Gas Station Management : The Impact of Connected Sensors

The gas station industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by technological advancements and the digitalization of infrastructure. With the rise of alternative fuels, increasing logistical complexity, and the need for more efficient tank management, optimizing gas station management has become a critical challenge. Recently, several major oil companies have announced significant investments in connected technologies to enhance gas station management, monitor fuel levels, and reduce operational costs. For example, in 2024, TotalEnergies selected Siemens’ MindSphere, an industrial IoT as a service solution, to monitor and analyze data across its network of Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) refueling stations. This initiative aims to connect over 50 stations across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, enabling remote monitoring and service scheduling.

Connected sensors now significantly improve stock visibility, automate tank monitoring, and optimize delivery planning. This technological revolution offers both economic and environmental benefits by reducing losses and enhancing operational efficiency.

The gas station market is rapidly evolving due to several major transformations. While traditional fuels like gasoline and diesel still dominate, the rise of alternatives such as compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, and electricity is forcing a swift adaptation of infrastructure. This diversification brings about complex logistical challenges, particularly in storage and demand forecasting.

Gas stations must now manage multiple energy types, each with unique constraints. Unlike liquid fossil fuels stored in standard tanks, gaseous fuels like CNG or hydrogen require pressurized tanks and specialized infrastructure. Meanwhile, electric charging stations alter station dynamics, requiring longer vehicle stops and different energy consumption patterns.

This shift forces station operators to rethink their business models and supply strategies. Consumption forecasts become more complex, varying based on location, customer type (light vehicles or heavy trucks), and local regulations.

Fuel consumption is influenced by numerous external factors: fluctuations in oil prices, government regulations, economic crises, and changing mobility habits. A surge in demand can occur suddenly if oil prices rise, prompting motorists to refuel in advance. Conversely, reduced traffic due to remote work or mobility restrictions can slow down station activity and lead to overstocking.

Operators must therefore manage inventory dynamically and adjust their supplies according to market fluctuations. This variability complicates logistics and requires more flexible and responsive solutions.

Poorly managed inventory can directly impact a gas station’s profitability. A supply shortage leads to immediate revenue loss and damages customer loyalty. A station running out of fuel risks losing customers to competitors, affecting long-term traffic.

On the other hand, excess stock represents a significant cost. Fuel stored for too long can degrade, requiring careful shelf-life management. Additionally, the financial immobilization caused by excessive storage reduces investment capacity, making efficient inventory flow crucial to limit unnecessary costs.

Optimizing stock management requires better demand forecasting and more precise replenishment planning. Efficient management reduces logistics costs and ensures consistent product availability. To achieve this, operators must analyze consumption trends, monitor market fluctuations, and adjust orders based on actual needs.

Connected technologies play a key role here by providing real-time data on fuel levels and facilitating automated ordering. Instead of relying on fixed delivery schedules based on estimates, stations can adjust their supplies using accurate data, minimizing waste and shortages.

The integration of connected sensors in fuel tanks provides a precise view of storage levels. These devices continuously measure available volumes and transmit the information to operators via a centralized platform.

Thanks to these technologies, stations can fine-tune their orders by considering consumption variations, weather forecasts, and economic trends. They also help optimize supplier delivery routes by grouping supplies based on actual needs, reducing logistics costs and the carbon footprint associated with fuel transportation.

Four Data provides an innovative solution tailored to the needs of gas station operators. Its sensor, specially designed for ATEX environments, ensures precise monitoring of tank levels. Designed to operate safely in high-risk environments, this sensor collects multiple daily readings and securely stores the data.

The Four Data system enables automatic data transmission to a gas station management platform, where operators can remotely monitor tank levels and anticipate refueling needs. This automation reduces human error and guarantees optimal stock management accuracy.

The Four Data sensor is ATEX-certified, ensuring compliance with the highest safety standards. Installation is carried out by expert technicians trained for sensitive environments. Used for several years in well-known networks such as Avia and TotalEnergies, it has proven its robustness and reliability.

By integrating this technology, gas station operators benefit from better stock visibility, optimized delivery routes, and reduced costs associated with planning errors. Improved predictability also enables more sustainable resource management by minimizing unnecessary trips and optimizing energy consumption related to fuel transportation.

With continuous fuel level monitoring, gas station operators can accurately anticipate replenishment orders, avoiding emergency situations and unexpected shortages. This approach enables better delivery planning and optimizes tank occupancy based on seasonal demand and consumption trends.

The use of connected sensors also allows for better resource allocation, particularly by reducing unnecessary fuel truck trips. By grouping deliveries according to real needs rather than a fixed schedule, logistics costs and the environmental impact of fuel transportation can be minimized.

The increasing use of connected sensors in gas station management is part of a broader trend of energy sector and distribution digitalization. The collection and analysis of data from these sensors help optimize infrastructure management, improve forecast accuracy, and ensure supply levels that match actual consumer needs.

The flexibility provided by these technologies paves the way for more efficient and environmentally friendly gas station management models. By minimizing waste and optimizing resources, gas stations can not only improve profitability but also reduce their ecological footprint. Stricter environmental regulations require operators to find innovative solutions to minimize fuel losses and limit CO₂ emissions.

The integration of connected sensors aligns economic and environmental goals by promoting more responsible management and reducing unnecessary losses. With a clear, real-time view of fuel levels, distributors can adjust logistics to minimize their operations’ carbon footprint.

The impact of connected sensors on gas station management is significant. By providing better stock visibility, optimizing deliveries, and reducing operational costs, these devices have become strategic tools for operators. With solutions like those from Four Data, gas stations are entering a new era of intelligent management—more precise, safer, and more sustainable.

The future of gas station management depends on technological innovation and the integration of connected solutions to address performance, sustainability, and logistical efficiency challenges. The digital transformation underway in the sector will continue to accelerate, bringing significant benefits to both operators and end consumers.