry out tedious manual checks to measure fuel levels in the tanks,” says Philippe Guédat, who works at Jubin Frères SA. Whilst telemetry is often used primarily for logistics and procurement, it was the finance department that was the initial driving force behind the project, with the aim of assigning an accurate financial value to fuel inventories.

Why Sensile Technologies?

According to Philippe Guédat, the decision was based on three key criteria:

• Ease of installation: “Unlike other taller, rigid probes, these sensors take up little space and are easy to install.”
• Cost control: “The investment is reasonable and, above all, as on-site maintenance is included in the service contract, there are no unexpected additional costs.”
• The suitability of the solution: “Above all, we were looking to measure fuel levels: this solution meets that need exactly, with a high degree of reliability.”

An intuitive platform and responsive support

Once the roll-out was complete, it was the day-to-day user experience that won us over. “The web platform allows us to manage things independently,” explains Philippe Guédat. “We can set-up new petrol stations ourselves – I did just that again recently – and request service calls in just a few clicks. Most of the time, everything is managed very simply via the portal.”

Another major benefit is the responsiveness of the support team: “If a sensor malfunctions, the Sensile team receive an alert and take immediate action. We don’t have to manage anything; we simply monitor the data.”

This responsiveness and centralised management were put to the test during the migrations linked to the phasing out of the 3G network in Switzerland. The gradual replacement of existing units with latest-generation 4G/Cat-M1 models was managed entirely via the Track Up™ platform. This tool enabled interventions to be planned in batches, tasks to be assigned to field technicians, and maintenance and installation operations to be digitalised, replacing paper-based processes to ensure smooth execution without any service disruption.

Streamlined and secure logistics

Nine years after the first installations, the results confirm that the initial objectives have been achieved. The installation of IIoT telemetry marked the end of manual readings and estimates, making way for decisions based on reliable data, shared with the transport partner. “The transport partner has direct access to the portal to optimise its restocking routes according to the stations’ actual needs,” explains Philippe Guédat.

Beyond the initial objective of improving the financial valuation of inventories, the project has enabled Jubin Frères SA to:

• Secure its supply chain by significantly reducing the risk of stock-outs
• Improve the efficiency of logistics operations
• Optimise cash flow by reducing overstocking

What began as a measurement tool has become a powerful management tool, bringing together financial control and operational agility.

Want to optimise your own network?

Do you manage a network of storage tanks for oil, gas or chemical products and want to find out how remote tank monitoring can be tailored to your specific needs? Our experts are available to discuss your challenges and show you how our solution can transform your inventory management.