Conferences

What will gas stations look like in the next decade, and which changes will actually impact their business model?DISCUSSION SCOPE· the future of gasoline, diesel, LPG, HVO, and biofuels;· the station as a fuel, energy, retail, and service point;· the economics of photovoltaics, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure;· electromobility as an investment, a regulatory requirement, or a business risk;· the impact of EU regulations and ESG requirements on small and medium-sized enterprises;· environmental and energy data expected by banks, partners, and networks;· which investments have real economic justification, and which are mainly responses to trends or regulatory expectations.

A significant portion of companies operating in the independent fuel market grew out of family businesses and operations run directly by their owners.
DISCUSSION TOPICS· Moving from a 'the owner does everything' model to management through people, processes, and structures;· Succession and preparing the next generation;· Hiring a CEO or manager from outside the family;· Separating ownership from day-to-day management;· Owner oversight without micromanaging;· Family foundations and other succession tools;· Conflicts between family, owners, and management;· The impact of professionalization on company value.

Market consolidation means that more and more business owners may face the decision of selling their company, bringing in an investor, or acquiring a competitor.DISCUSSION TOPICS· preparing a company for sale or bringing in an investor;· factors that increase or decrease the value of a company;· legal, tax, financial, and environmental due diligence;· perspectives of the seller and the buyer;· pricing mechanisms and responsibilities after the deal;· financing an acquisition and integrating the company post-transaction;· when to grow the business independently and when to consider a capital partner, selling, or acquiring another company.

The profitability of a modern fuel company today depends on many more factors than just the price of fuel.SCOPE OF DISCUSSION· economics of fuel sales, convenience store, catering, and additional services;· profitability of the station, the customer, the product, and the sales channel;· competing of a local station with large networks;· own brand, franchise, or partnership model;· paying salespeople based on margin rather than just turnover;· trade credit, assessing the reliability of contractors, and securing payments;· managing receivables while considering customer relationships;· using POS, ERP, and CRM data to make business decisions.

Before fuel reaches a car's tank, it goes through an extensive system of storage, transport, control, and distribution.SCOPE OF DISCUSSION· storage, terminals, and capacity availability;· rail and tanker transport;· planning supplies and stock at the station;· fuel quality and responsibility at each stage of the supply chain;· SENT, excise, licenses, and inspections;· responsibility of the sender, carrier, receiver, and station operator;· handling contamination, spills, or loss of quality;· waste, environmental duties, and business continuity in crisis situations.

A modern gas station is becoming an increasingly complex technical and IT facility, where traditional fuel infrastructure works together with sales systems, payment solutions, automation, chargers, and digital solutions.SCOPE OF DISCUSSION· modernizing an existing station without long-term business interruptions;· tanks, pipelines, dispensers, measurement systems, and leak detection;· integration of dispensers, POS, payments, chargers, and management systems;· service, availability of parts, and operational continuity;· fire and explosion protection;· separators, sewage, waste, BDO, KOBiZE, and soil contamination risk;· IT and OT system security and new cybersecurity responsibilities;· AI and data in analyzing sales, failures, energy consumption, and service planning.