The Blue Cow Software Blog is dedicated to educating and sharing concepts pertaining to fuel oil, propane, and HVAC business management with industry professionals. Posts may include but are not limited to latest news, trends, and recommendations. Stay tuned as the blog posts are updated frequently.
How Smart Dealers Use Technology
I have been around the retail energy marketing industry long enough to remember when daily rack prices were sent via fax, delivery routes were printed on paper maps, and “hedging” was landscaping around the home office. Is there anyone who longs to see those days...
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How Customers Use Technology
This morning I woke up to the sound of the alarm beeping on the cell phone next to my bed. Before arising I visited a weather app to determine how many layers of clothing I would need to be comfortable. I checked my email and scanned my daily calendar on my tablet,...
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New Year’s Resolutions for Fuel Dealers
By Nick Quaratiello Blue Cow Software Fuel oil and propane dealers do not always follow a traditional calendar. The industry’s “year” begins when the leaves fall and temperatures drop and runs through the spring thaw. Still, turning the page on 2019 presents the...
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Microsoft to End SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 Support
The end has come for Microsoft’s highly popular SQL Server 2008 and “end of life” is rapidly approaching for Windows Server 2008, as well. Microsoft has already stopped support (on July 9, 2019) for SQL 2008 and 2008 R2; and will stop support for Windows Server 2008...
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State Line Propane & Oil: “A Recipe for Growth”
When Stateline Propane & Oil (Granby, CT) was searching for a new management software platform four years ago they knew what they were looking for. When, after a competitive evaluation, they chose Blue Cow Software they were pleasantly surprised by what they got....
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Making Deliveries More Efficient
By Mike Procopio Blue Cow Software Getting fuel oil or propane to a customer’s home is not a simple process, especially if you want to make money while doing it. Customer demands, driver shortages, and increasing traffic congestion make deliveries more challenging...
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Marketing in an “On the Go” World
Promoting mobile phone app use among customers By Nick Quaratiello Blue Cow Software America has always been a mobile society. So it is no surprise that the number of mobile device users has surpassed those who stay connected via a desktop or laptop computer....
read moreUse Data to Price Service Plans Correctly
By Mike Procopio Blue Cow Software How much do you charge customers for an annual service contract? Is it enough? Many fuel oil and propane companies set a service plan price and hope they hit the mark. But without analyzing the data behind their service costs, they...
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Where Will You Find Your Next “Best Customer”?
Using heat mapping technology to zero in on business growth opportunities By Mike Procopio Blue Cow Software Speaking with a difficult customer after resolving his latest complaint, a business owner said, “I wish I had 100 customers like you!” The surprised customer...
read more2019 User Group Meeting Recap
Our Largest User Group Meeting Ever!Thank you to all of our Blue Cow Software users who came out to Gillette Stadium this week and made this year's User Group Meeting the largest in the 15 year history of our company! It was so great to see everyone and to...
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