CASE STUDY

Folger Gas

Folger Gas is a third-generation family-owned propane business based in North Georgia. From the full-service company’s three offices, its 40 employees meet the propane needs of approximately 12,000 residential and commercial customers throughout North Georgia, Southeast Tennessee, and the southwestern regions of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Industry

Energy

Business Type

Propane

Software Solution

Cargas Energy

Folger Gas Logo

Cargas Energy Boosts Efficiency and Provides Unprecedented Support

Cargas Energy Helps Folger Gas…

  • Keep up with demand in a fast-growing market
  • Align operations across all locations
  • Optimize delivery drivers’ time
  • Elevate the customer experience

CHALLENGES

Disparate Technology Platforms That Hindered Efficiency

According to co-owner Kim Folger, Folger Gas lacked uniformity in its IT systems across its locations. “I wanted things to be aligned across the board in our offices and IT platforms, but I hadn’t taken the steps to move everything under the same umbrella.”

Relying on disparate systems that were not connected to each other, Folger Gas struggled to achieve the operational efficiency they strived for.

“When you have so many different pieces involved, everybody’s going to point the finger at someone else. No one is going to take ownership of the problem. Small roadblocks would stop us for a day or two. And you can’t run a business like that.”

Folger said that customer service was the driving force for exploring another energy software solution. “I need a team that will stand behind me. One day, I responded to a sales email from Cargas Energy.”

SOLUTIONS

A Comprehensive, Connected Solution Backed by Exemplary Customer Service

Folger said the Cargas Energy sales team impressed her with their thoroughness. “They gave us an amazing overview of everything and took the time to understand what’s unique about our area.”

She explained that while the software’s capabilities and approach to customer support influenced the decision to switch to Cargas Energy, she also examined the financial impact.  “The reputation was that it’s expensive…great…but expensive. But when making the decision to leave our other solution and switch to Cargas Energy, I broke down my costs and found it cost-effective.”

In June 2023, the migration to Cargas Energy went live.

Some of the Cargas Energy modules, features, and integrations Folger Gas uses to streamline operations and meet customer demand in multiple service areas include:

According to Folger, “The implementation was great overall. In general, implementations are a painful process, but working with the right people makes it as easy as it can possibly be.”

BENEFITS

Company-Wide Consistency and Reliable Support to Fuel Growth

The Cargas Energy solution is helping Folger Gas keep up with increased customer demand. Folger said the company serves a geographic area where the building industry has been booming, escalating the need for propane in recent years.

“We are really, really comfortable with where we are with Cargas Energy, and we’re starting to really embrace all that we can do with it,” shared Folger. She said Cargas Energy has enabled Folger Gas to build on its efficiency by providing company-wide consistency.

For example, she said the ability to use the same tablets regardless of location or service area makes communicating and troubleshooting simpler. Moreover, Folger said the tablets they use with Cargas Energy cost far less than those used with their previous solution, “The other tablets cost about $2,600 apiece. And we run 11 service teams, so it was very expensive.”

According to Folger, mobile delivery is a lot smoother — a game-changer for the company’s on-call drivers because with Cargas Energy and Otodata tank monitors, they have easy access to more information than ever before.

“It’s been life-changing for our drivers. It has made our routes more efficient and has probably saved us at least one body and one truck.”

– Kim Folger, Co-Owner, Folger Gas

Other tools that help streamline Folger Gas’s operations and enhance the customer experience include Cargas Energy’s intuitive interface, Cargas Pay for seamless payment processing, and a user-friendly online customer portal.

“Having everything all connected with Cargas Energy is easier for everyone,” Folger said. “You can build on Cargas.”

“It’s all about the relationships. I appreciate the relationships I’ve made and the way the Cargas people I work with have taken an interest in what we do and how we do it.”

– Kim Folger, Co-Owner, Folger Gas

Folger shared that they are working on incorporating more integrations and automation to further elevate efficiency.

Recently, the Cargas Energy team completed an integration with TekCollect (an accounts receivable management company) to enable Folger Gas to collect on past-due customer payments more easily. “It will help improve cash flow by turning customers over to TekCollect when they hit 90 days after non-payment.”

In the near future, the company will convert to QuickBooks online and take advantage of that integration with Cargas Energy. Folger also said they will implement Cargas Energy’s text messaging functionality to automate notifications to customers to inform them of fuel delivery and service events.

Folger said Cargas Energy makes communicating easy, and she values the reliable, responsive support she receives: “My people are learning to send tickets. And I know that if anything becomes a roadblock, I can email the Cargas team for a quick response.”

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