Appalachian Utility Services Proactively Manages Fuel Risk & Theft

Overview

Appalachian Utility, based in Rush, Kentucky, is a storm restoration company dedicated to restoring power to communities affected by natural disasters. Despite being a relatively young company, they have quickly established a reputation for reliability and efficiency, deploying crews nationwide to address power outages caused by severe weather events. Partnering with RoadFlex, they have grown to 58 vehicles in a very short period of time.

Challenges

Operating in a highly dynamic environment, Appalachian Utility manages a fleet that needs to be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. However, as a new company, they had limited access to traditional credit with their previous Fuel card, making it difficult to manage expenses effectively.

With their previous fuel card, they faced several challenges:

• Lack of operational security: the previous solution was not able to ensure that their fuel and operational transactions were secure, especially in remote areas with no connectivity. There was no way to validate purchases and check that they were legitimate automatically.
• Lack of spend visibility: lack of reporting, accountability, and visibility since their previous solution did not offer real-time data. There was also an added layer of complexity due to the nature of drivers purchasing more than just fuel, including non-fuel spend and miscellaneous transactions (i.e. lodging, vehicle maintenance, supplies).
• Lack of expense reporting: the previous solution lacked the necessary tools to understand, review, and manage their expenses efficiently. This required countless hours of manual work to put together expense reports and customize them accordingly. Our customer was seeking a single-card solution that could address these issues while meeting the business expense requirements of their entire team.
• Poor customer service: for the previous solution, it took hours for the customer to just get a hold of a customer service representative and the issues were left unresolved.

Solution

Appalachian Utility partnered with RoadFlex to overcome these challenges. RoadFlex provided a comprehensive fuel management solution that included both physical and virtual fuel cards, advanced fraud prevention, advanced AI analytics and real-time management capabilities.

The implementation of RoadFlex’s solutions was seamless and efficient. Robust purchasing controls allowed Appalachian Utility’s workers to receive fuel cards that could be customized to specific needs, such as purchasing fuel, DEF fluid, hotel accommodations, and meals. Additionally, RoadFlex’s system reports to credit bureaus, helping Appalachian Utility build their credit profile over time.

RoadFlex’s ability to issue Virtual Cards instantly, which is compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay, was crucial for Appalachian Utility Services. This proved invaluable during a critical incident when all of Appalachian Utility’s fuel cards were stolen. The virtual cards can be assigned with a few clicks and the drivers can add them to their phones and start using them immediately.

RoadFlex’s AI-powered advanced analytics and reporting capabilities provide real-time analysis on driver and vehicle performance, in addition to automatically blocking suspicious transactions. This was invaluable in helping prevent any unauthorized purchases when their fuel cards were stolen.

Results

Appalachian Utility is one of the fastest-growing storm restoration contractors in the Midwest. The partnership with RoadFlex yielded significant benefits for Appalachian Utility, including:

• Advanced Reporting and Analytics: RoadFlex’s platform provides detailed reports and analytics, offering insights into fuel usage and expenses.
• Cost Savings: Appalachian Utility is optimistic about the opportunity to save on fuel and administrative costs, up to 11% annually, which could allow them to allocate more resources towards expanding their reach and improving their services.
• Increased visibility into spend along with robust purchasing controls. The Appalachian Utility team’s management and accounting teams have saved countless hours on admin tasks by using RoadFlex’s customizable expense reports that integrate with their accounting software to close books faster.
• Enhanced Security: RoadFlex’s fraud prevention measures and real-time management capabilities provided an added layer of security.
• Operational Continuity: When their fuel cards were stolen, RoadFlex’s immediate response and the issuance of virtual cards ensured that operations continued without interruption.

RoadFlex Is A Partner With Skin In the Game

The collaboration between Appalachian Utility and RoadFlex is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships.

RoadFlex’s innovative solutions and unwavering support have been instrumental in Appalachian Utility’s ability to operate efficiently and securely, even in the face of significant challenges.

As Appalachian Utility continues to grow, their partnership with RoadFlex remains a cornerstone of their success, ensuring they are always ready to restore power and bring hope to communities in the aftermath of disasters.