Background
Founded by Joel Patan in 2022, Patan Heating and Air Ltd specializes in providing high-performance and energy efficient heating/ventilation systems to commercial and residential properties in Okanagan Valley in Western Canada. The company has grown rapidly in the past year and now has 10 employees. They operate a fleet of seven vehicles, consisting of a diesel one-ton truck, and six gasoline cars.
Problem
When Joel started the company, he had just three staff and when they needed fuel, they often paid out-of-pocket then requested reimbursement. As the business grew,
Joel realized that a better solution for fleet payments was becoming essential to the company’s operations.
Solution
Previously, Joel worked in companies that used fuel station-branded, closed loop fleet cards. He recalled having to make 20-minute detours just to find a gas station that would accept the fleet card, and he wanted to make sure his employees could avoid this experience. After searching online for widely-accepted fleet cards, he found Fillip Fleet and within a day he and his team were using the digitally-issued cards to pay for fuel.
The day I hired my Ops Manager, I just typed in the information, and we had the digital fleet card within minutes. They could get on the road immediately and use the first gas stations along the route. It saved so much time.
- Joel Patan
Founder, Patan Heating and Air Ltd
Results
Overall, Joel’s employees have commented how they prefer the experience of using their digital fuel cards rather than traditional plastic cards. They also appreciate Fillip’s digital- and smart phone-first integrations that streamline odometer readings and technical support. More importantly, they appreciate the ease of paying for fuel as it is now handled directly by their company.
Joel’s fleet of seven vehicles currently use around 4,000 liters (1,057 US gallons) of fuel each month, and the average fuel transaction is CA$140 for 80 liters. Each time an employee fills up a vehicle, Joel receives a notification from Fillip that outline the transaction’s details, including driver and location. While he only receives about two of these notifications a day, they provide him with useful confirmation that his drivers are on schedule and business is operating as normal.
As the company continues to scale, Patan Heating and Air is taking on new hires and Fillip’s issuance platform allows for almost instantaneous digital card delivery. Joel notes, “The day I hired my Ops Manager, I just typed in the information, and we had the digital fleet card within minutes. They could get on the road immediately and use the first gas stations along the route. It saved so much time.”
Joel appreciates the Fillip Fleet ethos. “They are a young company, like us, with a focus on speed and customer service. They understand that time is money. Fillip goes with me wherever I go,” he concluded.
