19.11.2024
Fire Up Gas Cylinder Sales with Smart Lockers
Picture this: It’s peak barbecue season, and a customer rushes into your store, eager to exchange an empty gas cylinder. But instead of a smooth, fast transaction, your staff is caught up managing a long line, searching for keys, or informing frustrated customers that stock is out. This scenario can create inefficiencies and hurt customer satisfaction.
Now, imagine offering a solution where your customers order online, receive a PIN code, and pick up the gas cylinder from a smart locker at their convenience: no queues, no stock shortages, no hassle for your staff.
That future is now, thanks to Punta’s smart gas cylinder exchange lockers.
Streamlining Gas Cylinder Management
Punta is one of the first in Europe to introduce smart lockers that function like vending machines—only the products are gas cylinders. Positioned between manual key lockers and fully automated systems, Punta’s smart lockers monitor stock levels in real-time, reducing the need for constant oversight by your staff. Outdoor smart lockers are accessible basically always, 24 / 7.
“One of Punta’s customers in the Baltics, who operates 200 lockers, reported saving around seven minutes of labor per gas cylinder. During peak summer periods, they refill the lockers multiple times a week, selling upwards of 4,000 cylinders. Over the summer, those saved minutes translate into significant cost reductions,” explains Marko Siiskonen, Product Owner, Unplugged Online Technology.
Bridging Manual and Automated Systems
Currently, the gas cylinder exchange market consists of two primary solutions: traditional manual key lockers and fully automated systems with robotic mechanisms. However, these robotic systems are costly, require high power consumption, and involve complex payment terminals, making them complex to operate.
Punta’s outdoor smart lockers offer a more practical alternative. They automate the customer experience without the high price tag or operational complexity of robotic systems. The lockers are manually restocked but handle all customer-facing functions, allowing for a seamless exchange while minimizing overhead.
“It all started with a petrol station chain in Estonia that wanted to enhance its service. With just a few staff members on-site, handling traditional lockers was inefficient. We developed a solution to automate this process, which has been a resounding success. It’s now a growing market for us and showcases our ability to innovate and adapt,” says Anssi Suominen, Chief of Business Development.
Built for Efficiency, Durability and Safety
While the overall concept resembles parcel lockers, gas lockers require unique design adjustments to ensure safety and durability. For instance, each compartment features plastic sliders for smooth cylinder loading and retrieval. Additional ventilation ensures that any potential gas leakage is safely managed.
The lockers also include plastic stoppers and double steel walls to withstand the wear and tear of frequent use. This protects against damage when steel cylinders are repeatedly loaded and unloaded, ensuring longevity, even in high-traffic locations.
Lockers can be installed individually or in clusters at various locations, such as warehouses or retail stores. If a particular size or type of cylinder is unavailable, staff can use an integrated application to check nearby locker locations for availability. The system even automates this for customers who order online, guiding them to the closest available gas cylinder.
A Seamless Customer Experience
Punta’s system is designed with the retailer in mind, offering easy integration with existing in-store technology. Android-based handheld devices, such as the Zebra scanner, allow your staff to quickly select whether the customer is buying, exchanging, or returning a gas cylinder.
Once a transaction is selected, the device generates a PIN code for the customer, who then uses it to retrieve their cylinder from the locker. From entering the code to opening the locker, the entire process takes just 15 seconds, minimizing staff involvement and boosting customer satisfaction.
For exchanges, the system identifies which locker contains a full gas cylinder, allowing customers to deposit their empty cylinders in the same compartment. The exchange process is tracked through a trust-based system that logs returned cylinders. Additionally, the type of empty cylinders is easily recorded during locker refills, with the Punta web application providing step-by-step guidance for delivery personnel.
Additionally, businesses with online shops can integrate Punta’s system seamlessly, allowing customers to order gas cylinders online and receive a collection code via SMS or email. Delivery personnel can also use the system to refill the lockers efficiently, keeping stock levels up to date for customer convenience.
Innovative Features for the Future
Punta’s next-generation gas lockers are equipped with mobile radio and internet connectivity, enabling real-time data updates. This connectivity ensures instant transaction logging, step-by-step refilling instructions for delivery staff, and enhanced security features, including microwave sensor-activated cameras and LED lighting.
While the system won’t notify consumers when their gas cylinders are running low, it guarantees that restocking and exchanging gas cylinders will be faster, more convenient, and far less stressful during the summer barbecue season.
